This article is from 'bbc', was first published or seen on Fri Jun 29 10:55:19 UTC 2007 and has 2 versions.
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Pill to make dieters 'feel full'Fri Jun 29 11:00:16 UTC 2007 |
Pill to make dieters 'feel full'Fri Jun 29 18:42:14 UTC 2007 |
| Italian scientists have developed a pill that expands in the stomach to make dieters feel full. | Italian scientists have developed a pill that expands in the stomach to make dieters feel full. |
| They liken the effect to eating a bowl of spaghetti and say the pill can stop hunger for a few hours. | They liken the effect to eating a bowl of spaghetti and say the pill can stop hunger for a few hours. |
| It is made from a hydrogel, which the team developed when trying to make more absorbent nappy linings, and may help in the battle against obesity. | It is made from a hydrogel, which the team developed when trying to make more absorbent nappy linings, and may help in the battle against obesity. |
| So far it has been tested on 20 people but experts warned bigger trials would be needed to test safety. | So far it has been tested on 20 people but experts warned bigger trials would be needed to test safety. |
| Professor Luigi Ambrosio, lead researcher on the study at Italy's National Research Council, realised when they developed the hydrogel it may have a similar effect to gastric banding - a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach. | Professor Luigi Ambrosio, lead researcher on the study at Italy's National Research Council, realised when they developed the hydrogel it may have a similar effect to gastric banding - a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach. |
Professor Luigi Ambrosio, study leady | One of our researchers tried the pill - he took it at about 11am and was still full at six in the evening Professor Luigi Ambrosio, study leader |
| The tiny pill is powdery when dry but when swallowed with a glass of water turns to a jelly-like ball in the stomach. | The tiny pill is powdery when dry but when swallowed with a glass of water turns to a jelly-like ball in the stomach. |
| It is made from an organic compound called cellulose and can be flushed out by the body. | |
| The pill, which has yet to be named, is being tested in a further 90 overweight volunteers who will be monitored to see how much weight they lose and if there are any adverse effects. | The pill, which has yet to be named, is being tested in a further 90 overweight volunteers who will be monitored to see how much weight they lose and if there are any adverse effects. |
| Small portions | Small portions |
| Professor Ambrosio said the pill should be taken about 30 minutes to one hour before each meal. | Professor Ambrosio said the pill should be taken about 30 minutes to one hour before each meal. |
| It passes through the digestive system within five to six hours. | It passes through the digestive system within five to six hours. |
| "One of our researchers tried the pill - he took it at about 11am and was still full at six in the evening. | "One of our researchers tried the pill - he took it at about 11am and was still full at six in the evening. |
| "It's like eating a bowl of spaghetti." | "It's like eating a bowl of spaghetti." |
| He said people could still eat a meal but would only need small portions. | He said people could still eat a meal but would only need small portions. |
| "We expect the results of the trial in October and they we will try to launch the product in May 2008." | "We expect the results of the trial in October and they we will try to launch the product in May 2008." |
| Professor Paul Hatton, leader of the Biomaterials Research Group at the University of Sheffield said the idea was "intuitive". | Professor Paul Hatton, leader of the Biomaterials Research Group at the University of Sheffield said the idea was "intuitive". |
| "There are plenty of ways of making hydrogels that are safe, they are used in medicines and prostheses. | "There are plenty of ways of making hydrogels that are safe, they are used in medicines and prostheses. |
| "In principle it seems possible but there would have to be a lot of safety testing." | |
| Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum said there had been products around for many years which had tried to produce a feeling of fullness. | Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum said there had been products around for many years which had tried to produce a feeling of fullness. |
| "The theory has been tried and tested in the past but it's not been that successful. | "The theory has been tried and tested in the past but it's not been that successful. |
| "We'd need much bigger trials but it's a reasonable enough idea. | "We'd need much bigger trials but it's a reasonable enough idea. |
| "However, it would have to be given with the appropriate nutritional advice, you can't live on such tablets." | "However, it would have to be given with the appropriate nutritional advice, you can't live on such tablets." |