Letters To The Editor
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 14, 2010; 16(38): 4880-4882
Published online Oct 14, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i38.4880
Science of weight loss supplements: Compromised by conflicts of interest?
Ano Lobb
Ano Lobb, the Dartmouth Institute, Dartmouth Medical School, 35 Centerra Parkway, Hanover, NH 03755, United States
Author contributions: Lobb A contributed wholly to this paper.
Correspondence to: Ano Lobb, MPH, Public Health Consultant, the Dartmouth Institute, Dartmouth Medical School, 35 Centerra Parkway, Hanover, NH 03755, United States. ano.lobb@gmail.com
Telephone: +1-603-6461226
Received: June 15, 2010
Revised: July 22, 2010
Accepted: July 29, 2010
Published online: October 14, 2010
Abstract

Weight loss supplements often contain powerful pharmacoactive ingredients with the potential to cause harm. Trials used to determine product safety and effectiveness, meanwhile, tend to be small, of short duration, and frequently lack financial conflict of interest disclosures. These factors could conspire to place consumers at risk, especially when published research cited in advertising cloaks products with the suggestion that their safety and effectiveness have been proven by science. Examples of current and former weight loss products backed by potentially conflicted or low quality research include Metabolife-356, Hydroxycut, Xenadrine and LeptiCore. Published research, especially in the field of weight loss supplements, needs better conflict of interest disclosure, and regulators should consider how research findings are used in marketing claims.

Keywords: Weight loss supplements; Cissus quadrangularis; Hydroxycut; Xenadrine; Metabolife; Lepticore; Garcinia cambogia; Conflict of interest