Another money-maker for the pharmaceuticals I suppose

[Guest guest]

Fat-fighting baby milk criticised

 

The researchers would like to add leptin to baby milk

Plans to add a hormone which suppresses hunger to baby formula food

is unlikely to work say experts.

University of Buckingham researchers are looking at adding leptin to

formula milk to curb future over-eating.

 

But experts said the work detailed in Chemistry and Industry

was " wildly optimistic science fiction " and questioned testing leptin

on babies.

 

Babies fed with formula grow more quickly than breast-fed babies -

who have a lower risk of obesity as adults.

 

'Adding something back'

 

The work into the effect of leptin, a hormone produced in the brain

throughout life, is being carried out at the Clore Laboratory at the

University of Buckingham.

 

Without evidence that this works in humans, it is pure flight of

fancy that those consuming leptin from infancy will never get fat

 

Dr Ian Campbell, Weight Concern

 

The team, led by Dr Mike Cawthorne, are looking at adding leptin to

formula milk and other foods.

 

They have already carried out a study where leptin was given to

pregnant rats, leading to a lifelong impact on their offspring's

propensity to obesity.

 

Even those fed a fat-laden diet stayed slim, while offspring from

untreated rats gained weight and developed diabetes.

 

Research into the effect of the hormone on human appetite has so far

proved disappointing, with people soon seeming to resist its hunger-

quenching effects.

 

But Dr Cawthorne said providing leptin early effectively " hard-wires

the body's energy balance " .

 

He added: " The supplemented milks are simply adding something back

that was originally present - breast milk contains leptin and formula

feeds don't. "

 

'Altering the brain'

 

However, a number of experts have criticised the concept of adding

leptin to formula milk.

 

Steve O'Rahilly, professor of clinical biochemistry and medicine at

the University of Cambridge said: " Several researchers have suggested

that exposing animals to higher leptin levels during early life might

have long-lasting benefits in terms of protection against later

obesity.

 

" But this still needs to be firmed up.

 

" The notion that leptin in baby milk will prevent human obesity is

currently in the realms of wildly optimistic science fiction. "

 

Dr Nick Finer, clinical director of the Wellcome Clinical Research

Facility at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, agreed.

 

He said: " The concept that adding something to a food that could

permanently alter brain development is exciting but at the same time

so scary that it would mean a wholly new approach about how such

treatments can be tested and approved for use.

 

" And would the first trials be in newly born children? "

 

Dr Ian Campbell, honorary medical director of the charity Weight

Concern said: " Without evidence that this works in humans, it is pure

flight of fancy that those consuming leptin from infancy will never

get fat.

 

" I'd be surprised if this product could be advertised or marketed

with these extraordinary claims. "

 

He added: " To date, leptin has proved to be a great disappointment.

Most of us have plenty, and true deficiencies are rare.

 

" In fact, obese people tend to have higher than normal levels. "

[Guest guest]

At 6:39 AM +0000 4/23/07, heartwerk wrote:

>Plans to add a hormone which suppresses hunger to baby formula food

>is unlikely to work say experts.

>University of Buckingham researchers are looking at adding leptin to

>formula milk to curb future over-eating.

>

>But experts said the work detailed in Chemistry and Industry

>was " wildly optimistic science fiction " and questioned testing leptin

>on babies.

 

Now this is bizarre. Are they suggesting that babies who get leptin

won't get obese? Or is it lifelong supplements with leptin to prevent

obesity?

My parents, aunts, and uncles were all quite obese (most were over

200 pounds, and a few as much as 300 pounds) and I'm reasonably

certain they were all breast-fed. I, on the other hand, was not

breast-fed and have never been overweight.

[Guest guest]

Hi Yarrow

 

Whatever it is, it's wrong to do it.

 

I agree with you about people who have been breastfed being overweight - I

know people of all weights who were breastfed.

 

Jo

 

-

<yarrow

 

Monday, April 23, 2007 7:51 AM

Re: Another money-maker for the pharmaceuticals I

suppose

 

 

> At 6:39 AM +0000 4/23/07, heartwerk wrote:

> >Plans to add a hormone which suppresses hunger to baby formula food

> >is unlikely to work say experts.

> >University of Buckingham researchers are looking at adding leptin to

> >formula milk to curb future over-eating.

> >

> >But experts said the work detailed in Chemistry and Industry

> >was " wildly optimistic science fiction " and questioned testing leptin

> >on babies.

>

> Now this is bizarre. Are they suggesting that babies who get leptin

> won't get obese? Or is it lifelong supplements with leptin to prevent

> obesity?

> My parents, aunts, and uncles were all quite obese (most were over

> 200 pounds, and a few as much as 300 pounds) and I'm reasonably

> certain they were all breast-fed. I, on the other hand, was not

> breast-fed and have never been overweight.

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>