Abstract: Olestra, which many of referred to as a fake fat, has become a blessing to some and a nightmare to others. Olestra may make one ounce of potato chips, which used to contain 150 calories and 10 grams of fat, contain a mere 70 calories and no fat.[1] Yet, there is a cost for this elimination of fat and reduction of calories. The common side effects include diarrhea and cramping. A number of people have also suffered from rectal leakage after a moderate intake a foods containing olestra.[1] Yet, olestra appears to be the answer for people watching their weight. Olestra works by playing a simple trick on the body. Olestra is not actually digested or absorbed by the body, which means that it contains no calories.[1] Yet, the body tastes fat so it is satisfied. The problem is that olestra may do more to the body than just pass through it. Olestra may deplete the body of fat-soluble vitamins, affect the blood level of vitamin K, and be a potential cancer risk. Although all of these accusations have been explained by the manufacturer of olestra, Proctor & Gamble, one must still have some suspicions about why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it.[1] The reason olestra was approved is because the FDA viewed it under the guidelines of food additives as opposed to drugs, which implies that it has potential physiological effects on the body. The food additive guidelines are much more flexible which allowed olestra to be approved without any long-term research on the effects it may have on the human body.[2] References 1. Anon. (1996) Olestra: just say no. University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter 12, 1-2. 2. Blackburn, H. (1996) Sounding board: Olestra and the FDA. The New England Journal of Medicine 334, 984-986.
Olestra: Replaces Fat, Reduces Calories, and May Cause Health Problems Olestra, which is commonly known as a fake fat, is a polyester of sucrose and six or more triglycerides. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 24, 1996 and has generated much controversy.[1] There are a couple of questions that surround olestra. People wonder if olestra will even be beneficial in preventing obesity, since the arrival of artificial sweeteners has only resulted in a rise in obesity in America. Another question centers around the health risks of olestra.[2] The FDA must believe that olestra is safe and beneficial since it has been approved, but the approval does involve several conditions. Olestra may only be used in the production of "savory snack foods," which include potato chips, tortillas chips, and crackers. Snacks made with olestra must have added amounts of vitamins A, D, E, and K. There must be a label on the package which states, "This product contains Olestra. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E, and K have been added."[1] The final constraint for Proctor & Gamble, which is the manufacturer of Olestra, is that they must continue their research on Olestra by performing experiments to study the long term effects of the fake fat.[1] Procter and Gamble has been bombarded with many questions. The reason they are the center of the controversy is not only because they are the manufacturers, but they are the only group who has studied the health effects of olestra. One question is that olestra may deplete the body of fat soluble vitamins, which include A, D, E, and K. Olestra may also deplete carotenoids. These carotenoids are antioxidants which may help to protect against cancer and heart disease. Proctor & Gamble has fortified olestra with these vitamins under the conditions of the FDA, but olestra will still cause a depletion of carotenoids. Yet, Proctor & Gamble says that the lack of carotenoids is only a problem in "extreme" cases. The other problem concerning vitamins is that fortifying vitamin K may be dangerous for people with bleeding disorders or taking blood thinning medications. Proctor & Gamble claims that they will add just the right amount of vitamin K, but Proctor & Gamble was not revealing how much vitamin K is the perfect amount. Another concern is that some animal studies discovered that there may be potential cancer risks due to the liver-cell changes, but Proctor & Gamble claims that liver-cell changes do not indicate cancer. They also add that long-term mouse studies have been conducted which reveal no signs of cancer.[2] Proctor & Gamble has claimed that most of the side effects are very rare, but there is one common problem: diarrhea and cramping. This issue has also caused much controversy because some people claim that diarrhea and cramping is only a minor inconvenience, while others believe it can cause serious health problems. Karl Klontz, who is a FDA medical officer, claims that "the increased water loss in the stools of subjects reporting olestra-associated diarrhea or loose stools is of concern ... for the elderly and young children."[3] Yet, the FDA's final conclusion in the Federal Register states that "there is no basis to conclude the effect of olestra on the gastrointestinal tract would be any different in children than in adults."[3] Although there are many people that do not have full confidence that olestra is entirely safe, it was still approved by the FDA. One must wonder why. The reason is because olestra is considered a food additive. The FDA considered olestra as merely altering food as opposed to altering the body. Although there are physiologic effects, these effects were not taken into account.[1] The FDA's standards for approving a food additive are: The agency does not require petitioners to conduct human clinical studies to support the safety of direct food additives and color additives used in food. When petitioners conduct human clinical studies... the Agency recommends that the studies conform to the guidelines.. and [that the petitioner] consult with the Agency before the studies begin.[1] Since the guidelines for food additives are so vague, consumers must rely on the manufacturers to be vigilant in their research. Although products containing olestra are on the market, these products are still under question. All of the negative media concerning olestra is not helping the success of olestra. Yet Proctor & Gamble is not going to give up since they have already spent 25 years and over $200 million.[1] Olestra is closely related to oleic acid (C18H34O2). Oleic acid has a molecular weight of 282.45 grams/mole. It is composed of 76.54% carbon, 12.13% hydrogen, and 11.33% oxygen. Oleic acid comes from the hydrolysis of several animal and vegetable oils and fats. Pure oleic acid is colorless or almost colorless. It has a boiling point of 286(C. Oleic acid is practically insoluble in water, but is soluble in alcohol, benzene, chloroform, ether, and fixed and volatile oils. When impure oleic acid is exposed to air, oleic acid oxidizes and acquires a yellow-brown color and a rancid odor.[4] Olestra is a polyester of sucrose and six or more triglycerides.[1] Although all the compounds (sugar, oleic acid, and fatty acid) which form olestra are able to be broken down by the body, the human body is not able to digest olestra. The reason is probably because Proctor & Gamble made a very slight alteration, such as a change in a single bond, which causes the entire compound to be indigestible for the human body. The trick olestra performs is that the body thinks that it is eating fat instead of this fat substitute. Since the taste buds believe they are tasting fat, the body feels very satisfied. Since the human body is not able to digest olestra and the body does not absorb it, olestra has no calories. Another advantage for olestra is that it can endure very high temperatures for cooking.[2] Yet, one must be ready for the side-effects. It has already proven to cause diarrhea and cramping for many, and even rectal leakage for a number of people. Although olestra will make one ounce of potato chips contain zero fat and be only 70 calories (compared to 10 grams of fat and 150 calories), society must decide if it is ready for the other effects of olestra.[2]
1. Blackburn, H. (1996) Sounding board: Olestra and the FDA. The New England Journal of Medicine 334, 984-986. 2. Anon. (1996) Olestra: just say no. University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter 12, 1-2. 3. Glass, S. (1997) Correspondence: Food fight. The New Republic 216, 4-5. 4. Budavari, S. (1989) The Merk Index. Merk and Co., Rahway, New Jersey, 1079. 5. Tobin A.J. and R.E. Morel (1997) Asking About Cells. Saunders, New York. Articles are copyrighted by their authors. They may not be redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission. You may make copies for your own private use, but include this copyright notice and proper attribution to the author. |
References