Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Allergan receives FDA approval for expanded use of LAP-BAND System in obese adults

Allergan, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the expanded use of the LAP-BAND System, Allergan's gastric band, for adults with obesity who have failed more conservative weight reduction alternatives, such as diet and exercise and pharmacotherapy, and have a Body Mass Index of 30-40 and at least one obesity related comorbid condition.

16 Feb 2011

Ban called for allegedly carcinogenic caramel component in sodas

A consumer advocacy group has urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this Wednesday to ban some chemically enhanced caramel food colorings used in widely consumed cola drinks as they could cause cancer.

16 Feb 2011

Diet high in Omega 3 oils benefits at risk Alzheimer's disease patients

Scientists today agree that there are five molecules that are known to affect or cause Alzheimer's disease, which plagues an estimated five million Americans. The potency of these molecules is linked to environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle.

16 Feb 2011

Calorie counts on menus do not impress teenagers: Study

US researchers have found that asking fast-food restaurants in New York City to display calorie counts on menus did not affect the number of calories children and teens consumed. The team of researchers said that while children and adolescents noticed the calories posted on the menu, they did not choose their order based on the calorie knowledge. Taste still took an upper hand in their choice.

15 Feb 2011

Efficacy of zinc in common cold - Review of clinical trials

A new study has added to the existing literature that debates the role of zinc in combating the common cold. It suggests that the supplement might modestly reduce cold duration and severity or maybe even prevent it. The report was published as a Cochrane Review.

15 Feb 2011

Cholesterol woes across Australia

A new study shows that Victorians and Tasmanians have the worst average cholesterol levels in Australia. The study looked at almost 200,000 patient records over 5 and half years and showed that Tasmanians’ average cholesterol level was the nation’s highest, at 5.41mmol/L (millimoles per litre), with Victorians’ average level at 5.23mmol/L.

15 Feb 2011

Swedish launches series of initiatives to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke

Swedish, the largest, most comprehensive non-profit health provider in the greater Seattle area, today announced its plans for American Heart Month, recognized in the month of February. American Heart Month is led by the American Heart Association to raise funds for research and education and to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke.

15 Feb 2011

International agriculture conference highlights need to connect health, agriculture

Participants at the recent three-day International Conference on Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health in New Delhi, India, highlighted the broken links between health and agriculture, IRIN reports (2/14).

15 Feb 2011

FDA requests $4.3 billion to protect and promote health of Americans as part of FY 2012 budget

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting a budget of $4.3 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President's fiscal year 2012 budget — a 33 percent increase over the FDA enacted budget for FY 2010. The FY 2012 request covers the period of Oct. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2012.

15 Feb 2011

USDA nutrient dosage recommendations not sufficient, says USANA

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. commends the USDA for recognizing that nutritional gaps are common in the average American diet and that dietary supplementation can play a vital role in filling those gaps. However, USANA scientists and advising physicians caution that many important nutrients were not included in the recently published Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 and that the USDA dosage recommendations are not sufficient to improve and maintain overall health.

15 Feb 2011

Study confirms anti-inflammatory properties of Oligonol in humans

A recently published study in Nutrition Research and Practice has verified the anti-inflammatory effects in humans of Oligonol® lychee fruit polyphenol. The study examined Oligonol intake on cortisol and related cytokines in healthy young men. Both cortisol and cytokine concentrations are inflammatory markers known to increase when stress such as exercise is caused on the body.

15 Feb 2011

Scientists improve methods for flavanol antioxidant determination in cocoa, chocolate

Two scientific publications report on improved methods for determining the amounts of flavanol antioxidants in cocoa and chocolate. The research, sponsored by The Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition, was a collaboration between scientists at The Hershey Company and other scientific laboratories.

15 Feb 2011

Heavy alcohol intake can lead to increased risk of AF

Atrial Fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Its name comes from the fibrillating of the heart muscles of the atria, instead of a coordinated contraction. The result is an irregular heartbeat, which may occur in episodes lasting from minutes to weeks, or it could occur all the time for years. Atrial fibrillation alone is not in itself generally life-threatening, but it may result in palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure.

14 Feb 2011

Fiber in diet protects from more than just heart disease and diabetes: Study

In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers have identified a link between high-fiber diets and lower risks of death not only from heart disease, but from infectious and respiratory illnesses as well. This government commissioned study also ties fiber with a lower risk of cancer deaths in men, but not women, possibly because men are more likely to die from cancers related to diet, like cancers of the esophagus. And it finds the overall benefit to be strongest for diets high in fiber from grains.

14 Feb 2011

Johns Hopkins nursing students promote healthy diet and lifestyles in Baltimore's vulnerable communities

When Johns Hopkins nursing students aren't hitting the books or practicing clinical skills, they're promoting healthy diet and lifestyles in Baltimore's vulnerable communities. These students are cooking up some fun with local residents with support from Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association grants.

14 Feb 2011

Rising number of livestock diseases threatens public health, food security in developing countries, report says

"A growing number of livestock, such as cows and pigs, are fuelling new animal epidemics worldwide and posing more severe problems in developing countries as it threatens their food security, according to a report [.pdf] released on Friday" during an international conference in New Delhi, India, on Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition & Health, Reuters reports (Lyn, 2/11).

14 Feb 2011

Some fat is essential for body function

It's common knowledge that too much cholesterol and other fats can lead to disease, and that a healthy diet involves watching how much fatty food we eat. However, our bodies need a certain amount of fat to function—and we can't make it from scratch.

14 Feb 2011

New Republican spending cuts include well-known health programs

House Republican leaders pushed out a new round of proposed spending cuts Friday night as they sought to meet demands by conservatives in the party to trim $100 billion from the current spending levels. Health programs were among the targets.

14 Feb 2011

New clinical trial to test surgery specifically for Type 2 diabetes

A new clinical trial at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is among the first to test surgery specifically for Type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study is to understand whether surgery can control diabetes, as well or even better than the best medical treatment available today. This is the first study of its kind open to patients who are overweight or mildly obese.

14 Feb 2011

People from northern and southern Sweden differ from each other genetically

People from northern and southern Sweden differ from each other genetically, according to the largest genetic study of the Swedish population yet. Swedes also have genetically more in common with Germans and British than with Finns. The study, performed jointly at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and University of Helsinki, has been published in PLoS ONE.

14 Feb 2011