Alli Is the New Fat Flush … But Is It For You?

I have written previously about Alli, and I suggest you also read that article to learn more about its side effects and even some potential health risks. Here are a few facts you need to know about this new drug marketed by GlaxoSmithKline.

Alli is the trade name for the over the counter version of orlistat. The prescription-strength drug known as Xenical has been around for some time. However, it was not a popular seller. The drug maker is apparently hoping that their new approach of marketing directly to the consumer will be more successful.

Orlistat does have some large scale clinical trials to back up its claims. But, one thing to keep in mind is that Alli contains only 60 mg of orlistat. However, most of the documented success of this drug has been obtained with the 120 mg dose found in Xenical.

How Does Alli Work?

Alli is a fat-blocker. It is designed to be taken with a meal. The fat blockade takes place in your digestive tract after you eat. There, the active ingredient in Alli blocks the action of gastrtic and pancreatic lipases, enzymes which normally break down fats known as triglycerides. Instead of the fat being digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, it is ushered out into the stool. Alli blocks about 25% of the fat you eat.

Avoiding fat has been a time-honored method of weight loss. Fat is calorie-dense, containing 9 calories per gram of fat. On the other hand, carbohydrates and protein each contain only 4 calories per gram. So if you cut the fat out of your diet, you can quickly reduce the number of calories you eat … and thus lose weight.

Alli works best with a meal that contains about 25 - 30% of its calories as fat. If you eat too little fat, then taking Alli is just a waste. And, if you eat a large amount of fat at once, well … that’s when unpleasant side effects may show themselves.

The Ugly Side of Alli

So, uh … what happens to that fat? Yes, it may leave your body in embarrassing ways and result in an "urgent need to go to the bathroom", oily stools, and gas. These are called “treatment effects” on the company’s website myalli.com. The site also states that "it’s probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and to bring a change of clothes with you to work." Buyer, be warned!

Some of you may feel that these side effects are tolerable as long as you are able to eat your Haagen-Dazs and lose weight at the same time. Not so fast! According to Glaxo’s promotional material, you must be "committed to following a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet". You must limit your fat intake to 15 grams per meal to lose weight and to avoid severe gastrointestinal effects. The average American normally eats about twice this much fat.

If you envision Alli as an antidote to an "evening of gluttony" at your favorite restaurant, guess again. The enjoyment of the evening would probably be spoiled by the awkward and potentially uncomfortable gastrointestinal effects to follow. Remember, Alli only blocks about one quarter of the fat. And if you doubled the dose, still only 35% of the fat is blocked … yet you have an even greater risk for bathroom fireworks!

According to data published in clinical trials, Alli can lead to weight loss. However, my experience shows that it does not work for everyone.

Here are my major concerns:

• With Alli, you must follow a low-fat diet. Recent research suggests that only some people can lose weight with a low-fat diet. According to a recent study in The Journal of the American Medical Association, a low carb diet is twice as effective as a low-fat diet for those who have an increased insulin response to food.
• The ideal diet avoids the bad fats (trans and saturated) and emphasizes the good omega 3 fats that can actually help you lose weight. If you follow this type of diet, then a fat-blocking drug is not only unnecessary, but undesirable.
• If you avoid fat in your diet you may find yourself eating too many carbohydrates instead. However, a high carbohydrate load will stimulate insulin secretion. High insulin levels prevent the body from burning fat. You may find it impossible to lose weight if your insulin levels are too high.
• With Alli, you will lose fat-soluble nutrients including vitamins A, D, E, and K as well as the potential benefits of hundreds of phytochemicals found in healthy foods. You must take a multivitamin if using Alli (bedtime is suggested) to replace some of the lost vitamins.
• Alli is not a magic bullet. Even if you take Alli, you will still need to follow a healthy reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly.
• Alli does nothing to help you control your appetite. You still need to use self-control.

On the other hand, you might benefit from Alli if you are:

• Willing to adopt a lower calorie diet that limits fat to 15 grams per meal.

• Can tolerate a higher carbohydrate diet (i.e. you do not have a high insulin response to food and you exercise regularly).
• Can tolerate the potential gastrointestinal side effects of flatulence, oily stool, urgency, and “anal leakage”.
• Take a quality multivitamin that contains fat-soluble nutrients plus a fish oil supplement daily. You must take these supplements at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking Alli so that it can be absorbed.

Synergy Version 10 plus TocoQ10 and Mega EFA is the ideal supplement to take, especially if you are also taking Alli which prevents absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. This deluxe supplement contains not only the fat soluble vitamins and fish oil. It also provides a wide variety of important phytonutrients found in more than 40 fruits and vegetables, many of which are also fat-soluble.