At clinical trials, rice bran oil found most effective in reducing LDL

The Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, conducted a clinical trial on humans to prove the health benefits of rice bran oil (RBO), and found that the consumption of a physically-refined version of the same substantially reduced LDL and total cholesterol (owing to the fact that it contained Oryzanol) and triglyceride levels.

The inclusion criteria was based on screening LDL levels (an LDL level higher than 130 was considered as cut-off for inclusion). The subjects were aged between 25 and 65, and were healthy, based on the clinical and lab examinations. In this study, a total of 136 subjects was randomised into three groups (the others being olive oil and groundnut oil).

The RBO group 46 subjects, the olive oil group had 47 and groundnut oil group had 43. Of these, 43 subjects in the RBO group, 40 in the groundnut oil group and 33 in the olive oil group completed the study. No other intervention, besides the replacement of cooking oil, was done during the study period.

The sample size being relatively small, the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, the individuals who were allotted the other oils also witnessed a reduction in LDL levels. However, the percentage decrease in the cholesterol level was found to be the highest in the rice bran oil group.

RBO was also the most effective in lipid profile management, and its fat composition was the most ideally-balanced. All the participants were advised to indulge in their routine activities and dietary patterns. The study duration was twelve weeks, with evaluations done at four-week intervals.

Cooking oil replacement was for the entire period, and no other oil was permitted during the study. In the RBO group, the reduction in LDL was observed as early as the fourth week, and the dropout rate was the highest in the olive oil and groundnut oil groups.

“Individuals consuming the three oils were not included in the study,” said Dr Debasish Hota, professor and head, department of pharmacology and chairman and professor-in-charge, examination cell, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, stated in an e-mail interaction.

“The results of this evaluations should be interpreted with these points in the background. Lifestyle modifications form an important component of management programmes for patients with increased cholesterol levels, and dietary modification is an integral part. As per recent guidelines targeting a ‘cholesterol goal’ is not recommended, and drug treatment is based on the overall risk profile of the patient,” said Dr Hota.

FDA skips checking Metrowater, Tasmac

CHENNAI: Complaints about some Tasmac shops selling spurious liquor and piped water being contaminated have been around for a long time. However, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has not taken any samples from either Metrowater or Tasmac, both government establishments. 

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into effect on August 5, 2011, sets standards for various consumable products, including water and alcohol, and provides for checks on parameters such as substance or quality demanded, extraneous but harmless matter, misbranded items and unsafe for consumption. 

FDA officials said no checks had been conducted on Metrowater and liquor samples. "There are some practical difficulties in collecting samples from government departments like Metrowater and Tasmac. We do collect packaged drinking water samples," an official said. FDA figures show just 21 packaged water samples were collected between April and November 2013. Seven were found unsafe and 10 substandard. 

The city corporation has stopped quality checks on piped water. "Earlier we used to conduct checks. But FDA has to conduct it after the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 came into effect," said a corporation official. 

Sources said leaky pipelines, overflowing sewage, open defecation and corroded pipelines had led to severe water contamination. "The sewage and muck seep into pipes and pose severe health threats to residents," said N Muraleedharan, who stays near Karnataka Sangha School on Habibullah Road in T Nagar. Metrowater officials say they have an internal monitoring system to check the quality of drinking water. 

Many tipplers say complaints against spurious liquor are rarely attended to. "There are several instances where cheaper Indian varieties have been sold in imported liquor bottles. But nobody seems to conduct any checks," said a regular customer at a Tasmac outlet in Royapettah. Tasmac officials say they take action based on complaints received on the phone numbers 18004252015 and 28542303. Sources said there was a huge racket in the supply of fake liquor, labels, bottle caps and security stickers to Tasmac outlets where liquor is sold after 10pm when they close. 

In contrast, the mechanism to ensure safe water and alcohol seems to be better in other states. Kerala food safety commissioner Biju Prabhakar said they have collected several water and liquor samples and taken action against violators. "Anything consumable comes under the Food Safety Act. But it all depends on how the officials enforce it. The safety of the public should be the top priority," he said. 

