Just curious who out there has an interest in pharmacology and has been tracking Betahistine, and its recent usage and study in obesity.

To quote quickly from Wikipedia:

A new use for betahistine may be in the field of obesity management. Dr Nir Barak of the Rabin Medical Centre in Tel Aviv has undertaken trials[3] and it is reported (Telegraph, UK, 19 February 2007) that volunteers lost more than 1.5 kg/week over twelve weeks and experienced a distaste for fatty foods.

A recent Phase II clinical trial of the new drug in the U.S. suggests that women under the age of 50 who took Histalean (Betahistine) for 12 weeks lost 7 times the weight of those taking a placebo. What's most important to the researchers involved is that none of the 281 patients, males and females aged 18–65, complained of any serious side effects. The recent results were based on a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on people with a Body Mass Index ranging from 30 to 40. (A BMI of 30 and above indicate obesity.) The study was conducted at 19 investigation sites across the U.S. over a 12 week treatment period. The subgroup of high-dose Histalean (Betahistine)-treated women lost an average of 2.91% of their weight versus placebo group which lost only 0.4 %.[4]

Betahistine is being studied for the treatment of atypical depression at dosages from 50–300 mg/day due to its ability to antagonise H3 receptors and thus increase the release of serotonin and dopamine from nerve endings into the synaptic cleft.[5]

[3] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-437291/Vertigo-pill-new-obesit...

[4] http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/33188/New_drug_makes_weight_los...

[5] http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00585585

Now granted, this drug works through appetite surpression, something that shouldn't be an issue if you can discipline yourself and eat clean. However it is mentioned that it had a positive effect on cholesterol levels as well. As well as depression. I wonder if this has more of an application for the serious competitor on cycle then what we might at first glance give it credit for.

Anyways, some food for thought.