Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Mediterranean diet delivers gut health benefits for expectant mothers

A Mediterranean diet during pregnancy significantly alters the maternal gut microbiome, increasing beneficial bacteria, while a mindfulness-based stress reduction program shows more limited effects. Neither intervention affected the vaginal microbiome, and the clinical significance of these changes requires further study.

6 Aug 2025

Scientists map the genes behind diet and dementia risk

Researchers established a high-quality genetic dataset from the MIND diet trial, enabling new studies of gene–diet interactions in cognitive health. This resource allows deeper investigation into why individuals respond differently to dietary interventions targeting dementia risk.

6 Aug 2025

Flavonols found in foods can block drug resistance protein and boost medication absorption

Researchers identified specific flavonols that potently inhibit breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a key driver of drug resistance and poor oral drug absorption. The study found that these flavonols can reverse chemotherapy resistance in vitro and boost drug exposure in animal models, though clinical translation remains uncertain.

6 Aug 2025

Eating French fries raises type 2 diabetes risk, major study finds

A large, multi-decade cohort study found that frequent French fry consumption raises type 2 diabetes risk, while baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes do not. Swapping any type of potato for whole grains, but not white rice, lowers diabetes risk.

6 Aug 2025

Excessive screen time linked to higher cardiometabolic risk in youth

Children and young adults who spend excessive hours glued to screens and electronic devices may have higher risks for cardiometabolic diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

6 Aug 2025

Magnesium deficiency drives higher mortality in hyperlipidemia

MgDS serves as a potential biomarker for mortality risk in hyperlipidemic adults, emphasizing the need for targeted approaches to manage cardiovascular health.

6 Aug 2025

Lupus Research Alliance awards early career scientists for innovative research

Today, the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the world's largest private funder of lupus research, announced the recipients of the 2025 Empowering Lupus Research (ELR) Career Development Award and Postdoctoral Award.

5 Aug 2025

Mother’s genetics may play an important role in influencing her child's weight

A mother's genetics may play a bigger role in determining whether a child becomes overweight than a father's, as a result of a concept known as genetic nurture, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

5 Aug 2025

Children’s obesity often traced back to parental genes

A new study finds that kids with obesity are more likely to have obese parents because they inherit obesity-related genes, and to a smaller extent, are impacted indirectly by genes carried by the mother – even when those genes aren't passed down.

5 Aug 2025

Breast milk fatty acids help babies sleep longer, study finds

Researchers found that higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in human milk are associated with longer sleep duration in exclusively breastfed two-month-old infants. The strongest effects were observed for daytime (diurnal) sleep, especially with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

5 Aug 2025

Which milk is safer for your heart? Decades of Norwegian data provide the answer

A major Norwegian cohort study finds that higher intake of whole milk is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, while low-fat milk shows no such association. The research supports recommendations to prefer low-fat milk for heart health.

5 Aug 2025

Are all healthy diets equal or does food processing make a difference?

A randomized crossover trial in the UK found that both ultra-processed (UPF) and minimally processed food (MPF) diets, when aligned with national guidelines, led to weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity. However, the MPF diet produced significantly greater reductions in weight, fat mass, and food cravings, highlighting the added benefits of limiting food processing.

5 Aug 2025

Starfish compound overcomes drug resistance in prostate cancer models

Researchers identified that triterpene glycosides from the starfish Solaster pacificus can kill drug-resistant prostate cancer cells in vitro by bypassing common resistance pathways. CuC1 showed synergy with existing chemotherapies, though with only moderate selectivity for cancer cells.

5 Aug 2025

Weight loss with ozempic may weaken muscles even when size remains stable

As use of the popular anti-diabetic and weight-loss drug Ozempic skyrockets, so have concerns about the medication's side effects.

5 Aug 2025

Most Americans oppose fast food sales in hospitals

Fast food like cheeseburgers, fried chicken, and pizza shouldn't be sold in hospitals, say most Americans in a new Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult poll.

5 Aug 2025

Leptin could offer alternative to insulin for managing type 1 diabetes complication

More than a decade ago, researchers found that an acute complication of type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), can be resolved with the hormone leptin, even in the absence of insulin.

4 Aug 2025

Chemical in everyday products found to worsen alcohol-related liver damage

Have you ever wondered why some people who drink alcohol develop serious liver problems while others don't? A study from University of Louisville researchers published in May in Toxicological Sciences suggests that the answer might be hidden in everyday sources such as drinking water, food packaging or even non-stick cookware.

4 Aug 2025

Mouth and gut microbes talk to each other - here’s why it matters for disease

Researchers reviewed nearly 250 studies to uncover how the oral and gut microbiomes communicate through multiple pathways, influencing the risk of diseases such as IBD, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. The review highlights that maintaining oral health and dietary habits is crucial for overall systemic wellbeing.

4 Aug 2025

Impulsivity shapes diet and gut bacteria in healthy adults, study finds

Impulsivity in healthy adults is linked to unhealthy dietary choices, such as higher intake of alcohol and sugary drinks and lower fiber consumption. These dietary behaviors, in turn, are associated with changes in specific gut bacterial genera, highlighting an indirect pathway between personality traits and the gut microbiome.

4 Aug 2025

Weight loss doubles when eating minimally processed foods over ultra-processed alternatives

When given nutritionally matched diets, participants lost twice as much weight eating minimally processed foods compared to ultra-processed foods, suggesting that cutting down on processing could help to sustain a healthy weight long term, finds a new clinical trial led by researchers at UCL and UCLH.

4 Aug 2025