A long-term study is one of the first to analyse the link between
diet and heart disease in women, rather than grouping both women
and men together. The research is published in this week's
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
BSP Pharma, a joint venture between Aarhus Oliefabrik and
pharmaceutical company Astion, has reported strong results in
pre-clinical trials on its shea nut oil-based treatments.
Further evidence that a natural supplement may be a better
alternative to HRT for treating menopause symptoms. Two new studies
find positive results on red clover supplement Promensil.
A new study has found that taking a daily vitamin E supplement does
not prevent respiratory infections in older people and could even
aggravate symptoms in those who do get a cold. Further research is
necessary to explain the results.
Zinc intake among the elderly in Europe is generally low - but
European researchers are currently trying to discover the role of
zinc in preventing the chronic and degenerative diseases associated
with ageing.
People with a low amount of potassium in their diet could be more
likely to experience a stroke, find scientists. Increasing dietary
intake of fruits such as bananas and nuts could help reduce the
risk.
A new European project is to study biomarkers for antioxidants and
look at ways in which the release of dietary antioxidants can be
successfully measured.
Processing fruit and vegetables is known to reduce their vitamin C
content, but this does not necessarily mean that their antioxidant
properties are reduced, claim scientists in the US.
The majority of oil seed-based supplements which purport to contain
the essential fatty acids GLA and ALA do indeed live up to these
claims, according to the latest assessment by ConsumerLab.com.
The Chinese herb known as 'thunder god vine' could be a viable
alternative to NSAIDs in the treatment of the painful joint disease
rheumatoid arthritis, according to scientists in the US.
Men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer should try to reduce
the levels of fat and calcium in their diet in order to delay the
onset of a more serious form of the disease, according to research
from the US - a dilemma for those...
Fortification of grain with folic acid can have a significant
effect on reducing the incidence of neural tube defects in
children, according to research published this week in the
Canadian Medical Association Journal.
A reduction in pollution levels in Britain has had one unexpected -
and unwanted - effect. Wheat grown there has far lower levels of
the the essential mineral selenium than its counterparts in North
America.
The low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets which have become popular
in recent years may be good at helping people lose weight rapidly,
but they could also be damaging their kidneys and their bones,
according to researchers at the University...
The benefits of wine consumption with regards to heart health have
been widely documented, but a new study has confirmed that moderate
consumption of wine can also have wider health implications.
Eating lots of fruit and vegetables can cut the risk of
smoking-related diseases, finds new research published in this
week's European Respiratory Journal. More evidence to
support the role diet plays in overall health.
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has been awarded three US patents for
the use of concentrated isoflavones combined with other
phytochemicals to treat blood-related diseases, cancer and
menopausal symptoms.
British organisation the Health Supplement Information Service
counters recent arguments negating the benefits of vitamins. It
argues that the modern diet provides insufficient amounts of
nutrients for large numbers of the population.
British research has found that by failing to consume enough
iodine, many pregnant women are risking the mental development of
their children. The researchers are lobbying the UK government to
improve the availability of iodine in...
A substance derived from dogfish sharks suppresses appetite and
decreases body weight in rodents making it a potential anti-obesity
treatment, according to new research.
British biochemist David Bender contends that most nutrients are a
waste of time, and that the so-called evidence to show their
apparent benefits either ignores the potential risks or focuses
only on certain results - a claim which...
Claims that the US Food & Drug Administration was unduly
influenced by the US food industry when drawing up its guidelines
on fish consumption and mercury have been refuted by the National
Food Processors Association (NFPA).
Nutrition 21, the US producer of chromium picolinate products, has
announced that it will provide data to the US Institute of Medicine
(IOM) to help it assess the safety of the product.
A new study suggests that the recent rise of deaths from heatstroke
in American football players could be caused by the explosion in
popularity of supplements like ephedra and creatine.
An American study finds that omega-3 fatty acids may prevent heart
disease by improving arterial elasticity. The study adds to the
body of evidence which supports a high consumption of fish in the
diet.
More research published in the lastest issue of the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds further cause to promote
wholegrains. The food protects against cardiovascular disease ,
type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers thanks...
A study published in the recent issue of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition finds that health benefits from soy protein
may not, after all, depend on the levels of soy isoflavones
present.
A study published in The Lancet this week suggests that
although people in developing countries often lack zinc in their
diets, taking supplements during pregnancy could harm the early
mental development of their children.
Peanuts are not normally considered a diet food - primarily because
they are known to have a relatively high caloric level - but a new
study in the US has shown that they can be an effective diet food
because they act as an appetite...
A major study of the effects of hormone replacement therapy has
been halted after scientists discovered a major risk of ovarian
cancer - but there are plenty of natural alternatives to help women
deal with the menopause.
Insufficient intake of minerals iron, zinc and calcium in the diet
can lead to unhealthy increases in cadmium uptake in the kidney and
liver, according to scientists from the USDA's Agricultural
Research Service.
A combination of high levels of homocysteine and low levels of
vitamin B12 is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease
among African Americans, according to a paper presented today at
the International Conference on...
Two studies of children's breakfast eating habits appear to show
that kids who eat oatmeal at the start of the day perform better in
memory tests - good news for Quaker Oats which sponsored the
studies.
A new website, AskAboutMeds.com, has been set up to provide
accurate, unbiased and, above all, useful information to the public
and professionals about drugs and supplements.
Niacin, the B vitamin which is known to raise blood glucose levels
when consumed in large quantities - making it inappropriate for use
as a diabetes treatment - could in fact be effective in treating
the disease, provided the dosage...
Pregnant women who take multivitamins can help reduce the risk of
their child having a major heart, limb or facial defect, according
to the latest research from scientists in the US.
Ninety-three people in Japan have suffered adverse reactions from
Chinese diet supplements, including three people who have died as a
result of taking the pills.
Scientists from Belfast have shown that folate supplementation can
help reduce the risk of contracting colon cancer - an interesting
discovery given the UK's recent decision not to go ahead with the
fortification of flour with...
Scientists from Greece have reported a possible link between liver
damage similar to that caused by hepatitis and the consumption of
herbal tea meant to help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
A new poll sponsored by the US company McNeil Nutritionals has
discovered that while many Americans know what lactose intolerance
is, most of them are still unaware that avoiding dairy products is
not the only way to treat the problem.
Nine months of tests by ConsumerLab.com have revealed that up to 10
per cent of potassium, iron and magnesium supplements could be
contaminated with lead, a cause for concern but one which can be
easily remedied by companies.
Apparently worrying research reported last week in several UK
newspapers has been dismissed as inaccurate scaremongering by the
scientists who carried it out.
Research published earlier this month in The Lancet
continues to promote anger among vitamin supporters. The latest
voice added to the debate is that of Dr Matthias Rath, renowned
vitamin supporter, who claims that the original study...