Gastrointestinal side effects of orlistat may be prevented by concomitant prescription of natural fibers (psyllium mucilloid)

OBJECTIVES: This placebo-controlled open study was designed to test the hypothesis that most of the gastrointestinal (GI) side events induced by treatment of obese patients with orlistat (a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor) could be prevented or ameliorated by concomitant use of natural fibers (psyllium mucilloid). DESIGN: Two groups of obese women (BMI>27 kg/m2) were treated with orlistat 120 mg three times a day. One group (A, n=30) was...