Two more deaths attributed to RU-486; US regulators announced on Friday

RU-486 (mifepristone) is known as the morning after abortion pill. RU-486 is used for aborting a pregnancy of 49 days or less according to FDA approval. Four previously reported deaths were due to a bacterial infection after the women took the drug. On Friday federal regulators announced two more deaths after women took the drug. It is not known yet how exactly these two women died.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Studies show it is not the caffeine which helps decrease the risk of developing diabetes but probably the polyphenols.

Proton Pump Inhibitors interfere with Calcium absorption

Proton pump inhibitors are powerful drugs that strongly block the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Proton pump inhibitors include Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix, and Nexium (the little purple pill). In this randomized, placebo controlled, double blinded trail, elderly women took either 20mg of omeprazole a day or placebo for a week and a multiple-vitamin which included 400 IU of vitamin D - a vitamin needed for healthy bones and calcium utilization. The women also took 500mg of calcium each day. Women on the acid blocking drug had a 41% decrease in the absorption of calcium. The researchers actually claim it was a 61% decrease in the absorption of calcium but a factor skewed the results. The study is published in the March 2005 issue of the American Journal of Medicine; the official publication of the Association of Professors of Medicine.