Arrangements for Thai Poosam

Authorities have made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of ‘Thai Poosam’ festivities here on Friday as large number of people are expected to gather at Sathya Gnana Sabhai here for ‘Jyothi darshan’.

These include better crowd and traffic management, streamlining the process of mass feeding, and avoiding thefts at the venue. Authorities have also put up three giant screens on the sprawling ground to help people watch the event. Authorities have streamlined the mass feeding being organised by devotees. to ensure quality during mass feeding, a food safety officer would be posted at the venue and all vehicles purveying free food would be lined up in a row.

Groups of people who reach Vadalur by bullock carts and tractor-trailers from Vriddhachalam should park the vehicles at government girls’ higher secondary school and the SIDCO grounds.

Buses plying on Cuddalore-Kumbakonam and Chennai-Kumbakonam routes should not halt at the Vadalur cross-roads but only at a temporary bus stand planned to be set up at the venue.

Food safety officer to ensure quality of free food to be distributed

FOOD SAFETY ACT 120 eateries registered

Ludhiana, January 15

The District Health Department today registered as many as 120 eateries during a camp organised at Shringar Theatre. Disclosing this, District Health Officer Dr Abnash Kumar said, "Tomorrow we will hold a camp at Sherpur. We appeal to all the eateries to get registered or get a licence issued under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006." Dr Kumar said he has instructed all senior medical officers in the peripheral areas to register the eateries. The last date for registration or issuing licence to these eateries is February 4. 

கடற்கரையில் உள்ள உணவு பொருள் கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை

சென்னை, ஜன.16: 

மெரினா கடற்கரை மற்றும் எலியட்ஸ் கடற்கரையில் உள்ள கடைகளில் விற்கப்படும் பொருட்கள் சுகாதாரமற்று இருப்பதாக புகார் வந்தது. இதையடுத்து கடற்கரையில் உள்ள 500க்கும் மேற்பட்ட சிறிய மற்றும் பெரிய கடைகளில் 10க்கும் மேற்பட்ட சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர்கள் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் அதிரடி ஆய்வு நடத்தினர். 

இதில் மீன், ஃபாஸ்ட் புட் கடைகள், சிறு உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்கும் கடைகள் , ஐஸ் கிரீம், குளிர் பானங்கள், குடிநீர், உணவு தயாரித்த எண்ணெய் ஆகிய மாதிரிகளை எடுத்து சென்றனர். தரமற்ற பொருட்களை விற்கும் கடைக்காரர்கள் மேல் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என கூறிய அதிகாரிகள் பொதுமக்கள் தரமான உணவுகளை வாங்கி உண்ண வேண்டும் என்று கேட்டு கொண்டனர். 

இதுகுறித்து அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகையில், கடைக்காரர்கள் ஒரு தடவை பயன்படுத்திய எண்ணெயை மீண்டும் பயன்படுத்த கூடாது இதனால் அந்த எண்ணெயை மீண்டும் பயன்படுத்தும்போது ரசாயன மாற்றம் ஏற்பட்டு புற்று நோய் வரக்காரணம் ஆகிவிடும். ஆகவே சுகாதாரமான முறையில் உணவு பண்டங்களை தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்யவேண்டும். சுகாதாரமான தண்ணீரை பருக வேண்டும். கடற்கரை மணலில் தோண்டி விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீர் மலிவாக கிடைக்கிறதே என்பதற்காக பொதுமக்கள் அதை அருந்த வேண்டாம். அதில் கிருமிகள் இருக்கலாம், அது உடல் நலத்தை பாதிக்கும் என தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

Toxic metals in beauty products

NEW DELHI: Your make-up may be leaving you with a touch of toxic heavy metals, with potential health implications over long-term use. A study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claims to have found high levels of mercury in several well-known national and international brands of skin-whitening creams and chromium in several brands of lipsticks.

