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| The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA), on March 22, 2000 pulled the diabetes drug Rezulin off the market. The drug had been used by more than 700,000 patients and been responsible for more than 61 deaths. Dr. Sidney Wolfe, a critic of the FDA for being too slow, said the drug should have been taken off the market long ago. He characterized the drug as, "one of the most dangerous drugs." The problem with the drug was toxicity to the liver. In an interesting response, Warner Lambert, the maker of Rezulin, has voluntarily agreed to stop selling the drug, but they did comment that they felt the benefits of the drug outweighed the risks. I am sure that is of little consolation to the families of the 61 people who died. |
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| Web MD July 23, 2001, reports on the link between infants who drank cows milk and type 1 diabetes. Finnish researcher Hans K. Akerblom, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in Philadelphia reported findings from a new study of more than 200 newborns at-risk for type 1 diabetes that suggested that feeding an infant formula made with cow's milk may up their chances of developing the disease. The study checked infants after breast feeding. The babies were fed a formula made either with or without cow's milk. Those fed the formula made without cow's milk were about 50% less likely to develop proteins that are associated with type 1 diabetes. Thus, Akerblom postulates, cow's milk may cause diabetes in genetically at-risk kids. Other studies have already found that infants fed cow's milk are no more likely to develop the disease than infants who are breastfed. Other studies show that breast fed babies may have higher IQs and stronger immune systems than babies fed with formula. Additional previous research also suggests that breast feeding during a baby's first year may help lower the risk of gastrointestinal, or GI, tract infections, which affect the stomach and intestines, and atopic eczema, a common skin condition that affects around 10% of all infants and children. In a timely coincidence the 11th annual World Breast Feeding Week will be celebrated from August 1-7, 2001, in countries throughout the world to increase public awareness of the importance of breast feeding. This annual event is sponsored by La Leche League International (LLLI) and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). More information on this event can be found on their web sites: La Leche League International |
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