Applied Food Sciences, Inc. of Austin, Texas has settled Federal Trade
Commission charges that it “… used the results of a flawed study to
make baseless weight-loss claims about its green coffee extract to
retailers, who repeated those claims in marketing finished products to
consumers …” – The settlement requires the company to “… pay $3.5
million, and to have scientific substantiation for any future weight-
loss claims it makes, including at least two adequate and well-
controlled human clinical tests …”

Mutations in the PALB2 gene confer as much increased risk for breast
cancer as BRCA2 mutations, according to a New England Journal of
Medicine study. The PALB2 protein is key to several BRCA2 functions,
including limiting cellular DNA damage.

U.K. researchers examined breast cancer risk among some 360 members of
154 families in which at least one person had breast cancer and a loss-
of-function mutation in PALB2 (but no BRCA mutations). They found that
breast cancer risk was 9.5 times higher among mutation carriers than
in the general population. The absolute breast cancer risk by age 70
among women with PALB2 mutations ranged from 33% among those with no
family history of breast cancer to 58% among those with at least two
first-degree relatives with breast cancer at age 50. PALB2 mutations
also increased risk among men.

The researchers say the level of risk conferred by PALB2 mutations
would be considered high according to American Cancer Society and
other guidelines. “This level of risk,” they write, “may justify
adding PALB2 to genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2.”

New England Journal of Medicine

According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine,
looking at 150 otherwise healthy adults, at 12 months, the low-carb
group had lost 3.5 kilograms more than the low-fat group, even though
caloric intakes were similar. The low-carb group also saw greater
improvements in body composition, CRP levels, HDL cholesterol, and
triglycerides.

Annals of Internal Medicine

A new study in Neurology adds to the mounting evidence linking vitamin
D deficiency with increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer disease.

In this study, participants with deficient levels (25-50 nmol/L) had
significantly increased risks for dementia and AD, than participants
with sufficient baseline vitamin D levels (50 nmol/L or higher).

The researchers conclude, “Our results confirm that vitamin D
deficiency is associated with a substantially increased risk of all-
cause dementia and Alzheimer disease. This adds to the ongoing debate
about the role of vitamin D in nonskeletal conditions.”

-Neurology

The FDA has recalled more than 13,000 bottles of metoprolol succinate
extended-release tablets manufactured by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories,
Reuters reported. In addition, the agency recently recalled another
lot of generic metoprolol from a different company, Wockhardt. Both
recalls were for medicines manufactured at facilities in India.

The recalls were categorized as Class II, which the FDA says “may
cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or
where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

If you are prescribed metoprolol, a beta blocker, please talk with your doctor.

New York Times story

FDA and EPA have issued a draft updated advice which recommends that
“… pregnant women eat at least 8 ounces and up to 12 ounces (2-3
servings) per week of a variety of fish that are lower in mercury to
support fetal growth and development … The draft updated advice
cautions pregnant or breastfeeding women to avoid four types of fish
that are associated with high mercury levels:
tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico
shark
swordfish
king mackerel.
In addition, the draft updated advice recommends limiting consumption
of white (albacore) tuna to 6 ounces a week … When eating fish
caught from local streams, rivers and lakes, follow fish advisories
from local authorities. If advice isn’t available, limit your total
intake of such fish to 6 ounces a week and 1-3 ounces for children …”

Combining Chantix (needs a prescription) with the nicotine patch
available OTC is more effective at achieving smoking cessation than
Chantix alone, according to a new study published in JAMA.

More than 400 adults (mean age: 46 years) who smoked at least 10
cigarettes per day during the past year were randomized to receive
Chantix plus either a 15-mg nicotine patch or placebo patch. Roughly
62% of participants finished the study. Those who received the Chantix/
NRT combination achieved higher continuous abstinence rates than those
who took varenicline plus placebo at both 12 weeks (55% vs. 41%) and
24 weeks (49% vs. 33%). At 6 months, the point prevalence abstinence
rate for the combination group was 65%, compared with 47% for the
varenicline-alone group.

The combination group experienced more constipation, disturbed sleep,
depression, and nausea, but the difference was statistically
significant only for skin reactions.

JAMA