#521 Health News Update

FDA has come under scrutiny lately. Not only did Dr. David Graham testify before Congress about shortcomings in the agency’s safety record, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an editorial calling for an independent drug safety board to evaluate drugs following approval and marketing. The diet controversy continues. Is a low-fat diet really best for the heart? Harvard scientists have found that the best diet for diabetics may be a diet that doesn’t raise blood sugar. Other researchers have found that a diet rich in saturated fat contributes less to atherosclerosis than a low-fat diet. The FDA has put testosterone to rev up women’s sex drive on the fast track. And chocolate may hold the key to calming coughs…and hiccups? Guests: Phil Fontanarosa, MD, Deputy Executive of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Co-author: “Postmarketing Surveillance–Lack of Vigilance, Lack of Trust.” David Ludwig, MD, Director of the Optimal Weight for Life Program at Children’s Hospital Boston and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.