Scientists Call 7-OH Products a "Rising Public Health Threat"

The Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER) is warning consumers of the dangers of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) extract products. 

The newly formed group, made up of scientists, calls 7-OH "a dangerous synthetically produced product often falsely marketed as a kratom leaf extract. Unlike kratom leaves, which have been consumed traditionally for its mild energy and analgesic properties, these lab produced products contain predominately synthetic 7-OH which poses risks of addiction, toxicity, and misuse."

In a press release, SABER said 7-OH is "30 times more potent than morphine at opioid receptors", lacks clinical safety data, and poses health risks including "respiratory depression, toxicity, and addiction".

The minor alkaloid, 7-hydroxymitragynine, occurs in near-zero levels in natural kratom leaf. It is a metabolite of kratom's main alkaloid, mitragynine. Previously, companies offered only full-spectrum alkaloid extracts of kratom, meaning all existing alkaloids in proportion to the original leaf, with leaf material extracted to create a stronger product.

Later, companies began increasing the level of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, making stronger extract "shot" products that were further diluted from the original, traditional leaf kratom.

Only recently, vendors began offering 7-OH extracts for sale. This is the first time in history humans have consumed this amount of the 7-OH alkaloid. Therefore drug interactions and both short- and long-term health effects are unknown. Kratom, on the other hand, has been consumed for at least hundreds, if not thousands of years.

In several states, regulations limit the amount of 7-OH that can be present in kratom products, typically allowing a maximum of 2% of total alkaloid content.  However, enforcement of these laws is sometimes relaxed, and 7-OH products remain available.

In December, two lawmakers, Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), demanding action on 7-OH products.