Tag: FDA (Page 3 of 6)

The FDA Set To Approve Qnexa Weight Loss Drug

March 29, 2012 / Staff

The advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration voted 20 to 2 to recommend approval of Qnexa, a “new” obesity drug that is simply the combination of two older medications, phentermine (the “phen” of phen-fen”) and topiramate (Topamax).

The old diet drug (phentermine), combined with an older anti-seizure medication (Topamax) have concerning side effects, including increased heart rate, heart attacks, and birth defects such as cleft lip.

Every year the average American consumes 24 pounds of French fries, 23 pounds of pizza, 24 pounds of ice cream, 53 gallons of soda (or a gallon each week), 24 pounds of artificial sweeteners, 2.7 pounds of salt, 90,700 mg of caffeine, and about 2,700 calories a day.

Does a pill really address this behavior?

By 2020, over 50% of the US adult population will have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, with annual costs approaching $500 billion. By 2030, total annual economic costs of cardiovascular disease in the US are predicted to exceed $1 trillion. By 2030, globally we will spend $47 trillion; yes trillion, to address the effects of chronic lifestyle-driven disease.
Prescription medication for lifestyle disease has failed to bend the obesity and disease curve. Statins have been recently found to increase the risk of diabetes in women by 48%. And large data reviews by independent international scientists from the Cochrane Collaborative found that statins only work to prevent second heart attacks, not first heart attacks, which means they are not helpful and most likely harmful for 75% of those who take them.

Medication and surgery are not the answer to the growing obesity epidemic.

Lifestyle change is the safest, cost effective and most efficient way to address this national crisis.

Quality Control, Wellness

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Bisphenol-A and Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

February 21, 2012 / Staff

BPA in the environment is as pernicious as it is ubiquitous.

BPA can be found in products such as the lining of cans, baby bottles, plastic drinking containers and toilette paper.

Findings in a recent peer reviewed study indicate that BPA should be considered a risk factor for metabolic disorders in humans.

BPA has been considered a weak estrogen because of its low binding affinity to two types of estrogen receptors which work in the endocrine system in the synthesis of insulin within the pancreas.

Among many other complex functions of the cells including the release of energy as glucose, the development of Type 2 diabetes has been seen to increase when BPA is present.

In addition it may provoke insulin resistance in liver and skeletal muscle together with β-cell exhaustion, contributing to the development of type-2 diabetes [1]. Alterations of glucose and lipid metabolism by BPA in adults may constitute a significant hazard during pregnancy for both mothers and offspring as demonstrated in mice and rats

Quality Control, Research, Wellness

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Poison Kiss?

February 17, 2012 / Staff

The FDA finds lead in 400 shades of lipstick.

There is no immediate concern as the effects of lead poisoning are cumulative.

In a letter to the FDA last week, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics countered that “lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels” — a particular concern for millions of women of childbearing age, the group said. Citing a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stating that no amount of lead is safe for children and that exposure in both children and pregnant women should be prevented, the group pushed the FDA again to set a maximum allowable limit for lead in cosmetics.

Quality Control, Wellness

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FDA Food Labeling Makes An Impact

February 10, 2012 / Staff

FDA food labeling has a real impact on American’s health.

In a good way!

The research shows just how effective these strategies can be when attempting to change behaviors.

By labeling and banning trans fats a significant, positive change has occurred.

Blood levels of trans fat declined 58 percent from 2000 to 2008. FDA began requiring trans-fat labeling in 2003. During the same period several parts of the country — New York most famously — passed laws limiting trans fats in restaurant food and cooking. The makers of processed food also voluntarily replaced trans fats with less harmful oils.
The decline, unusually big and abrupt, strongly suggests government regulation was effective in altering a risk factor for heart disease for a broad swath of the population.

Quality Control, Research, Wellness

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FDA to Test Imported Orange Juice for Fungicide

January 15, 2012 / Staff

The FDA will begin testing imported orange juice for trace of illegal pesticides.

The substance in question, carbendazim is an illegal pesticide chemical which is used outside of the U.S.

If the residue is found in shipments they will be turned away by the FDA.

The FDA said it will examine all container shipments of orange juice that arrive at U.S. ports. The agency will sample contents from multiple parts of each shipment; the subsequent testing could take between five and ten business days.
Shipments that test negative for “detectable levels” of carbendazim will be allowed to enter the country.

Quality Control

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