The Federal Trade Commission has charged companies selling 2 pediatric dietary supplements with making unsupported claims. The first product is called Pedia Loss and the second is Pedia Lean.
Comment on Pedia Loss: In their ads, three Florida-based companies claim that Pedia Loss is an "appetite suppressant for children 6 and older" that "slows the absorption of fat" and "safely burn(s) fat." Pedia Loss contains inulin, a polysaccharide derived form the Jerusalem artichoke and Dahlia tuber. Claims for inulin say that not only can it help avoid "sugar rushes and crashes," but it may also help reduce sugar craving, a frequent source of calories.
Researchers at the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland warn that inulin may trigger a serious allergic reaction. In 2000 the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors described a patient who suffered allergic reactions from foods that contained inulin 4 separate times within a 2-year period. Three times the reactions occurred after ingestion of inulin-containing foods. Merely touching an artichoke set off symptoms another time. The reactions that were triggered included throat swelling, nasal itching, coughing, and breathing difficulty.
Comment on Pedia Lean: One active ingredient in Pedia Lean is called Pediatropin, described as ""n all-natural, micronized fiber concentrate derived from a plant (tuber) called P. rivieri". The company claims that, "This tuber has been used as a food source for thousands of years, but only recently have scientists discovered an effective method for micro-processing the plant into a high-molecular-weight powder which makes it ultimately effective as a children�s weight-control tool." Another ingredient in Pedia Lean is glucomannan. Glucomannan is a water-soluble dietary fiber that is derived from konjac root (Amorphophallus konjac). Like other forms of dietary fiber, glucomannan is considered a "bulk-forming laxative." Glucomannan promotes a larger, bulkier stool that passes through the colon more easily and requires less pressure�and subsequently less straining�to expel.
Overall Comment: There are two question that parents should ask about products like Pedia Lean and Pedia Loss. Have they been proven safe? Particularly for children. And have studies been done showing that they are effective? Instead of wasting money on pediatric weight-loss products, why not encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables?
Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D.
Frederick Hecht, M.D.
Medical Editors, MedicineNet.com