FDA Panel Calls Obesity Drug Qnexa Unsafe, is Vitamin D a Viable Alternative?
An obesity drug called Qnexa, which is a combination of Phentermine (a common prescription obesity medication) and Topiramate (a seizure drug) has been called unsafe by an FDA panel which also stated that Qnexa should not be sold.
Though there were studies that showed that there were significant health risks to taking the medication, the FDA was unable to procure enough data to justify approving the drug. Among the health concerns that were connected to Qnexa were an increased heart rate, potential birth defects, and thoughts of suicide.
With this kind of news, what are people supposed to do when they are seeking assistance in their effort to lose weight? Weight loss is, after all, a very challenging process and millions of people find that the struggle is so great that their dieting efforts are continually failing. If drugs prescribed by their doctors are also not healthy, many are looking into studies that are revealing promising results with alternatives to prescription drugs.
For example light therapies and vitamin D supplementation are proving to be significant in assisting obese people to achieve a healthy body mass index (BMI).
In the study published in the Obesity journal in February, 2010, “25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration Correlates With Insulin-Sensitivity and BMI in Obesity”, a team of researchers from Italy showed there is a notable relationship between the amount of vitamin D a person has in his or her body, and that individual’s BMI. It showed that among obese participants, both low concentrations of vitamin D and insulin-sensitivity seem to rely on the higher body mass.
Therefore, receiving adequate amounts of vitamin D through natural sunlight, certain tanning beds, and supplements can help the body’s metabolism to naturally function at a better rate. This, combined with a well balanced, portion controlled diet and regular daily exercise can have a significant impact on weight loss.
Sources:
- http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/07/16/fda.diet.drug.rejected/?hpt=Sbin
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20150902
- http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/2008/ucm116998.htm
- http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm149575.htm