Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

5-year-old British autistic boy dies after alternative therapy in U.S.

A 5-year-old British autistic boy has died after undergoing a controversial form of alternative therapy.

29 Aug 2005

Elevated blood lactate levels may indicate poor prognosis in liver failure

A new study on fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), a sudden and severe shutdown of the liver, examined ways of determining early on whether patients would benefit from a transplant as opposed to responding to other medical treatment. The results showed that elevated blood lactate levels indicate a poor prognosis and thus the need for a transplant.

28 Aug 2005

UCI study helps identify one reason why women have lower stroke risk than men

Estrogen's role as an inhibitor of toxic-free radicals in cerebral blood vessels may be a key reason why premenopausal women have a lower stroke risk than men.

26 Aug 2005

Study continues to support margarine's use in heart-healthy diets

A new study gives the "thumbs up" to soft, trans fat-free margarines in terms of foods that can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

25 Aug 2005

Television advertising is packed with junk food

For young Americans, the "food landscape" in television advertising is packed with junk food, according to a new study.

25 Aug 2005

Americans in every state, apart from Oregon, are getting fatter!

According to the Trust for America's Health, it was found that Mississippi had the highest rate of obesity, with 29.5 percent of adults classified as obese in 2004, while Colorado was the slimmest state, with just 16 percent of adults classed as obese.

24 Aug 2005

Taking aspirin longterm could reduce colorectal cancer risk

According to new report from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), regular, long-term aspirin use can significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

24 Aug 2005

Aspirin use can significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer

A new report from the Nurse's Health Study finds that regular, long-term aspirin use can significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, as suggested by several earlier studies.

23 Aug 2005

Dietary supplement chitosan shows some promise in treating obesity

The dietary supplement chitosan shows some promise in treating overweight and obesity but has not been shown conclusively to be an effective weight loss aid, according to a new systematic review of current evidence.

23 Aug 2005

California in conflict with FDA over warnings on canned tuna

The state of California has had it's knuckles rapped by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over warnings on canned tuna.

23 Aug 2005

Heart healthy habits are good for oral health

Heart healthy habits are good for oral health, too, according to a new study published in the current issue of the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy of Periodontology.

22 Aug 2005

Building stronger health systems key to reaching the health millenium development

Building up and strengthening health systems is vital if more progress is to be made towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a new report. Unless urgent investments are made in health systems, current rates of progress will not be sufficient to meet most of the goals.

22 Aug 2005

New research says brightly-coloured fruit and veggies protects against arthritis

Apparently rheumatoid arthritis currently affects around 1% adults in the UK, and previous studies have suggested that vitamin C and the pigment beta-cryptoxanthin, both of which are found in brightly-coloured fruit and vegetables, may act as antioxidants, and protect the body against the oxidative damage which can cause inflammation.

22 Aug 2005

A cell's energy level is critical to its survival

In an ongoing effort to fight disease by manipulating energy regulation of cells, a collaborative study led by Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) has demonstrated that cells lacking a tumor-suppressing kinase called LKB1 can still maintain healthy energy levels when they become stressed.

22 Aug 2005

Children who eat fries raise their risk of breast cancer later in life

According to a new study very young children who eat french fries frequently have a much higher risk of breast cancer as adults.

21 Aug 2005

Losing weight cuts breast cancer risk

An international team of scientists has found that young women who carry a breast cancer gene, can reduce their risk of the disease by up to 65% by attaining a healthy bodyweight.

21 Aug 2005

U.S. beverage industry praised for helping in childhood obesity battle

The American Beverage Association (ABA) has approved a policy aimed at limiting the sale of soft drinks in school vending machines as the nation fights obesity.

17 Aug 2005

Brightly-coloured fruit and veg, may act as antioxidants - protect against rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis currently affects around 1% adults in the UK. Previous studies have suggested that vitamin C and the pigment beta-cryptoxanthin, both of which are found in brightly-coloured fruit and veg, may act as antioxidants, and protect the body against the oxidative damage which can cause inflammation.

From The University of Manchester 17 Aug 2005

Study shows more obesity-related arthritis among baby boomers

Baby-boomers have spent more years living with more obesity than the previous generation, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have found. Although it may be too early to tell whether this will lead to a rise in arthritis rates, the study shows more obesity-related arthritis among baby boomers compared to the previous generation.

17 Aug 2005

Women who take oral contraceptives can counteract bone loss by increasing calcium in their daily diet

Women who take oral contraceptives can counteract bone loss by making sure they have enough calcium in their daily diet, especially early in life, according to Purdue University research.

17 Aug 2005