Fructose, a naturally occurring sugar present in fruits and in high concentrations in corn and corn syrups, was recently reported to influence the metabolic processes which lead to early onset diabetes and heart disease. In a ten week study of volunteers on a high fructose diet, University of California researchers demonstrated a significant increase in fat accumulation in the heart and other visceral organs--the type of fat accumulation which can often lead to metabolic disease. Abnormalities linked to diabetes and heart disease were also noted. A matched group of volunteers eating an identical diet but with glucose as a sugar instead of fructose did not demonstrate these same changes. Fructose is a common sweetener used in processed foods including cakes, cereals, salad dressing, yogurt and fruit drinks. The researchers speculated that high concentrations of fructose consumed at an early age might be a factor in the increasing incidence of childhood diabetes. ?The message that we should take away from this report is to limit sugar consumption in any form,? said Dr. Blackshear.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) doled out fines totaling $29.5 million to four manufacturers of the over-the-counter weight loss medications Cortislim, Xenadrine EFX, TrimSpa and One-A-Day WeightSmart for making false claims about their products. The FTC found that these products were primarily a combination of caffeine, herbs and vitamins and did little or nothing to induce weight loss, particularly of the magnitude claimed in advertising for the products. A study by the manufacturer of Xenadrine found that participants taking placebo lost more weight than those on Xenadrine, but this finding went unreported in their advertising. People who purchased these medications may qualify for reimbursement through the FTC web site.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that new diabetes cases in America have doubled over the last ten years. An estimated 23 million Americans now suffer from diabetes and the incidence continues to rise.

Chicago researcher Adam Reppert at Swedish Covenant Hospital reported that in a study of 5,000 Illinois adults 30 minutes of daily exercise reduced the incidence of metabolic syndrome (central obesity, hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia) by 85%. Furthermore, regular consumption of calcium rich foods lowered this risk by 61%.

Researchers in Boston and Louisiana reported on a two year study of overweight patients in the New England Journal of Medicine that trying to maintain weight loss by manipulating fat, carbohydrate and protein intake with various prescribed diets was not beneficial. Patients who ate foods of their choice and simply focused on calorie management were much more successful at weight maintenance. Epidemiologist Catherine Loria says that dieting is "much simpler" than we believed because "all you have to do is count your calories." Calorie management eating foods according to patient choice has been the basis of Dr. Blackshear's Prescription Weight Loss Clinic Weight Management Program.

In a thorough review of the medical literature published in the winter quarter of The Bariatrician , Michael Anchors, MD, PhD, found no credible evidence of any dangerous side effects of phentermine use as an appetite suppressant. Dr. Anchors' review was unable to document any instance of addition, significant hypertension, heart valve damage or serotonin syndrome in patients on prescribed doses of phentermine, although these problems are often cited by medical professionals as reasons not to take phentermine for appetite suppression. In addition, Dr. Anchors found no evidence that prolonged use of phentermine produced any ill effects.

Gnagnarella, et al., reported on a meta-analysis of 39 studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that subjects regularly consuming a diet ranked in the top 25% in glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) were 26% more likely to develop colorectal cancer when compared to subjects on the opposite end of the GI/GL scale.

Vitamin D is generating renewed interest as ongoing research demonstrates its crucial role in preventing a wide range of medical disorders, including coronary artery disease, many cancer, stroke, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, macular degeneration, depression, hypertension, diabetes, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back pain and impaired immune responses. Obesity increases the risk of clinical deficiency since vitamin D is deposited in body fat stores. Those with large amounts of body fat trap vitamin D in these stores of fat, making it less available for beneficial uses. Recommended daily requirements of vitamin D are increasing. Since it is difficult to ingest or synthesize (exposing skin to sunlight) sufficient D to meet these new standards, daily consumption of up to 10,000 International Units of vitamin D3 has been recommended.