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Beta-Blocker Atenolol Not Good for BP: A research review found four studies that compared atenolol with placebo or no treatment, and five that compared atenolol with other antihypertensive drugs. Despite major differences in blood pressure lowering, there were no outcome differences between atenolol and placebo in the four studies, comprising 6,825 patients, who were followed for a mean of 4.6 years on all-cause mortality (relative risk 1.01), cardiovascular mortality (0.99), or myocardial infarction (0.99). The risk of stroke tended to be lower in the atenolol than in the placebo group (0.85). When atenolol was compared with other antihypertensives, there were no major differences in blood pressure lowering. Meta-analysis showed a significantly higher mortality (1.13) with atenolol than with other treatments in the five studies of 17,671 adults followed for a mean of 4.6 years. Cardiovascular mortality tended to be higher with atenolol than with other antihypertensives. Stroke was also more frequent with atenolol. Atenolol in hypertension: is it a wise choice? Carlberg B, Samuelsson O, Lindholm LH. Umea University, Sweden. Lancet. 2004 Nov 6;364(9446):1684-9.

Carvediol (Coreg) Appears Better than Metoprolol for Diabetes on ACE Inhibitor: Beta-blockers decrease cardiovascular risk in hypertension with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM); however, some components of the metabolic syndrome are worsened by some beta-blockers. In a 35 week DB PC study of 1235 adults ages 36-85 with hypertension (>130/80 mm Hg) and type 2 DM (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c], 6.5%-8.5%) and already on renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) blockers (ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers), patients were given 6.25- to 25-mg dose of carvedilol (n = 498) or 50- to 200-mg dose of metoprolol tartrate (n = 737), each twice daily. Hydrochlorothiazide and a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist were added, if needed, to achieve blood pressure target. The mean HbA1c increased with metoprolol (0.15%; P<.001) but not carvedilol (0.02%; P = .65). Insulin sensitivity improved with carvedilol (-9.1%; P = .004) but not metoprolol (-2.0%; P = .48). Blood pressure was similar between groups. Progression to microalbuminuria was less frequent with carvedilol than with metoprolol (6.4% vs 10.3%; P = .04). Metabolic effects of carvedilol vs metoprolol in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension: a randomized controlled trial. Bakris GL, Fonseca V, et al.; GEMINI Investigators. Rush University, Chicago.. JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2227-36. Ed: Carvediol is unfortunately very expensive at $121 per month or more vs. $15 for metoprolol at Walgreens 1/2/05.  The minor benefit on lab values of carvediol must be shown to have a significant long term health impact to merit such costs. For more, see Beta-Blockers for High Blood Pressure.

Trunk Fat Unhealthy: In the 648 elderly in the Hoorn Study, a larger trunk fat mass was consistently associated with higher peripheral arterial stiffness while larger leg fat mass (P = 0.009) and leg lean mass were associated with lower peripheral arterial stiffness. Trunk or leg fat mass were not associated with central arterial stiffness. Leg lean mass, however, was consistently associated with lower central arterial stiffness (P < 0.001). Regional body composition as a determinant of arterial stiffness in the elderly: The Hoorn Study.  SnijderMB, Henry RM, et al. VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam.. J Hypertens. 2004 Dec;22(12):2339-47. For more, see Arterial Stiffness.

Topiramate Helped Prevent Migraines: In a 16-week DB PC study of 72 migraine sufferers, topiramate 100 mg/day led to a significant 51% reduction in the frequency of migraines (from 5.26 to 2.60 in the last 4 weeks). Topiramate in migraine prophylaxis: a randomised double-blind versus placebo study. Mei D, Capuano A, et al. Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy. Neurol Sci. 2004 Dec;25(5):245-50. Ed: With several much less expensive treatments with many fewer side-effects available, topiramate should not be a first-line treatment for migraine prevention. 

