Here's the latest:

Whether you take a weight loss supplement or not, I would think that you support people's right to take them. Unless, of course, you're a pharmaceutical company with a weight-loss drug that stands to lose money from the competition.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one such company, and I can only guess that its product, Alli, isn't doing quite as well as it had hoped. Now, GSK is putting on its "Big Brother" hat and trying to eliminate Alli's competition in the name of the "public interest." In a desperate move, the company filed a "citizen petition" asking the FDA to prevent manufacturers of weight loss supplements from claiming that their products help you lose weight. What?

GSK's argument is that since obesity and weight loss are significant risk factors in certain diseases, ANY PRODUCTS promoting weight loss claims should be treated as drugs! It gets worse. The petition goes on to state that – and I quote – "there is no credible evidence whatsoever to support any type of health claim for a weight loss supplement."

I know what you're thinking: "Maybe Big Pharma's got a point this time, Dr. D – there's a whole lot of shady weight loss supplements out there on the market." Maybe so. But look at the big picture with me on this, OK? Remember, this petition wants to classify ANY PRODUCT that has a weight loss claim as a drug – and that's painting with an awfully broad brush.

Vitamin B, for example, has been known to bolster the metabolism which, it could be said, can promote weight loss. What if vitamin B was suddenly a drug and a prescription was required for this beneficial natural supplement? It would be more expensive and harder to get.

Most sickening of all, Big Pharma claims to be lashing out at the supplement business — not because of the growing popularity of natural and alternative medicines (which represent a direct threat to Big Pharma's obscene profits) — but because of "concern for the public."

Oh, PUHlease…

Trust me on this: This petition has notion to do with "concern for the public," and everything to do with the bottom line. The supplement industry must be making a dent in Big Pharma's pocketbook. That's good to know.

Most supplement companies do not float on a limitless pool of money, as drug companies like Glaxo do. So all the inherent legal paperwork and red tape that would come with their natural supplements suddenly becoming drugs would probably bankrupt many of these companies, or at the very least deal them a massive financial blow.

If, (heaven forbid) the FDA accepts this GSK petition, its effects on the dietary supplement business would be drastic, immediate, and incredibly damaging. If we're not careful, it could only be a matter of time before everything from ginseng to St. John's wort to valerian root to vitamin C would be under the control of the government – and their fat-cat buddies at the major drug makers.

The good thing about this citizen's petition is that you don't have to support it to comment on it. Plenty of people have written in saying things like: "the drug company is obviously concerned about its bottom line and nothing more" and "It's very clear the pharmaceutical industry has undertaken a campaign to takeover the healthfood/supplement industry."

The more comments against this ridiculous petition, the better. To add your own two cents, click here
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?ma...t&o=0900006480511d9b

Giving you the skinny on Big Pharma,

Wow... I am speechless

This is the closest I've seen so far. They've been out to regulate supplements, etc., but so far, nothing solid has come up. This can layout the ground work should they (GSK) win.

Most likely any decision involving goverment will be in grid-lock till Spring (March) of 2009 because of the elections.

Over the 4th holiday ABC reported that whatever
congress didn't resolve by then (before the holiday break), will
be on hold till the presidential elections
have resolved a new leader with/without control of house etc..

I know the FDA is in a different area of government but big
moves will not be made for another 9 months.

Actually, I'm happy to see Tryptophan return to the market since
it's ban back in early-90's because of a dirty filter in
a processing plant.

One (pro-vitamin) fact to consider is that AARP and it's members are the biggest consumer of vitamins next to fitness/bodybuilders and
want vitamins as cheaper alternative to prescription meds.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00064.html
-FDA ban

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:drX9LmXzgCQJ:www.f...&ct=clnk&cd=39&gl=us

The firm, in its haste to provide
almost 60 percent of all tryptophan
sold in the United States, sped up tryp-
tophan’s delicate fermentation process,
and reduced the amount of charcoal
used to filter the newly fermented sup-
plement. Showa Denko’s negligence
was to blame, not tryptophan.

my 2 cents,
Max

OH NO MR.BILL what ever would we do without supplements! I believe that anyone truly interested in attempting a bodybuilding lifestyle should do so without the use of any enhancements (supplements too)Rely strictly on whole foods and sound training principles for the first 6 months and then gradually introduce any type of supplement.

quote:

gradually introduce any type of supplement

Sooo, what if there's not any? There has been attempts and if Australia doesn't allow Beverly's Protein, imagine what possibilities Big Pharma can do. Obesity is now a disease, so any trainer trying to work with them to shed fat just may be practicing medicine with out a license. Being certified is not a license.

Getting back to supps, any OTC supp may be in question, even things like Metamucil. Right now, it may seem like a joke to you but there will be a time that it won't be and could affect your parents drastically. I know it could hit mine bad if they need to get prescriptions for more and pay more!

Let's see what happens.

Funny how it is a pharmaceutical company that wants to stop the production and usage of supplements!! More and more people are utilizing alternative medicine for treatment of illness, injury and overall health. The pharma companies want people to rely on them...the supplement industry only hurts them.