The most common vaginal infection that inflicts women of childbearing age in the United States is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). The infection occurs when there is a disorder in the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina resulting in an overgrowth of a certain bacteria. Having BV increases a woman’s risk for certain complications such as preterm delivery.

The good news however is that there is a growing interest in understanding how to prevent the infection from spreading. Because Vitamin D influences several aspects of the immune system, it may play a role in BV under the presumption that the infection is far more common in black women than in white women, the reason being that black women tend to have a considerably lower vitamin D status than white women.

Bodnar and coworkers at the University of Pittsburgh and the Magee-Women’s Research Institute studied 469 pregnant women in order to assess whether poor vitamin D status plays a role in the predisposition of BV to women. The outcome of their investigation came out in the June 2009 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

The study investigated the connection between vitamin D status and BV in 260 black women and in 209 white women less than 16 weeks pregnant. Samples of their blood were taken and markers of vitamin D status were analyzed in their serum. The women went through pelvic examinations and afterwards Gram-stained vaginal smears were assessed to diagnose BV.

The collected data indicates that out of the total number of women enrolled, 41% had BV and out of that percentage, 93% had shown an insufficiency in vitamin D. The occurrence of BV reduced as the concentration of vitamin D in their serums increased. In conclusion, these findings show that there is an association between vitamin D insufficiency and BV in the first trimester of a woman’s gestation.

Rumors swirled around GlaxoSmithKline’s popular alli diet pill after the Food and Drug Administration announced it was investigating the possibility of liver damage. However, no clear evidence has emerged that alli can cause any liver damage. In fact, the FDA has recommended that users continue to use alli as directed by their primary physician.

Orlistat, the active ingriedient in the alli diet pills, has minimal absorption into the blood, and works mostly in the gastro-intestinal system. Because of where alli is active, there is no obvious connection between the alli diet plan and any effects on the liver.

Another aspect that must be taken into consideration is that many obese people already have preexisting liver conditions. According to the FDA, an estimated 15-20% of obese people have injured their liver due to excess fat in the liver. What’s more, the gradual weight loss that a person can attain from alli diet pills can help prevent liver injury and improve liver function.

Orlistat has been available to the general public since 1998. Out of the 40 million people who have used the drug, including the 6 million alli users, only two cases of liver damage have been reported. The orlistat in alli has been extensively studied and tested, with 100 clinical studies surveying more than 30,000 human test subjects.

Safety is priority number one for GSK, and the alli pills are no exception. GSK continues to test alli and orlistat, and closely monitors the drug’s effect on its patients. The August 24th announcement is just part of the FDA’s policy of publicly sharing information directly with consumers and healthcare professionals. As far as the FDA and GSK are concerned, alli’s track record speaks for itself. It’s a safe way to lose weight.

Anyone with concerns should talk to their doctor or pharmacist. For more information on the safety and efficacy of alli, please visit www.myalli.com and/or call 1-800-671-2554.