Butterbur Helped Some for Migraine Prevention: A special root extract from the plant Petasites hybridus at 75 mg bid, 50 mg bid, or placebo bid was studied in a DB PC trial in 245 adults with 2-6 migraine attacks per month. Over 4 months of treatment, migraine attack frequency was reduced by 48% for Petasites extract 75 mg bid (p = 0.0012), 36% for Petasites extract 50 mg bid, and 26% for the placebo. Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine. Lipton RB, Gobel H, et al. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2240-4. For more, see Headaches.

Cabergoline Helped Restless Legs: The dopamine agonist cabergoline (CAB) 0.5 mg, 1 mg., or 2 mg/day was used in a DB PC study of 85 patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Symptoms during the night markedly improved with all CAB doses compared to placebo (placebo: -1.4, 0.5 mg CAB: -4.2 [p = 0.0082], 1.0 mg CAB: -4.0 [p = 0.0040], 2.0 mg CAB: -4.8 [p = 0.0026]). A stable, clinically relevant improvement was achieved in all efficacy measures throughout 1 year with a mean CAB dose of 2.2 mg per day. Under CAB therapy up to 1 year, 11 of 85 patients discontinued treatment due to a drug-related adverse event. Effective cabergoline treatment in idiopathic restless legs syndrome. Stiasny-Kolster K, Benes H, et al. Marburg, Germany. Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2272-9. For more, see Restless Legs.

Diabetic Neuropathy Helps by Acetyl-l-Carnitine: In two 52-week DB PC studies of 1,257 diabetics with peripheral neuropathy using acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC): 500 and 1,000 mg/day three times a day, significant improvements in sural nerve fiber numbers and regenerating nerve fiber clusters occurred with active treatment. Nerve conduction velocities and amplitudes did not improve, but vibration perception improved in both studies. Pain as the most bothersome symptom showed significant improvement in one study and in the combined cohort taking 1,000 mg ALC. Acetyl-L-Carnitine Improves Pain, Nerve Regeneration, and Vibratory Perception in Patients With Chronic Diabetic Neuropathy: An analysis of two randomized placebo-controlled trials. Sima AA, Calvani M, et al, Wayne State University Diabetes Care. 2005 Jan;28(1):89-94. Ed: That 52 studies I have showing benefits to humans from carnitines. For more, see The Carnitines and Diabetic Neuropathy.

Zinc Helps Taste Problems: In the treatment of dysgeusia (an absence or distortion of taste, e.g. metallic taste), the use of zinc has been frequently used. In a DB PC study of 50 patients, zinc gluconate (140 mg/day) improved in terms of taste functioning (p < 0.001) and rated the dysgeusia as being less severe (p < 0.05). Signs of depression in the zinc group were less severe (Beck Depression Inventory, p < 0.05; mood scale, p < 0.05). Zinc Gluconate in the Treatment of Dysgeusia--a Randomized Clinical Trial. Heckmann SM, Hujoel P, et al. University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany;. J Dent Res. 2005 Jan;84(1):35-8. Ed: I don’t know if these were zinc lozenges or zinc tablets, which would be less expensive.  I suspect it was the tablets.For more, see Zinc.

Intense Exercise Helps Depression: Three Hours of Fasting Walking per Week: In a 12-week random assignment study of 80 adults with mild to moderate major depressive disorders, four different exercise treatment groups varied total energy expenditure (7.0 kcal/kg/week or 17.5 kcal/kg/week) and frequency (3 days/week or 5 days/week) or an exercise placebo control (3 days/week flexibility exercise). The 17.5-kcal/kg/week dose met public health recommendations for physical activity and was termed "public health dose". Hamilton depression scores were reduced by 47% with the more intensive exercise compared with 30% for modest exercise and 29% for the control stretching group. It made no difference if the exercises were done 3 or 5 days a week. Exercise treatment for depression Efficacy and dose response. Dunn AL, Trivedi MH, et al. Cooper Institute, Golden, Colorado. Am J Prev Med. 2005 Jan;28(1):1-8. Ed: A 160 pound person (73 kg) would have to burn 1240 calories/week which equals fast walking for 3 hours. For someone 165-185 pounds, 2.5 hours would do it or only 2 hours for those over 190 pounds. Jogging would need only 2 hours, 1 hour 40 min, and 1 hour 25 min for the respective weight groups. For more, see Exercise for Depression.

