subject: Does Orlistat Work For Losing Weight? Is It A Safe Drug? Clinical Studies Reveal Answers [print this page] Does Orlistat Work For Losing Weight? Is It A Safe Drug? Clinical Studies Reveal Answers
Orlistat, chemical name tetrahydrolipstatin, is a medication for the treatment of obesity. After considerable delay it was approved by the FDA in non-prescription formulation in 2007, and by prescription in 1999. Prescription Orlistat is sold in 120 mg tablets, under the trade name Xenical, and is prescribed for people who meet specific height and weight requirements.
Non-prescription Orlistat, in 60 mg tablets, is sold under the trade name Alli in the U.S., U.K. and Canada. The drug is manufactured by Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. of Switzerland.
Xenical dosage is a 120 mg capsule, with liquid, taken at each main meal containing fat. Xenical can be taken up to 3 times a day, and up to 1 hour after a meal. Exceeding the recommended dosage does not appear to further inhibit fat absorption.
WEIGHT LOSS EFFECTS
The body absorbs fat from the digestive tract in the form of fatty acids. The process of fat absorption can, however, occur only in the presence of pancreatic lipase enzymes that enable fat metabolism. Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor: it reduces absorption of dietary fat by interfering with gastrointestinal lipase function.
The efficacy of Orlistat is confirmed, though modest. Pooled data from clinical trials show:
1] Orlistat blocks absorption of 25 - 30% of fat in a supervised diet, effectively reducing calories consumed.
2] Participants given Orlistat, in combination with a diet and exercise program, over the course of 1 year lost 4.4 - 6.6 pounds [2 - 3 kg] more than those not taking the drug.
CAUTION
Orlistat has significant potential to cause side effects. Unpleasant gastrointestinal events, associated with elimination, are common and should be expected. These decrease with time, and are apparently the only known adverse effects of the drug. These effects are minimized when the diet contains a maximum of 30% of calories from fat.
Orlistat is considered safe for long-term use. Some scientists, however, insist that it should be used only on advice of a doctor, as the drug may adversely affect people with such conditions as pancreatitis, gall bladder problems, under-active thyroid, diabetes, liver disease, and chronic malabsorption syndrome [nutrient absorption problems].
Orlistat should not be purchased over the Internet, or from vendors outside North America. These products could contain dangerous ingredients, or they may not be distributed by licensed pharmacies. Samples of Alli purchased on the Internet have been found to contain sibutramine, a prescription weight loss medication that can have dangerous side effects.
Orlistat should not be given to another person, especially not one under age 12, and it should be kept out of reach of children.
CONCLUSIONS
Orlistat is clinically proven to cause moderate weight loss in obese people. It is not a panacea for overweight and obesity. It is a drug, intended for use with a properly designed diet and exercise program.
Orlistsat produces gastrointestinal side effects, and may be contraindicated for several health conditions, therefore use of this drug is advisable only in conjunction with a physician-supervised diet.
The efficacy of Orlistat has been examined in numerous trial studies. Many of these are publicly available in the archives of The American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition.
Michael Merry: Website
Canadian entrepreneur and author. Former civil servant, chemist, and nuclear radiation analyst.
