Fenfluramine, vitamin C and weight loss

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Refractory obesity presents a significant clinical challenge.
• Fenfluramine is an appetite suppressant with potential anti-obesity effects.
• The role of vitamin C in drug efficacy requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if supplementary vitamin C influences the weight loss efficacy of fenfluramine in obese patients.
• To test the hypothesis that vitamin C intake modulates the anti-obesity effects of fenfluramine.

Main Methods:

• A 20-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 42 female patients with refractory obesity.
• Participants received a controlled diet (≤1000 kcal/day, ≤40 mg vitamin C/day).
• Groups received either 600 mg vitamin C daily or a placebo, alongside fenfluramine (up to 160 mg/day).

Main Results:

• No significant difference in mean weight loss was observed between the vitamin C and placebo groups.
• Fenfluramine administration up to the maximum tolerated dose did not yield differential weight loss based on vitamin C supplementation.

Conclusions:

• The study does not support the hypothesis that vitamin C intake influences the anti-obesity effects of fenfluramine.
• Vitamin C supplementation does not appear to enhance fenfluramine's efficacy for weight loss in this patient population.