Metoclopromide Excellent Part of Migraine Treatment: In a meta-analysis of the 13 best studies, all DB PC emergency room trials of migraine sufferers and totaling 655 patients, intravenous metoclopramide (Systemic) was found to be three times as effective as placebo at relieving pain, an excellent response.  Metoclopramide relieves nausea and gastric stasis and has often been used with other migraine treatments including the triptans, chlorpromazine, and prochlorperazine. Migraines are common with 6% of men and 16% of women suffering them an average of 3 per month with 4-6 hours of bedrest per headache.  Parenteral metoclopramide for acute migraine: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ian Colman et al. Cambridge and Michigan State Universities. BMJ  12/11/2004;329:1369-1373. Ed: Oral metoclopramide (Reglan) is also available at very low cost. Narcotics have no place in the treatment of migraines. For more, see Headaches.

High Dose Folic Acid Linked to Possible Increase in Breast Cancer: In a study of 3187 pregnant women given either 0, 200, or 5000 micrograms/day of folic acid during pregnancy, 36 year follow-up found no difference in deaths due to cardiovascular disease but an increase in cancer deaths, especially breast cancer which was increased by 70% in the high dose group.  However, there were only 31 breast cancer deaths in all, suggesting that the findings may be chance findings. The differences did not quite reach statistical significance. A rat study found an increase in breast cancer in rats both deficient and on high dose folic acid vs. those on a healthy dose. Taking folate in pregnancy and risk of maternal breast cancer. Deborah Charles et al. Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Scotland. BMJ  12/11/2004;329:1375-1376. Ed: The government recommended level for folate is 400 mcg/day.  A number of studies using somewhat higher doses provide benefit for depression and other conditions. My suggested treatment is 800-1000 mcg/day. Obviously, more research is need, especially for these very high dose treatments. For more, see Folic Acid.

Nicotine Used in OCD: After one patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) improved following self-medication with nicotine, another four OCD were treated with nicotine for eight weeks in an open study. Four of five had decreases in YBOCS scores while on nicotine chewing gum. Nicotine treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Lundberg S, Carlsson A, et al. Kungalv, Sweden. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2004 Nov;28(7):1195-9. Ed: Open trials are extremely prone to wishful-thinking, nicotine is quite addictive, and it could lead to tobacco use.  I doubt this approach is going to succeed.

Low Dose Anti-Psychotic Helped As OCD Adjunct: 45 OCD patients were given 12 weeks of fluvoxamine (Luvox) and then continued for 6 weeks in a DB PC study of risperidone 0.5 mg/day. Resperidone helped only fluvoxamine-refractory patients. Five patients on risperidone (50%) and two (20%) on placebo became responders, with Y-BOCS decreases of at least 35%. Low-dose risperidone augmentation of fluvoxamine treatment in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Erzegovesi S, Guglielmo E, et al, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2005 Jan;15(1):69-74

Cognitive Behavior Therapy As Good for OCD as Combination: In a random assignment study, 37 OCD patients were treated with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) alone, and 37 with combined CBT and SRI treatment. Of the latter, 17 discontinued SRI treatment during follow-up (1 and 2 years after inpatient treatment). During the initial treatment, scores for Y-BOCS (p < 0.001), HDRS (p < 0.001) and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) (p < 0.001) improved significantly in all groups. Two years later, OCD symptom severity and depression scores were similar between the groups and discontinuation of SRI did not prompt by a recurrence. Clinical outcome in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder after discontinuation of SRI treatment: results from a two-year follow-up. Kordon A, Kahl KG, et al. Universitaetsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004 Nov 12

Clonazepam (Klonopin) No Benefit in OCD Study: In a 12-week DB PC study of 37 adults with OCD, all received sertraline (Zoloft) while half also received clonazepam. Clonazepam was of no benefit over placebo. A double-blind combination study of clonazepam with sertraline in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Crockett BA, Churchill E, Davidson JR. Duke University. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2004 Jul-Sep;16(3):127-32