High levels of mercury are associated with kidney damage, skin discoloration and scarring, while chromium is a carcinogen.

Despite use of mercury being banned in cosmetics under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 44% of the 32 fairness creams that CSE tested reportedly contained mercury. It found chromium in 50% of 30 lipstick samples tested; and nickel in 43%. All the samples were purchased from a market in Delhi and tested at CSE's pollution monitoring lab. The samples also included some popular herbal products.

CSE compared the heavy metals found in the cosmetics with their acceptable daily intake (ADI) - the maximum amount of toxin that a person can be exposed to over a lifetime without any appreciable health risk. The results showed that whitening creams can contribute up to 71% of the ADI for mercury, depending on the product and the amount of cream used. Given that mercury is also ingested via food, water and air, chances are that a person using a mercury-laced cream may exceed the acceptable daily intake.

Lipstick users could be worse off. Among the brands that tested positive for nickel and chromium, that worst could expose a heavy user to over 15 times the safety limit for chromium, according to the study.

CSE researchers said only 14 of the companies making such products responded. Most of them said there was a "trace" presence and that the product was safe for long-term use. CSE researchers, however, argue that these toxins are avoidable altogether. "The fact that our lab did not find mercury in 56% of the products tested suggests that the industry has the capacity and wherewithal to clean up their act," said CSE director general Sunita Narain.

The CSE study said the worst defaulters in case of mercury concentration in fairness creams were Aroma Magic Fair lotion, a product of Blossom Kochhar Beauty Products Pvt Ltd, followed by Procter and Gamble's Olay Natural White and Pond's White Beauty of Hindustan Unilever.

When contacted, Hindustan Unilever told TOI, "We do not add mercury in our cosmetic products. Like all Unilever cosmetic products, all Pond's products (including Pond's White Beauty) are safe - with no added mercury and manufactured in accordance with good manufacturing practices and in line with BIS and US FDA limits on trace metals. All our products are approved by the FDA...and they comply fully to the guidelines in India...on all aspects including contaminants and heavy metals."

Blossom Kochhar Beauty Products Pvt Ltd and Procter and Gamble did not respond to TOI's queries.

In case of lipsticks, Hearts and Tarts (080V) shade of ColorBar had the highest concentration of chromium while LancomeLabsolu Nu-204 of L'Oreal India had the highest concentration of nickel. Lancome told TOI, "Our highest priority is the safety of our consumers. We do not use heavy metals as ingredients in our products and comply fully with Indian and International cosmetic regulations." ColorBar did not comment.

However, the products named above are not the only defaulters; many other brands tested by CSE were found to be containing these metals.

Shocking to the average user as it might be, scientists are taking a guarded view of the findings because cosmetics have always had trace amounts of heavy metals.

"Skin whitening agents are a wrong thing to use in any case. They are proven to damage the skin in the long run," said Alok Dhawan, Nanomaterial Toxicology Group of CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research. "It's a risk versus benefit scenario. If the findings of this report are true, it's good for customers to be aware. However, the effects completely depend on the length of usage and the amount used. Cosmetic companies are also evolving. They don't use ammonia, for instance, any more in hair colours. Long-term use of cosmetics with mercury will lead to health implications."

Mercury, Dhawan added, can not just cause damage to skin but to the environment when washed.

Keep nicotine-based chewing gum away from our children!

The Indian Tobacco Company Ltd. has launched a huge advertising campaign to promote Kwiknic, a nicotine based chewing gum which is supposed to help cigarette smokers and tobacco chewers with de-addiction. However, we fear the marketing, advertising and easy availability of the chewing gum may lead to usage of these products by our children. 

The adverse effects of these gums on children are well documented. Nicotine gum could be abused by children leading to nicotine addiction and all the consequences of nicotine abuse. As it does not emit the offensive cigarette smell, parents, teachers, trainers and coaches may not be able to detect that the child is using the gum. 

