Growth hormone (GH) is the fountain of youth for many aging men and women and a potent anabolic drug for bodybuilders. GH increases muscle mass, strengthens connective tissue, cuts fat, tightens the skin and increases bone density. With all these benefits, it’s little wonder that almost every town in America and scores of Internet sites sell millions of dollars of growth hormone every year. Physicians from Boston University Medical school— in a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) commentary— stated that these GH sales are illegal. More than one-third of GH sales in the U.S. are for reasons not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) allowed growth hormone prescriptions only for growth hormone deficiency and AIDs-related wasting syndrome. The FDCA specifically bans using growth hormone to prevent aging. The Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters to several websites that sell growth hormone on-line. The commentary urged physicians not to prescribe growth hormone for anti-aging. The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine countered the JAMA commentary and said that GH supplements have many beneficial effects in older adults with a side effect rate of only one to two percent. Also, the vast majority of older adults have lower levels of growth hormone and IGF-1 than 20 to 30 year-olds, so using growth hormone as an anti-aging remedy is not an “off-label” use of the drug. Millions or older adults have experienced the benefits of GH therapy. Do we really need big brother telling us that we can’t use something that will improve the quality of life as we age? (JAMA, 294:2086-2090, 2005; American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine: Response to commentary on growth hormone, Nov. 15, 2005)

Xenical May be Sold Over-the-Counter
Orlistat (Xenical®) is one of two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss. The drug works by blocking fat absorption in the intestines. Most patients lose about 15 pounds a year, but often suffer side effects, such as oily stools, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Also, the drug costs more than $100 per month and is seldom covered by medical insurance. GlaxoSmithKline has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow them to sell a low-dose version of Xenical over-the-counter. Xenical isn’t a magic bullet against obesity, but it can boost weight loss by 50 percent in people who watch what they eat and exercise. University of Kentucky researchers found a low incidence of minor side effects, which supports the request to reclassify Xenical. The price of the drug will plummet if the FDA approves their application. It might be released as early as summer 2006. (The Tan Sheet, Oct. 24, 2005; Newsday, Nov. 8, 2005)

Healthy Substitutes for the Three-Martini Lunch
Many business decisions require the personal touch. The business lunch has always been the preferred way to get up close and personal and close the deal. Unfortunately, the three drinks, basket of bread and sauce-covered entrée you have for lunch will leave you fatter and closer to a heart attack. Why not center your meeting around a workout? Exercising brings people together and forms a bond that’s impossible during a three-martini lunch. These days, the image of a fit manager promotes more confidence than a “good ol’ boy” who likes bourbon and branch water. Also, business executives are so busy that they appreciate any chance they can get to take an exercise break. The ideal exercise intensity is the fastest speed you can talk comfortably. You can negotiate your deal and get the most from your treadmill workout at the same time. (The New York Times, Nov. 10, 2005)

Double Session Training: Lift in the Morning; Run at Night
The healthy lifestyle is time consuming. How do you fit in two to three days per week of weight training and five to six days per week of aerobics and still have the time and energy to work, eat, relax and sleep? One solution is to lift in the morning and run or ride a bike at night. Dr. David Pearson and colleagues from Ball State University found that people who followed this exercise prescription recovered fully from the weight workouts by the time they did aerobics seven hours later. “Double sessions” work best when you eat a meal or supplement containing plenty of carbs, protein and calories immediately after the morning exercise session. The beauty of this technique is that you maximize adaptation to both kinds of exercise. Doing both forms of exercise together shortchanges the kind you do last. Include double session training to save time and build well-rounded fitness. (Men’s Health, July/Aug., 2005)

FDA Allows Anti-Cancer Claims for Tomato Products
Most men will get prostate cancer if they live long enough. While the death risk is relatively small, an aggressive cancer can cause premature death. Tomatoes contain lycopene (the chemical that makes tomatoes red), which reduces the risk of cancers of the prostate, breast, colon and lung. The Food and Drug Administration is allowing food manufacturers to make limited claims that eating tomatoes and tomato sauces reduces the risk of prostate cancer. This should prove a major boost for the sale of tomato products. This marvelous food improves sexual health and fertility in men and reduces the tendency of blood to clot, which may help prevent heart attack and stroke. Make tomatoes and tomato products an important part of your diet. Tomato products, such as tomato juice and catsup also contain lycopene. Tomato extract such as LycoMato® are available for people who can’t tolerate tomato products. (The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 10, 2005)
Lose Weight with Meal Replacement
More than 10 studies have found that low calorie meal replacements (MR) help people lose weight and keep it off. MRs take the guesswork out of dieting. Instead of counting the caloric content of your dinner, just open and serve a can of your favorite meal replacement beverage. Researchers from the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City found that people allowed three small snacks in addition to meal replacements lost as much weight as people consuming meal replacements alone. MRs helped women lose weight and triggered decreases in blood pressure, cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol), blood sugar and insulin. This and other studies suggest that consuming a MR instead of eating dinner several times a week is an effective way to control weight. (Int J Obesity, 29: 1107-1114, 2005)

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Cause ED
Many bodybuilders take chronically high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, to relieve joint, muscle and bone pain. The drugs work by blocking inflammation— the swelling, redness and warmth occurring in injured tissue during the early phases of recovery from injury. Physicians are having second thoughts about the safety and effectiveness of these drugs. Inflammation is a natural part of the healing process, so blocking it may prevent muscle hypertrophy and delay recovery from injury. Researchers from Finland found chronic users of the drugs have a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED). The study examined sexual performance and drug intake in nearly 1,200 men, between 50 and 70 years of age. The rate of ED was 93 cases per 1,000 per year in NSAIDs users and only 35 cases per 1,000 in nonusers. There was no link between arthritis and ED, while NSAIDs doubled the risk of ED. The drugs block the action of prostaglandins, which open blood vessels and allow healthy blood flow to the penis. (Journal Urology, 175: 1812-1816, 2006)