SSRI Plus Cognitive Behavior Therapy Best Results for Child OCD: In a 12-week DB PC study of 112 OCD children ages 7-17 with Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) scores of 16 or higher given CBT alone, sertraline (Zoloft) alone, combined CBT and sertraline, or pill placebo, an intent-to-treat analyses indicated a statistically significant advantage for CBT alone (P = .003), sertraline alone (P = .007), and combined treatment (P = .001) over placebo. Combined treatment proved superior to CBT alone (P = .008) and to sertraline alone (P = .006), which did not differ from each other. Clinical remission for combined treatment was 54%; for CBT alone, 39%; for sertraline alone, 21%; and for placebo, 4%. Cognitive-behavior therapy, sertraline, and their combination for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: the Pediatric OCD Treatment Study (POTS) randomized controlled trial.  JAMA. 2004 Oct 27;292(16):1969-76

Mirtazapine Little Benefit as OCD Add-On: In a 12-week DB PC study of 49 adult OCD patients, citalopram (20-80 mg/day) was compared to citalopram plus mirtazapine (15-30 mg/day). The citalopram plus mirtazapine group had a reduction of at least 35% in YBOCS score and a "much improved" or "very much improved" rating on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale from the 4^th week, while the citalopram plus placebo group obtained these results only from the eighth week. No difference between groups in the response rate was noted at the eighth and twelfth weeks of treatment. Response acceleration with mirtazapine augmentation of citalopram in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients without comorbid depression: a pilot study. Pallanti S, Quercioli L, Bruscoli M. Institute for Neurosciences, Florence, Italy.  J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 Oct;65(10):1394-9. Ed: To expose patients to the cost and side-effects (including weight gain) of mirtazapine for such a brief possible benefit seem foolish.

Clomipramine Causes More Weight Gain; Prozac, Zoloft Least: 138 OCD patients who responded to 6-month acute treatment were followed for 2 years while receiving open-label clomipramine, citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, or sertraline. Patients gained an average of 3.4 pounds with 14.5% gaining more. Clomipramine patients gained the most with 35% gaining over 3.4 pounds. Sertraline and fluoxetine patients had the least significant weight gain (4.5% and 8.7%), Weight gain during long-term treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a prospective comparison between serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Maina G, Albert U, Salvi V, Bogetto F. University of Turin, Torino, Italy. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 Oct;65(10):1365-71

Exposure and Response Prevention May Behavioral Treatments: Incompleteness-the troubling and irremediable sense that one's actions or experiences are not "just right"--appears to underlie many of the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Behavioral methods aimed at habituation (e.g., exposure and ritual prevention [ERP]) are probably more applicable than conventional cognitive techniques. However, even these may result in modest long-term gains; relapse is a probability if they are not actively practiced after treatment cessation. Understanding and treating incompleteness in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Summerfeldt LJ. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario. J Clin Psychol. 2004 Nov;60(11):1155-68

SSRI Prozac Helped Body Dysmorphic Disorder: In a 12-week DB PC study of fluoxetine 60 adults with body dysmorphic disorder, fluoxetine led to a significantly greater improvement in impaired functioning (LIFE-RIFT and SOFAS scores) and with improvement on the mental health subscale of the SF-36 that approached significance. Decrease in the severity of body dysmorphic disorder, as measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder, was significantly correlated with improvement. Change in psychosocial functioning and quality of life of patients with body dysmorphic disorder treated with fluoxetine: a placebo-controlled study. Phillips KA, Rasmussen SA. Butler Hospital, Providence, RI. Psychosomatics. 2004 Sep-Oct;45(5):438-44.

Dissociation Common in OCD and TTM: 110 OCD and 32 trichotillomania (TTM) patients were compared with respect to the degree of dissociation and childhood trauma. 16% of OCD and 19% of TTM patients were high dissociators. More high dissociators than low dissociators reported a lifetime history of tics (P <.001), Tourette's syndrome (P =.019), bulimia nervosa (P =.003), and borderline personality disorder (P =.027). In the TTM group, significantly more high dissociators than low dissociators reported (lifetime) kleptomania (P =.005) and depersonalisation disorder (P =.005). The study showed a link between childhood trauma and dissociation in patients with OCD and TTM. Dissociative experiences in obsessive-compulsive disorder and trichotillomania: clinical and genetic findings. Lochner C, Seedat S, et al, University of Stellenboch, Cape Town, South Africa. Compr Psychiatry. 2004 Sep-Oct;45(5):384-91.

