The studies that never were

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You ever seen a TV commercial about some miracle cure (let it be about weight loss, baldness, penis enlargement and what have you) which claimed that the amazing results have been shown in scientific studies? Well aparantely there is one such weight-loss product called Akavar 20/50. On their website the first thing you see is this great headline "Eat all you want and still loose weight (and we couldn't say it in print if it wasn't true)" (Well, we'll see about that second part of the claim) . Small print at the bottom of the page says:

Note: While the published clinical trial using the active Akävar-20/50 compound resulted in significant weight loss WITHOUT diet and exercise,
adding a sensible diet and exercise program to your weight-loss regimen should only enhance Akävar-20/50’s incredible weight-loss power.

Ok, so there was an actual clinical trial which showed it to be effective, or was there? Harriet Hall of the Science Based Medicine blog (an excellent blog from actual doctors who know what they're talking about) contacted the company and her trials and tribulations are recounted in her excellent blog titled "Akvar 20/50 and Truth in Advertising". Read for yourself and draw whatever conclusions you like. Myself I think I will not be buying the "eat all you want and still loose weight" product.