Health Canada Allows Higher Dosage for P-Synephrine

Following scientific review, Health Canada (the Canadian equivalent of FDA) is increasing its allowable daily intake of p-synephrine to 50 mg per day for healthy adults.

P-synephrine is a key amine in bitter orange extract (Citrus aurantium), a leading thermogenic ingredient used in weight management and sports dietary supplements.

Health Canada previously required products to limit p-synephrine levels to no more than 30 mg, according to Nutratech Inc. (West Caldwell, NJ), manufacturer of the patented bitter orange extract Advantra Z. The company adds that any products containing the compound could not also contain caffeine without extensive human clinical studies. Now, Health Canada is allowing a maximum of 320 mg of caffeine in products containing up to 40 mg of p-synephrine. Products overshooting these maximums will require a cautionary warning label for potential at-risk populations, including children, pregnant or nursing women, and those taking certain pharmaceutical products.

At the request of Nutratech president Bob Green, bitter orange researcher Sidney J. Stohs, PhD, provided Health Canada with an up-to-date scientific review on published bitter orange studies, entitled “The Safety of Citrus Aurantium (Bitter Orange) and its Primary Protoalkaloid p-Synephrine).

Nutratech says that Health Canada’s 49-page report is available upon request. It may also be available from the American Botanical Council (Austin, TX) in the future.