Orlistat, an anti-obesity drug, is a potent and specific inhibitor of intestinal lipases. In light of the recent US FDA approval of the over-the-counter sale of orlistat (60 mg three times daily), clinicians need to be aware that its use may be associated with less well known, but sometimes clinically relevant, adverse effects. More specifically, the use of orlistat has been associated with several mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal adverse effects, such as oily stools, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and faecal spotting. A few cases of serious hepatic adverse effects (cholelithiasis, cholostatic hepatitis and subacute liver failure) have been reported. However, the effects of orlistat on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are beneficial. Orlistat-induced weight loss seems to have beneficial effects on blood pressure. No effect has been observed on calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper or zinc balance or on bone biomarkers. Interestingly, the use of orlistat has been associated with rare cases of acute kidney injury, possibly due to the increased fat malabsorption resulting from the inhibition of pancreatic and gastric lipase by orlistat, leading to the formation of soaps with calcium and resulting in increased free oxalate absorption and enteric hyperoxaluria. Orlistat has a beneficial effect on carbohydrate metabolism. No significant effect on cancer risk has been reported with orlistat.Orlistat interferes with the absorption of many drugs (such as warfarin, amiodarone, ciclosporin and thyroxine as well as fat-soluble vitamins), affecting their bioavailability and effectiveness. This review considers orlistat-related adverse effects and drug interactions. The clinical relevance and pathogenesis of these effects is also discussed.

Plasma visfatin levels are increased in overweight and obese subjects with MetS compared with those individuals who do not fulfil the criteria for the diagnosis of MetS.

Eur J Clin Invest 2008; 38 (1): 71-72Editor -The presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus [1]. A 'new' adipocytokine named 'visfatin' (pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor) is a cytokine highly expressed in visceral fat that exhibits insulin-mimetic properties [2]. We investigated the possible differences in plasma visfatin levels between subjects with and without MetS.Consecutive patients (n = 186, 81 men/105 women) without known CVD or diabetes mellitus attending the Outpatient Lipid Clinic of the University Hospital of Ioannina participated in the present study. Ninety of them fulfilled the National Cholesterol Educational Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria for the diagnosis of MetS [3] and the remaining 96 subjects served as a control group (non-MetS). Plasma visfatin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (EIA) kit (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, Belmont, California, USA).Plasma visfatin concentrations were higher in MetS subjects compared with non-MetS individuals [24·6 (9·1-56·6) ng mL -1 vs. 16·1 (6·7-48·7) ng mL -1 , P < 0·01], even after adjustment for age, sex and body mass index. Visfatin levels increased proportionally to the number of MetS components (P for trend < 0·01) (Fig. 1). Plasma visfatin concentrations were correlated with waist circumference (rho = 0·3, P < 0·001), triglycerides (rho = 0·35, P < 0·001), systolic (rho = 0·28, P < 0·001) and diastolic (rho = 0·27, P < 0·001) blood pressure but not with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Plasma visfatin levels were marginally correlated with fasting glucose (rho = 0·144, P = 0·055) and insulin levels (rho 0·165, P = 0·035), as well as with the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index (rho = 0·16, P = 0·041).In conclusion, plasma visfatin levels are increased in patients with MetS compared with individuals that do not fulfil the criteria for this syndrome. Visfatin concentrations elevate in parallel with the number of MetS components. Gene expression of visfatin was recently found to be enhanced in macrophages of human unstable carotid and coronary atherosclerotic lesions; this finding suggests a potential role for visfatin as an inflammatory mediator and in plaque destabilisation process [4]. Larger clinical studies are needed in order to assess if the observed increase in visfatin levels in MetS subjects is a consequence of the involvement of the molecule in the pathogenesis of this syndrome, or it is just an epiphenomenon that might be a useful marker of abdominal fat deposition and cardiovascular risk. Figure 1 Plasma visfatin concentrations (logarithmically transformed) in subjects with a different number of components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The groups consist of: MetS components = 0 n = 34 patients MetS components = 1 n = 29 patients MetS components = 2 n = 38 patients MetS components = 3 n = 50 patients MetS components = 4 n = 24 patients MetS components = 5 n = 11 patients.

