Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Scientists develop peptides that restore balance in gut bacteria and reverse atherosclerosis

Now, a team of scientists at Scripps Research has developed new molecules that can restore the balance in gut bacteria in the intestines and as a result, lowers cholesterol levels and reverses the narrowing of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis.

18 Jun 2020

Low potassium levels in COVID-19 disease

Now a new study by an Italian team of researchers published in June 2020 on the preprint server medRxiv reports that potassium levels are often low in COVID-19 disease, mostly due to the urinary loss of potassium.

17 Jun 2020

Traffic-related air pollution may affect the developing brain

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found a link between traffic-related air pollution and an increased risk for changes in brain development relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders.

17 Jun 2020

Iron fortification of bouillon or stock shows potential for tackling iron deficiency

Iron fortification of food is a cost-effective method of preventing iron deficiency. But finding iron compounds that are easily absorbed by the intestine without compromising food quality is a major challenge.

17 Jun 2020

'Microbial dark matter' can affect cholesterol levels in humans

In the darkest parts of the world where light fails to block out the unfathomable bounty of the stars, look up. There are still fewer specks illuminating the universe than there are bacteria in the world, hidden from sight, a whole universe inside just one human gut.

17 Jun 2020

CSIRO study reveals negative impact of COVID-19 on weight and emotional wellbeing

A new study by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has found that weight and emotional wellbeing has suffered throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, with Australians also feeling concerned about how long it will take for life to return to “normal”.

17 Jun 2020

Even brief exposure to certain chemicals can prematurely age the liver epigenome

The epigenome is sometimes referred to as the "software" or "operating system" of the genome. It comprises small chemical modifications to DNA and the proteins that make up our chromosomes, and controls the activity of all the genes within the genome.

17 Jun 2020

CSIRO study on the effects of COVID-19 on weight and well being

The CSIRO, Australia's federal government agency responsible for scientific research, has come up with a study looking at the emotional well being and weight loss or gain associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the forced stay-at-home measures.

16 Jun 2020

Novel antisense drug shows promise to improve health of people with NAFLD

Using a first-of-its-class drug in a clinical trial, an international research effort headed by a scientist at University of California San Diego School of Medicine reports that inhibition of a key enzyme safely and effectively improved the health of persons with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a chronic metabolic disorder that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

16 Jun 2020

Study shows lean beef does not adversely affect diabetes and heart health

Results from a new study show that risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes were similar when participants consumed a healthy US-style eating pattern with and without an additional 5.3 ounces of lean beef.

16 Jun 2020

Abnormal expression of Zeb2 protein in epithelial cells can induce colorectal cancer

A collaborative study by research groups from the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research and Ghent University uncovered a new mechanism causing colorectal cancer.

16 Jun 2020

Prolonged exposure of the head to sunlight impairs motor-cognitive performance

Approximately half of the global population live in regions where heat stress is an issue that affects the ability to live healthy and productive lives.

16 Jun 2020

COVID-19 health crisis highlights food insecurity among children

One in four households with children have reported a child experiencing hunger as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis, according to the latest CUNY SPH COVID-19 tracking survey.

16 Jun 2020

Study shows high folate levels associated with improved cognition in older adults

A new study led by researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin challenges claims from some international scientific circles, that having high blood levels of folate (folic acid) increases the risk of poor cognition in older adults, especially in those with low levels of vitamin B12.

16 Jun 2020

New mapping tool details SNAP policies related to food shopping during the pandemic

The complex food shopping patterns that financially insecure families employ have been upended by the COVID-19 crisis.

16 Jun 2020

Blood vessels can sense the metabolic state of neighboring neural cells, shows study

The brain is our most energy-hungry and metabolically active organ. It is responsible for our thoughts, ideas, movement and ability to learn.

16 Jun 2020

Scientists develop molecules that can remodel gut bacteria to a healthier state

Scientists at Scripps Research have developed molecules that can remodel the bacterial population of intestines to a healthier state and they have shown--through experiments in mice--that this reduces cholesterol levels and strongly inhibits the thickened-artery condition known as atherosclerosis.

16 Jun 2020