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Hi Folks:

Thought I'd share this article with you. It was taken in "The Journal Of
Alternative Therapies, Volume 3, Number 1, November 1996" :

Title:DHEA is a controlled sustance in Canada
"DHEA is an anabolic steroid and has been a controlled substance on
schedule "G" of the Canadian Food and Drug Act since the Dubin Inquiry
into the use of drugs in amateur sports.
In addition to being a controlled substance, there is also, according to
many reports, a serious concern that DHEA might, at the very least, be a
factor in the spread of testicular and prostate cancer.
In light of the recent crackdown by Health Canada, on the sale of the
hormone Melatonin* in health food stores, The Canadian Natural Health
Products Association (formerly the Canadian Health Food Association),
recommends that stores cease the sale of DHEA immediately."

*but, in the same Journal, in fact, on the same page, here's part of an
article on Melatonin:

Title: Melatonin update:
---<snip>---
Health Canada classified Melatonin as a "New drug" approximately a year
ago, effectively removing it from commercial sale in Canada and the
study was initiated in order to determine if Melatonin could be
approved, with appropriate indications, for sale as an over-the-counter
(OTC) remedy for occasional sleeplessness.
The study generally concluded that:
-Melatonin is safe. "The peer-reviewed literature examined (1966-1996)
demonstrated the absence of any reports of cassical systemic toxicity."
-Melatonin is effective. "The literature review in conjunction with the
expert opinions of the scientific community support the contention that
Melatonin is effective to alleviate minor insomnia."
At the present time, Canadians are allowed to bring Melatonin into
Canada for their personal use, but it is illegal for Canadian companies
to import this product and resell it to Canadians.  The biggest
shortcoming with the current situation is that Canadians are being
exposed to a product that has no guarantee of purity, or even that the
bottle contains Melatonin.  Further, there is no information on the
labels as to the proper use for the product or any counter-indications
or warnings.
---<snip>---
The Canadian Natural Health Products Association believes Canadians
would be better served if Melatonin were approved as a regulated OTC
drug.The product would meet the manufacturing standards recommended by
the associations's "validation data".
---<snip>---


Any comments anybody?

Denis Rocheleau, Quebec, Canada