Journal of Harmonized Research in Pharmacy

EFFECTIVE FU LING (PORIACOCOS) FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY?

Abstract

Author(s): Luis Carlos Mendes

Obesity is a chronic disease that currently constitutes one of the major health problems of modern societies. In recent decades there has been an increase in the average weight of the population, as well as the prevalence of the number of obese individuals.(5-10) Obesity is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, hyperuricaemia, and gallbladder lithiasis. Waist circumference is now considered one of the main factors for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. According to the latest classification proposed by the International Diabetes Federation in 2006 (12)are diagnostic criteria circumference of the upper waist 94cm for European and 80cm men for European women, triglycerides greater than 150mg / dl, HDL < 40 mg / dl for men and 50 mg / dl for women, systolic blood pressure> 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure> 85 mmHg and fasting plasma glucose> 100 mg / dl. Obese patients are often a dyslipidemia characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, lowering cholesterol and increased HDL LDL. This metabolic profile is present the most often in obese patients with accumulation of intra-abdominal fat, which has been associated with increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). (1) It is estimated that, in Europe, the prevalence of obesity is 10-25% in most countries(1), in the US of 30.5% (2)and in Portugal have 38.6% of adults overweight and 13.8% are obese(3). In addition, also the alarming increase of overweight and obesity in the young in our country(4), seem to justify launching projects aimed at better understanding of these diseases and the promotion of measures aimed at combating it. The XENDOS (15)is the largest study to date with a drug for weight loss. Among the various studies which demonstrate a reduction in weight, the more effective is the Orlistat at a rate of 30% in the prevention of absorption of fat ingested at a dose of 120 mg three times a day.(13-14) Thus, this study will seek to verify whether it is really effective use of PoriaCocos in obesity compared with Orlistat. Keywords: Obesity, Orlistat, Poria-cocos, Anti obesity drugs, Coronary Artery Disease