DMBA: Another prohibited stimulant

DMBA (1,3-dimethylbutylamine) is found as an ingredient in some pre-workout and weight-loss supplements. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that DMBA is not approved for use in dietary supplements. No reliable scientific studies have been conducted to establish the safety of health effects of DMBA. As its name (1,3-dimethybutylamine) suggests, DMBA is similar to the illegal ingredient DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine): Both are synthetic stimulants with potentially dangerous side effects, but they are not the same chemical.

DMBA appears on dietary supplement labels under a variety of names, so here is a list of common synonyms to look out for:

For more information, read FDA’s “DMBA in Dietary Supplements.” Military Service Members should avoid dietary supplements containing DMBA, which is on the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients list. DMBA might register on an initial military urine screening test for amphetamines. If this happens, then the specimen goes to confirmation analysis. DMBA will not cause a positive result on the confirmation drug tests. For a list of other stimulant ingredients used in dietary supplements, you can view or download the OPSS list of “Stimulants in Dietary Supplements.”

Updated 07 March 2022