Hoarding forms a distinctive OCD category: Fifteen patients with hoarding symptoms in the Y-BOCS checklist (15.6% of the total sample) were compared and contrasted with 82 patients without. Hoarders were characterized by (1) higher educational levels (P =.02); (2) earlier age at onset (P =.003); (3) higher rates of symmetry obsessions (P =.01); (4) greater frequency of ordering (P =.004); (5) rituals repetition (P =.03); (6) counting compulsions (P =.02); and (7) significantly higher rates of comorbidity with bipolar II disorder (P =.02) and (8) with eating disorders (P =.02). Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and hoarding symptoms: a distinctive clinical subtype? Fontenelle LF, Mendlowicz MV, et al. Federal University of Rio de Janiero, Brazil Compr Psychiatry. 2004 Sep-Oct;45(5):375-83 

OCD About 3%: Typical of other surveys, a study of 3,012 Turkish adults found a 12-month period prevalence rate of OCD of 3.0%. The average age of onset was 26. Men and women were about equally represented. The relative risk for divorced, separated, or widowed subjects was approximately 4.2 times higher for OCD than others (2.7% v 10.5%). The 1-year prevalence of OCD inversely related to age group in males, but increased with age in females. The prevalence rate of OCD was not different by the level of education, except it was statistically higher among subjects who were literate but had no schooling, of which the causal relationship was high prevalence rate of OCD among female literate-but no schooling subjects. No significant difference was found according to employment, fertility, birth order, and income of the subjects. About 30% of subjects with OCD had only obsessions, whereas 68.5% had both obsessions and compulsions. Only one subject (1.1%) with OCD met compulsion criteria without obsessions. Twelve-month prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Konya, Turkey. Cillicilli AS, Telcioglu M, et al. University of Selcuk Meram, Turkey. Compr Psychiatry. 2004 Sep-Oct;45(5):367-74.

CBT Helps Even Some Multiple Medication Non-Responders: 20 OCD adults with inadequate response to multiple medications received 15 sessions of outpatient CBT incorporating exposure and ritual prevention.  OCD severity decreased significantly (p <.05) after treatment, and improvement was maintained over a 6-month follow-up period. Significant benefit was found in 40% at 6-month follow-up. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for medication nonresponders with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a wait-list-controlled open trial. Tolin DF, Maltby N, et al. The Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, CT. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 Jul;65(7):922-31

Colon Cancer: Selenium May Protect Against Colon Cancer: An analysis of data from three randomized trials--the Wheat Bran Fiber Trial, the Polyp Prevention Trial, and the Polyp Prevention Study-- for colorectal adenoma prevention among participants who recently had an adenoma removed during colonoscopy found blood selenium levels in the highest quartile had lower odds of developing a new adenoma compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.66; P(trend) = .006). Selenium and colorectal adenoma: results of a pooled analysis. Jacobs ET, Jiang R, et al. University of Arizona. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Nov 17;96(22):1669-75 

Selenium Only Anti-Oxidant Helping Critically Illin Studies: In an analysis of the 11 best studies the researchers could find, overall antioxidants were associated with a significant reduction in mortality [Risk Ratio (RR) 0.65, p=0.03] but had no effect on infectious complications. Studies that utilized a single trace element were associated with a significant reduction in mortality [RR 0.52, p=0.04] whereas combined antioxidants had no effect. Studies using parenteral antioxidants were associated with a significant reduction in mortality [RR 0.56, p=0.02] whereas studies of enteral antioxidants were not. Selenium supplementation (alone and in combination with other antioxidants) may be associated with a reduction in mortality [RR 0.59, p=0.09] while nonselenium antioxidants had no effect on mortality. Antioxidant nutrients: a systematic review of trace elements and vitamins in the critically ill patient. Heyland DK, Dhaliwal R, et al. Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Intensive Care Med. 2004 Dec 17

