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Tuesday, December 10, 2002The marketer of the supplement, called "Skinny Pill for Kids," said her company had not done safety tests on children. The pill is being marketed to children age 6 to 12, and contains vitamins, minerals and herbs. A similar pill regimen is available for adults, as well. Pediatric experts told CNN they're especially concerned about three herbs in the "Skinny Pill" that are diuretics. Uva ursi, juniper berry, and buchu leaf all cause the body to lose water. The Physicians Desk Reference, a doctors' guide to drugs and alternative remedies, states the uva ursi should not be given to children under age 12. "Diuretics in children can cause kidney problems and electrolyte imbalances if taken long term," said Dr. Alison Hoppin, chief of the pediatric obesity clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition, the PDR says the herb could cause liver damage in children. Diuretics, herbal or otherwise, should never be used in healthy children. (They’re sometimes used in children with heart failure, but those kids are few and far between.) For that matter, diuretics shouldn’t be used for weight loss in adults, either. posted by Sydney on 12/10/2002 06:43:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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