Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Presence of albumin in urine predicts cognitive decline: Study

A new study has found that low amounts of albumin in the urine, at levels not traditionally considered clinically significant, strongly predict faster cognitive decline in older women.

21 Nov 2010

'Vulnerably housed' people have same severe health problems as homeless people

For every one person in Canada who is homeless, another 23 live in unsafe, crowded or unaffordable housing, meaning the country's housing crisis is even worse than previously thought, according to Dr. Stephen Hwang of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

20 Nov 2010

Consumers want healthier menu items, but do not order them

The question of the moment for restaurant operators: Are the winds of healthy change truly blowing, or is it only so much hot air? Technomic's newest study finds that half of Canadian consumers want healthier menu items, but only about a quarter of them actively consider nutrition when dining out.

20 Nov 2010

Humana delivers one millionth meal in Well Dine food program

Humana has served nutritious meals to more than 81,000 Humana Medicare Advantage members in 120 cities after a hospital or nursing facility stay since the company's meal-delivery program began in 2006. Yesterday, Well Dine delivered the Humana program's one millionth meal to Humana Medicare Advantage member Sylvia van Dyke, 61, of Knoxville.

20 Nov 2010

Northeast Ohio receives over $497 million in community benefits from Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic provided more than $497 million in community benefit to the Northeast Ohio community in 2009. Significant increases over 2008 were seen in education, community outreach programming, Medicaid shortfall and charity care.

20 Nov 2010

Nephrologist’s care reduces ESRD development during first year of dialysis: Study

Among kidney disease patients, earlier care from a nephrologist is associated with a decreased likelihood of developing end-stage renal disease and a lower risk of death during the first year of dialysis, according to a study presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition.

20 Nov 2010

ROI on comprehensive, well-run employee wellness programs as high as six to one

Employee wellness programs have often been viewed as a nice extra, not a strategic imperative. But the data demonstrate otherwise, according to a team of researchers led by Leonard L. Berry of Texas A&M University, Ann M. Mirabito of Baylor University and William B. Baun of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

20 Nov 2010

Potassium citrate effective for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis: Study

The Western diet creates an acidic environment in the body that removes calcium from bones and may contribute to the development of osteoporosis. Healthy adults who consume the standard US diet sustain a chronic, low-grade state of acidosis that worsens with age as kidney function declines, limiting urinary acid excretion. Reto Krapf, MD (University of Basel, in Bruderholz/Basel, Switzerland) and colleagues designed a study to see if daily alkali as potassium citrate supplement tablets might neutralize these effects.

20 Nov 2010

NCL applauds FDA's decision on reformulation of alcoholic beverages

The National Consumers League, the nation's oldest consumer advocacy organization, praised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announcement yesterday that it would crack down on seven alcoholic energy drinks under recent scrutiny for combining large amounts of alcohol and caffeine.

20 Nov 2010

Harvard researcher to receive 2010 Naomi Berrie Award from Columbia University Medical Center

Columbia University Medical Center will present the 2010 Naomi Berrie Award to a Harvard researcher who has made important advances in understanding the molecular basis for links between obesity, diabetes and heart disease. A promising young investigator at Columbia will also be recognized for her novel investigations regarding the basis for disordered lipid metabolism in diabetes.

20 Nov 2010

Genetic differences impact winter vitamin D status

Vitamin D is somewhat of an unusual "vitamin," because it can be made in the body from sunlight and most foods do not contain vitamin D unless added by fortification. Synthesis of vitamin D in the body requires exposure to ultraviolet light and can be influenced by genetics, skin color, and sun exposure.

20 Nov 2010

People with heart disease, diabetes or cancer believe economic downturn hurts their health: Poll

A new poll from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Knowledge Networks shows that many people with heart disease, diabetes or cancer believe the economic downturn is hurting their health and will have further negative impacts in the future. Many Americans with these illnesses face financial problems paying for medical bills in this economy.

20 Nov 2010

$Older adults with low sodium experience increased rates of fractures, falls: Study$

Older adults with low sodium experience increased rates of fractures, falls: Study

Older adults with even mildly decreased levels of sodium in the blood (hyponatremia) experience increased rates of fractures and falls, according to a study presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition. Falls are a serious health problem for the elderly and account for about 50 percent of deaths due to injury in the elderly.

20 Nov 2010

Containers to Clinics opens pilot health facility in Haiti

Containers to Clinics (C2C), a nonprofit initiative that seeks to build health care infrastructures in developing countries through networks of converted shipping container clinics, today announced the opening of its pilot health facility at Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The clinic's services will include health screenings, vaccinations, pre-and post-natal care, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, post-partum and newborn care, infectious disease testing and treatment, nutrition counseling and health education classes.

20 Nov 2010

Children with higher waist circumferences more likely to have heart-related disorders: Researchers

In a study of more than 4,500 children, researchers found those with higher waist circumferences had significantly higher pulse pressures, which is known to increase the risk of heart-related disorders, according to an abstract presented today at the American Society of Nephrology's Renal Week conference in Denver.

20 Nov 2010

Scientist suggests functional amino acids play a critical role in human health

Functional amino acids play a critical role in the development of both animals and humans, according to a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.

20 Nov 2010

High CRP and low protein albumin levels associated with increased risk of death after PEG-operations

The combination of high CRP and low levels of the protein albumin in the blood, is associated with an increased risk of death after a PEG-operation; implantation of a nutritional catheter into the stomach through the abdominal wall. This was shown in a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet, published in the scientific journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Of the PEG patients in the study that showed both current indicators, 20 percent died within 30 days.

20 Nov 2010

Study highlights poor outcomes for patients with ESRD admitted over weekend

Patients with end-stage renal disease who are admitted to the hospital during the weekend are at increased risk of death, according to a study presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition.

20 Nov 2010

Merck wins third FOSAMAX bellwether trial

Merck & Co., Inc. today said a federal court jury in New York found in its favor in the Graves v. Merck case, rejecting the claims of a Florida woman who blamed her dental and jaw related problems on her FOSAMAX use. With today's verdict, Merck has won three of the first four bellwether cases in the FOSAMAX litigation.

20 Nov 2010

Consuming a variety of fruit reduces lung cancer risk by 23%

Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables per day is one of the means that experts most frequently recommend for preventing cancer. Now, the European EPIC study carried out by researchers from 10 countries has shown that, in the case of lung cancer, the important thing is not just the quantity but also the variety of fruit consumed, which can reduce the risk by up to 23%.

20 Nov 2010