Visfatin is highly expressed in adipose tissue (mainly by the stromal cells), but it is also ubiquitously present in most tissues. Visfatin, which plays a role in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthesis, has been implicated in inflammatory states. Controversial results exist about the expression, circulating levels and the role of visfatin in atherosclerosis-related diseases. Most studies showed increased levels of visfatin in diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, renal and cardiovascular disease. However, other studies reported lower levels of visfatin in these diseases. The discrepancies in clinical studies may be attributed to the multifactorial regulation of visfatin. There is evidence that visfatin expression and circulating levels are influenced by fat area and distribution, inflammatory state, renal function, iron metabolism, hormones as well as several other factors. Furthermore, discrepancies and lack of correlation between commercially available visfatin assays have been reported. More research is needed to better understand the factors that control its synthesis/release and to evaluate the role of visfatin in atherosclerosis-related disease. Large studies with homogeneous populations will probably be needed to answer these questions. Whether visfatin will eventually become a therapeutic target remains to be established.

ScopeCruciferous-rich diets have been associated with reduction in plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), which may be due to the action of isothiocyanates derived from glucosinolates that accumulate in these vegetables. This study tests the hypothesis that a diet rich in high glucoraphanin (HG) broccoli will reduce plasma LDL-C.Methods and resultsOne hundred and thirty volunteers were recruited to two independent double-blind, randomly allocated parallel dietary intervention studies, and were assigned to consume either 400 g standard broccoli or 400 g HG broccoli per week for 12 weeks. Plasma lipids were quantified before and after the intervention. In study 1 (37 volunteers), the HG broccoli diet reduced plasma LDL-C by 7.1% (95% CI: –1.8%, –12.3%, p = 0.011), whereas standard broccoli reduced LDL-C by 1.8% (95% CI +3.9%, –7.5%, ns). In study 2 (93 volunteers), the HG broccoli diet resulted in a reduction of 5.1% (95% CI: –2.1%, –8.1%, p = 0.001), whereas standard broccoli reduced LDL-C by 2.5% (95% CI: +0.8%, –5.7%, ns). When data from the two studies were combined the reduction in LDL-C by the HG broccoli was significantly greater than standard broccoli (p = 0.031).ConclusionEvidence from two independent human studies indicates that consumption of high glucoraphanin broccoli significantly reduces plasma LDL-C.

We describe the profile of dietary supplement use and its correlates in the Epirus Health Study cohort, which consists of 1237 adults (60.5% women) residing in urban north-west Greece. The association between dietary supplement use and demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, personal medical history and clinical measurements was assessed using logistic regression models, separately for women and men. The overall prevalence of dietary supplement use was 31.4%, and it was higher in women (37.3%) compared to men (22.4%; p-value = 4.2−08). Based on multivariable logistic regression models, dietary supplement use in women was associated with age (positively until middle-age and slightly negatively afterwards), the presence of a chronic health condition (OR = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.18–2.46), lost/removed teeth (OR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.35–0.78) and diastolic blood pressure (OR per 5 mmHg increase =0.84; 95% CI, 0.73–0.96); body mass index and worse general health status were borderline inversely associated. In men, dietary supplement use was positively associated with being employed (OR = 2.53; 95% CI, 1.21–5.29). A considerable proportion of our sample used dietary supplements, and the associated factors differed between women and men.

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Introduction. Adipose tissue contributes to atherosclerosis with mechanisms related to adipokine secretion. Polyphenols may exhibit antiatherogenic properties. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of three polyphenols, namely, quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol on adipokine secretion from cultured human adipocytes. Methods. Human SGBS adipocytes were treated with quercetin, EGCG, and resveratrol for 24 and 48 hours. Visfatin, leptin, and adiponectin were measured in the supernatant. Results. Visfatin secretion was inhibited by quercetin 10 μM by 16% and 24% at 24 and 48 hours respectively. The corresponding changes for quercetin 25 μM were 47% and 48%. Resveratrol 25 μM reduced visfatin by 28% and 38% at 24 and 48 hours. EGCG did not have an effect on visfatin. None of tested polyphenols influenced leptin and adiponectin secretion. Conclusion. Quercetin and resveratrol significantly decreased visfatin secretion from SGBS adipocytes. This effect may contribute to their overall antiatherogenic properties.