Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

New analysis shows that common diseases are not lined to genetic factors

The case for a substantial role of genes in susceptibility to the major human diseases is now scientifically refuted argues a groundbreaking new analysis published by the public interest science organization, The Bioscience Resource Project.

7 Dec 2010

FAI releases comprehensive food allergy guidelines

The Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) today announced its endorsement of comprehensive food allergy guidelines, released by an Expert Panel sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Immunology (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). FAI, the largest private source of funding for food allergy research in the U.S., will underwrite the publication of the long-awaited Guidelines as a special supplement to the December 2010 issue of the prestigious Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

7 Dec 2010

Scientists have learned to mask bitterness of ginseng to improve consumers health

University of Illinois scientists have learned to mask the bitterness of ginseng, a common ingredient of energy drinks.

7 Dec 2010

Researchers examine relationship between childhood obesity, physical activity

Scientists may have discovered a new trend in childhood obesity, according to research published this month in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. In comparing physical activity levels among American children, researchers discovered that the most overweight and obese ethnic groups are also some of the most active.

7 Dec 2010

Ketogenic diet may benefit patients with myoclonic-astatic epilepsy

Many children with certain forms of epilepsy achieve seizure control through a stringent medically supervised diet, either the ketogenic diet (KD) or a Modified Atkins Diet (MAD). When to use these diets and the mechanisms underlying their anticonvulsant effect are not well defined. Research presented here at the 64th American Epilepsy Society annual meeting provides new insight into when and how these diets work.

6 Dec 2010

IOM releases new dietary recommendations for calcium, vitamin D intakes

The Institute of Medicine recently released new dietary recommendations for calcium and vitamin D intakes, known as Dietary Reference Intakes, used broadly by health professionals and policy makers to guide consumers' dietary patterns. Citing a strong body of new scientific evidence, the IOM based their recommendations on bone health outcomes, confirming the importance of vitamin D and calcium in promoting bone growth and maintenance through various stages of life.

4 Dec 2010

FDA Advisory Committee votes in favor of expanded use of LAP-BAND gastric band

Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee has recommended with an 8-2 vote that the FDA extend the currently approved use of the LAP-BAND® System, Allergan's gastric band, on the basis of a favorable benefit-risk profile for weight reduction in obese adults who have failed more conservative weight reduction alternatives and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 35 or a BMI ≥30 and at least one comorbid condition.

4 Dec 2010

China collaborates with Norway to address prevalence and spread of mercury

Highly skilled basic science researchers from China are pooling their talents with analytical environmental researchers from Norway - and their findings are making their mark on Chinese environmental policy.

3 Dec 2010

FDA Advisory Panel recommends approval of Solesta for bowel incontinence

Oceana Therapeutics, a global company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing best-in-class specialty therapeutics, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel recommended approval of Solesta™ as a treatment for fecal (bowel) incontinence, a condition afflicting many Americans, primarily women.

3 Dec 2010

Does saturated fat contribute to development of heart disease?

For over three decades, saturated fat has been accused of significantly contributing to the development of heart disease. However, more and more studies suggest this theory to be false.

3 Dec 2010

Exposure to polluted air leads to accumulation of abdominal fat and insulin resistance

Exposure to polluted air early in life led to an accumulation of abdominal fat and insulin resistance in mice even if they ate a normal diet, according to new research.

3 Dec 2010

Experts reach consensus on beneficial effects of Soy

According to the December 2010 Journal of Nutrition Supplement titled, "Soy Summit: Exploration of the Nutrition and Health Effects of Whole Soy," consensus has been reached among leading soy science experts surrounding three main areas of debate: soy and women's health, soy and heart health, and soy and overall nutrient adequacy. Leading soy experts agree that including soyfoods in a balanced diet will have beneficial effects and improve nutrient intake among the U.S. population.

3 Dec 2010

Healthy lifestyle choices, emergency room interventions can help prevent first-time strokes

Healthy lifestyle choices and emergency room interventions can help prevent first-time strokes, according to revised American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines.

3 Dec 2010

Nemours commends House and Senate for passage of child nutrition legislation

Nemours, a premier, integrated child health system, congratulates the United States House of Representatives for passing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, legislation that reauthorizes critical child nutrition programs. We applaud Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Chairman Miller for their leadership in working with the Senate to pass legislation that will protect and promote the health of children. House passage of the bill has cleared the way for the President to sign it into law.

3 Dec 2010

AFFI commends Congress for approval of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz today commended the U.S. House of Representatives for approving the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which now heads to President Obama for his signature and enactment after having passed the Senate in August.

3 Dec 2010

Democrats confident food safety bill will be resolved despite procedural error; Child nutrition bill set for house vote

The Hill's Healthwatch Blog: "Senate Democrats say an error in the food-safety bill passed Tuesday can be resolved in time to send the legislation to President Obama by the end of the year. Two senior leadership aides confirmed that the bill the Senate approved, 73-25, inadvertently contained tax provisions that, under the Constitution, must originate in the House of Representatives. That means the bill must be passed a second time by the Senate, giving critics such as Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) another chance to block it" (Rushing and Lillis, 12/1).

3 Dec 2010

Mushrooms are good source of vitamin D

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released the results of its 24-month review on dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for vitamin D and calcium, which validated the importance of vitamin D as an essential nutrient for promoting bone health. The committee set the recommended intake level at 600 IU, which is triple the previously recommended amount from 1997.

3 Dec 2010

Spherix announces results of D-tagatose Phase 3 trial for Type 2 diabetes

Spherix Incorporated, an innovator in biotechnology for therapy in diabetes, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis; and providers of technical and regulatory consulting services to food, supplement, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, today announced results from its first Phase 3 trial post hoc analysis in which the higher body mass index (BMI) of the U.S. population relative to the Indian population was a likely key contributor to the more positive effects of D-tagatose in the lowering of HbA1c levels in the U.S. population. Initial results were announced on October 7.

2 Dec 2010

Weighty issues

A new study shows that the ideal body mass index or BMI is between 20 and 24.9. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in Kilograms by the square of height in meters. The study authors examined nearly 1.5 million adults and found that even being slightly overweight but not obese, are enough to raise the risk of an early death.

2 Dec 2010

Wright County Egg receives FDA concurrence to sell shell eggs

FDA today notified Wright County Egg LLC of Galt, Iowa, that the company has FDA's concurrence to begin shipping shell eggs directly to the consumer market from two hen houses on one of its six farms. The firm has not shipped eggs to the consumer market since August 2010, when the company's eggs were associated with the multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE).

2 Dec 2010