New Zealand natural sweetener maker BioVittoria has got the approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Fruit-Sweetness monk fruit concentrate. The company says its product is the first and the only natural zero-calorie fruit concentrate sweetener to win GRAS notification from the FDA so far. BioVittoria CEO David Thorrold says the notification now clears the way for its commercial application.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said two Vicks products sold over-the-counter to treat the common cold and flu that contain vitamin C violate agency rules. A warning letter was sent to Vicks owner Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) that “Vicks DayQuil Plus Vitamin C” and “Vicks NyQuil Plus Vitamin C” cannot be marketed as a combination drug and dietary supplement. The FDA suggested Procter & Gamble would have to seek agency approval.

A new study, published in an editorial in the October issue of British Medical Journal, has indicated a link between mental illness and obesity in patients. “Evan Atlantis from the University of Adelaide’s School of Medicine said that several psychosocial, lifestyle and physiological factors may be involved in the complex inter-relationship between obesity and mental illness. Reduced physical activity and overeating, particularly comfort foods rich in fats and sugars, to improve mood are common among depressed and anxious patients.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc’s experimental obesity pill lorcaserin met one of two federal weight-loss goals, a result sufficient to seek US approval of the drug. About 47% of patients on lorcaserin after one year of treatment lost 5% or more of their body weight compared with 25% of those taking a placebo, or dummy pill, Arena said in a statement.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc’s experimental obesity pill lorcaserin met one of two federal weight-loss goals, a result sufficient to seek US approval of the drug. About 47 percent of patients on lorcaserin after one year of treatment lost 5 percent or more of their body weight compared with 25 percent of those taking a placebo, or dummy pill, Arena said.

Vivus will apply for approval from the FDA by the end of the year to introduce a new diet drug that has impressive potential. The drug, called Qnexa, has more than met FDA requirements in two late stage clinical trials. The drug is made up of two medications already approved by the FDA. One is phentermine, the non-lethal component of the controversial drug Fen-Phen, which was ultimately taken off the market due to reported heart complications. Phentermine, which is of the amphetamine class, is the most prescribed obesity drug in the nation and is typically given to patients who are manifesting weight related illnesses.

Low-carbohydrate diets have helped some people lose weight quickly, but the diets’ long-term effects on cardiovascular health have been uncertain. The recent research conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on mice depicted that those on the low carb-high protein diet gained less weight than the mice on other diets. While there were no major differences in cholesterol levels among the mice, the ones on the low carb-high protein diet accumulated more plaque in their coronary arteries. They aso had lower levels of cells needed to repair and re-grow new blood vessels.

Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc is recalling all lots of its dietary supplement since it contains benzamidenafil, an unapproved drug that may pose health risks. The Stamina-Rx label does not name Benzamidenafil as one of the constituents. Benzamidenafil belongs to the same class of drugs as the active ingredients in the erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

In the battle against obesity, Yale University researchers may have discovered a new weapon – a naturally occurring molecule secreted by the gut that makes rats and mice less hungry after fatty meals. The findings are published in the Nov. 26 issue of the journal Cell.  The report suggests the molecule may help regulate how much animals and people eat, according to the team headed by Gerald I. Shulman. The team studied a family of lipids called N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines, or NAPEs, which are synthesized and secreted into the blood by the small intestine after fatty foods are eaten.

Sunwin International Neutraceuticals, Inc. has announced the production launch of Rebaudioside A 95. It is one of the highest Stevia grades available in the market today. Sunwin’s stevia is an all natural product derived from naturally sweet Stevia plant cultivars. Sunwin’s Reb A 95 is comprised of 99.5% steviol glycosides, the naturally occurring compounds that give stevia its sweetness. Stevia is used worldwide for decades as a sweetening agent and is highly recommended for people suffering from diabetes and obesity. Applications are already pending in front of the US Food and Drug Administration for approval.