Low-carb diets may help to lower blood pressure

If you are looking to shed some pounds AND lower your blood pressure you might want to try a low-carbohydrate diet, according to a new study appearing in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study found that twice as many people on a low-carb diet lowered their blood pressure than those who were taking the diet drug orlistat (the active ingredient in over-the-counter Alli and the prescription drug Roche's Xenical.) Both approaches were equally effective at improving cholesterol and glucose levels, as well as reducing waist size and weight, the researchers from Duke University and the Veterans Administration reported. (See also: BBC News report)

Counterfeiting hits the OTC diet drug market with fake versions of Alli

Reports this week that there were counterfeit versions of the over-the-counter weight loss drug known as Alli were compounded by the news that the fake versions were contaminated with another weight loss drug known as subutramine. Subutramine is the active ingredient in Abbott's weight-loss prescription drug known as Meridia. The counterfeit Alli contained twice the normal amount of subutramine in Meridia and could have caused considerable adverse effects in some individuals, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug apparently can interact with other drugs to cause adverse effects and needs to be closely monitored. GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Alli, ran some preliminary tests on the counterfeit Alli and found it did not contain any of the GSK active ingredient, orlistat, but instead contained the dangerous levels of subutramine. It's amazing how sophisticated counterfeiting has become, because Alli comes in a distinctive larger package than most drugs and one would have thought it would be harder to reproduce the packaging, but in this modern age of electronic magic, everything is fair game. Fortunately, the counterfeiters failed to put a fake lot number and expiration date on the box and those are the clues that the packages are counterfeit. This is a case where a drug we would not expect to become life-threatening is counterfeited into a substance that threatens many unsuspecting individuals. So far it is believed that the counterfeit Alli has been sold only over the Internet and has not made its way to drug stores or other retail outlets.

A New Year, new health resolutions?

It's a new year, a new decade and that means it's time for many of us to take a look at our health and to make some lifestyle changes that could help add a few more years to our lives. After two weeks of "happy eating" that we all blame on the holidays, most of us want to change our bad habits. Some promise to exercise more often, to eat more of the healthful food groups in place of the empty calories of snacks and fast food. Others have made a vow to lower their blood pressure and their stress levels and to re-evaluate their time expenditures for work vs. family and fun. As we decide to change about our lifestyles in the new year, we should set aside time to achieve the goal, so that the resolutions don't fade into oblivion by the Ides of March! Health information on the Internet can help many of us change our evil ways. A new diet doesn't have to be drastic, nor does an exercise program. We all can start small by just picking one bad food habit to eliminate and by starting with excercise of 10 minutes a day, even if it is a few leg kicks after you get up in the morning or running in place in the bathroom as you brush your teeth. We can add some low fat dairy products, such as yogurt and fruits to our morning breakfast and skip the bagel or corn muffin. We can cut our stress by better time management. A bit of cinnamon and mustard instead of mayonnaise can help lower blood pressure and better regulate blood glucose, some studies show. Changing isn't easy, but the rewards are great when we see the pounds disappear or when we feel better because we've reduced our stress. Good luck with you resolutions in this year. You can change, you really can!