Starch Blockers — Still No Calorie-Free Lunch

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Abstract
The report by Bo-Linn et al.1 in this issue of the Journal, showing that one of the leading preparations of "starch blockers" had no demonstrable effect on the absorption of starch calories, raises a number of challenging questions about marketing, consumer response, and the appropriate role of federal regulatory agencies in the volatile field of nutritional products. It is appropriate to note that the long-term effectiveness of all these purported starch blockers — mostly extracts of kidney beans — although doubtful, has not been disproved by this single, carefully designed clinical study. What is clear, however, is that there . . .