Kwiknic is freely available in several flavours at almost every large and little shop selling groceries and confectionaries in Bangalore, at Rs 30 for a pack of 6 and Rs 50 for a pack of 10 chewing gums. The literature inside the packet warns of the adverse effects on children. However, there are no statutory warnings and pictures on these chewing gum packs unlike on cigarette packs. 

Chewing gum is classified as 'Food' under the Food Safety Act, 2006. Further, Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, prohibits sale of any food product containing nicotine or tobacco. Thus, this chewing gum cannot be sold in the food bazaars and other outlets as is the case now. 

We urge the Food Safety Commissioner, Karnataka, to: 

a) Restrict the sale and distribution of nicotine gums to people over 18 years of age through medical stores and pharmacies against a prescription. 

b) Ban large scale advertising of these products. 

c) Not allow sale of nicotine chewing gums within and around school premises as in the case of cigarettes and alcohol. 

d) Ensure that Statutory warnings and pictures (as in the case of cigarettes) are prominently displayed on nicotine gum packs. 

e) Ensure that nicotine gums are of a colour which differentiates them from other chewing gums, so that a parent can easily spot if a child is using nicotine gum. We therefore suggest that all nicotine gum products be ‘black’ or a ‘deep grey' in colour. 

As concerned parents we appeal for prompt and decisive action at the earliest, so that our children are not lured into experimenting with nicotine based chewing gums to the detriment of their health.

Government can prosecute offenders, rules HC

KOCHI: The government has the right to prosecute manufacturers and dealers of dietary supplements if they violate provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and no other option is available as per law to prove innocence other than facing prosecution, the Kerala high court held.

A division bench comprising Justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and P Ubaid gave the ruling after considering a batch of petitions questioning prosecutions initiated by drugs inspectors alleging violation of provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 (DC Act).

The petitions filed by manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of dietary supplements said their articles are essentially food items and not drugs as defined in the Act. Some of them also argued that they are operating after obtaining statutory licences of different states under the provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954 and the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.

Petitions were filed in the high court after drugs inspectors issued orders prohibiting sale of dietary supplements. Some of the manufacturers and dealers also alleged that drugs inspectors were issuing them oral instructions and directions not to sell dietary supplements.

After considering the petitions, the bench led by Justice Radhakrishnan held, "We do not see any other provisions in the DC Act which enable any other mode to provide a different platform for the manufacturer, distributor, dealer, supplier, etc. to demonstrate his innocence or to have a consideration as to whether a substance that is being sold by him is drug as per the DC Act and the rules and notifications thereunder, or not."

The court further held that the government and the drugs inspectors are duty-bound to ensure that the rights of citizens are appropriately protected by taking due action in strict conformity with the provisions of the Act, its rules, and notifications. They would have no choice but to go for prosecution if a case is made out regarding commission of offence in terms of the Act, rules, or notifications, the court said.

A division bench comprising of justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and P Ubaid gave the ruling after considering a batch of petitions questioning prosecutions initiated by drugs inspectors alleging violation of provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 (DC Act).

The petitions filed by manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of dietary supplements said their articles are essential food and not drugs as defined in the Act. Some of them also argued that they are operating after obtaining statutory licences of different states under the provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954 and the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.

Petitions were filed to the high court after drugs inspectors issued orders prohibiting sale of dietary supplements. Some of the manufacturers and dealers also alleged that drugs inspectors are issuing oral instructions and directions to them not to sell dietary supplements.

After considering the petitions, the bench led by justice Radhakrishnan held, "We do not see any other provisions in the DC Act which enables any other mode to provide a different platform for the manufacturer, distributor, dealer, supplier, etc to demonstrate his innocence or to have a consideration as to whether a substance that is being sold by him is drug as per the DC Act and the rules and notifications thereunder, or not."

The court held further that the government and the drugs inspectors are duty bound to ensure that the rights of citizens are appropriately protected by taking due action in strict conformity with the provisions of the Act, its rules, and notifications. They would have no choice but to go for prosecution if a case is made out regarding commission of offence in terms of the Act, rules, or notifications, the court said.