Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

High caffeine consumption linked to hallucinations

High caffeine consumption could be linked to a greater tendency to hallucinate, a new research study suggests.

13 Jan 2009

Fatty liver disease medication may have no effect

A new randomized, prospective trial has shown that orlistat, a commonly prescribed inhibitor of fat absorption, does not help patients with fatty liver disease (FLD) lose weight, nor does it improve their liver enzymes or insulin resistance.

13 Jan 2009

Certain fatty acids help neurodevelopment for preterm girls

Preterm infant girls who received a high amount of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; an omega-3 fatty acid) had higher measures of neurodevelopment than preterm girls who received a standard amount of DHA, but this effect was not seen among preterm boys, according to a study in the January 14 issue of JAMA.

13 Jan 2009

Athletes aren't necessarily off the hook when it comes to health risks

College-age football players who gain weight to add power to their blocks and tackles might also be setting themselves up for diabetes and heart disease later in life, a new study suggests.

13 Jan 2009

Scientists unlock secret to overeating

CANCER RESEARCH UK scientists have found new evidence that the tendency to overeat could be genetic according to research published in the International Journal of Obesity.

13 Jan 2009

Vitamin D offers widespread benefits for health

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient with health benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes.

12 Jan 2009

Blood mercury levels associated with income, ethnicity and coastal areas

A new study reveals that women living in coastal areas and in the Northeast U.S. were more likely than other women to have blood mercury (BHg) concentrations exceeding levels of concern, as reported in the January 2009 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP).

12 Jan 2009

Parents call for boycott of venues selling junk food

A parents advocacy group has called for a boycott of entertainment and sporting venues which promote and sell junk food.

12 Jan 2009

Six more obesity genes identified

The international GIANT (Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Parameters) consortium works on the discovery of obesity genes.

8 Jan 2009

Maslinic acid from olive-skin pomace protects against colon cancer

Researchers from the University of Granada and the University of Barcelona have shown that treatment with maslinic acid, a triterpenoid compound isolated from olive-skin pomace, results in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and causes apoptotic death in colon-cancer cells.

8 Jan 2009

Fighting childhood obesity should be a family affair

Fighting childhood obesity, which is a serious concern in our country, should be looked upon as a family affair.

7 Jan 2009

Fat busting drug Leptin could make a comeback

When an obesity drug called Leptin was first discovered by scientists 13 years ago, experts hoped the appetite-suppressing hormone would be a possible cure for obesity.

7 Jan 2009

Active Hexose Correlated Compound shown to enhances immune system by increasing production of key dendritic cells

A recently published study in Nutrition and Cancer (60(5), 643-651) by researchers at Kansai Medical University in Osaka, Japan has shown that AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) enhances immune function by increasing the number of dendritic cells (DCs).

6 Jan 2009

Exercise may not be key to obesity epidemic

A recent international study fails to support the common belief that the number of calories burned in physical activity is a key factor in rising rates of obesity.

6 Jan 2009

People with Ala12 gene variant need to watch out for high fat in their diets

New evidence in mice bolsters the notion that a version of a gene earlier shown to protect lean people against weight gain and insulin resistance can have the opposite effect in those who eat a high-fat diet and are heavier, reveals a report in the January 7th issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication.

6 Jan 2009

New hope for leptin as a solution to obesity

The discovery more than a decade ago of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone secreted by fat tissue, generated headlines and great hopes for an effective treatment for obesity.

6 Jan 2009

Home visits lower likelihood of low birth weight babies

Socially disadvantaged mothers who receive home visits from trained community visitors are less likely to deliver low birth weight babies than other mothers in similar circumstances, a new study finds.

6 Jan 2009

COUP-TFII plays pivotal role in obesity, metabolic syndrome

A protein known to play a role in development and the formation of organs is also an important factor in the control of obesity and diabetes, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.

6 Jan 2009

Novel treatment option for obesity

A new study in the January 7th issue of Cell Metabolism , a Cell Press publication, helps to explain why obese people and animals fail to respond to leptin, a hormone produced by fat that signals the brain to stop eating.

6 Jan 2009

Fortification of corn masa flour products could increase folic acid intake among Mexican-Americans

Fortification of corn masa flour products could increase folic acid intake by nearly 20 percent for Mexican-Americans, who are at a 30-40 percent higher risk for a number of severe brain and spinal birth defects, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

5 Jan 2009