GI Cancer: Selenium Good; Vitamin A, E, and Carotene Bad for GI Cancers: Researchers analyzed 14 randomized trials (170,525 participants), assessing beta-carotene (9 trials), vitamin A (4 trials), vitamin C (4 trials), vitamin E (5 trials), and selenium (6 trials) for GI cancers. Neither the fixed effect (RR 0.96) nor random effects meta-analyses (RR 0.90) showed significant effects of supplementation with antioxidants on the incidences of gastrointestinal cancers. Among the seven high-quality trials reporting on mortality (131,727 participants), the fixed effect (RR 1.06) unlike the random effects meta-analysis (RR 1.06) showed that antioxidant supplements significantly increased mortality. Beta-carotene and vitamin A (RR 1.29) and beta-carotene and vitamin E (RR 1.100) significantly increased mortality, while beta-carotene alone only tended to do so (RR 1.05). In four trials, selenium showed significant beneficial effect on gastrointestinal cancer incidences. Antioxidant supplements for preventing gastrointestinal cancers. Bjelakovic G, Nikolova D, et al. Copenhagen, Denmark. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004 Oct 18;(4):CD004183. For more, see Selenium

Selenium May Help HIV Patients: Of 949 HIV-1-infected Tanzanian women who were pregnant, over the 5.7-year follow-up, 306 died. Lower plasma selenium levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality (P= 0.01). Selenium status is associated with accelerated HIV disease progression among HIV-1-infected pregnant women in Tanzania. Kupka R, Msamanga GI, et al. Harvard. J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10):2556-60. For more, see AIDS.

Beef, Pork Cause Colon Cancer: In a cohort of 148,610 adults ages 50-74 and followed for nine years as part of the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, 1667 developed colorectal cancers. Being in the upper third in long-term consumption of beef and pork, including chicken livers and processed meats was associated with a 50% increased risk of distal colon cancer and a 71% increase in the risk of rectal cancer. Long-term consumption of poultry and fish was associated with 13% reduced risk of both proximal and distal colon cancer. Meat Consumption and Risk of Colorectal Cancer. Ann Chao, PhD; Michael J. Thun, et al. JAMA. 2005;293:172-182. For more, see Meat and Colon Cancer.

Teen-Female Alcohol Abuse Up in UK: A new report in the British Medical Journal notes there has been a significant decline in hospital admissions for drug abuse amongst teenagers and other groups. However, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of young British women and girls admitted for mental and behavioral problems related to alcohol. Psychiatric admissions for girls under 15 rose by 24% in 1996-97 to 23.2 per 100,000 population. British has weak and poorly enforced age laws, higher teen alcohol abuse than the U.S., and also has relaxed alcohol sales licensing in recent years. 1/14/05. Teen smoking, like adult smoking is higher in Britain

PPAR-delta Drug May Help Obesity: A drug being developed by GlaxoSmithKline to fight obesity activates a protein in the body called PPAR-delta that increases the rate at which fat is burned. It may reduce obesity as well as reducing the risk of stroke, diabetes and coronary disease. The tablet has been tested on mice and increased their athleticism considerably. Daily Mirror 1/10/05

Fast Food Makes You Fat and Diabetic: Eating in a fast-food restaurant more than twice a week dramatically increases the risk of diabetes because the enormous weight gain that accompanied fast food consumption increased insulin resistance. In the study of 3,000 adults ages 18-30, those who ate in a fast-food outlet more than twice a week gained an extra 10 pounds over the period, as compared with those eating at outlets on fewer occasions. David Ludwig, Children's Hospital. Boston. Daily Mirror 12/31/04. Ed: Obviously, its not the restaurant that is bad, but the foods chosen.  Hamburgers, pizza, white bread and white flour dough, cheese, trans-fats, French fries, salt, and soda pop have all been shown to be harmful.  Whole grain bread, nuts, beans and lentils, olive and canola oil, and fruits and vegetables aren't available, probably because they wouldn't be popular enough. For more, see Obesity.