Diet News and Research

Latest Diet News and Research

Do edible insects deliver on protein and sustainability? New study gives answers

Researchers from the University of Pisa analyzed 523 insect-based food products sold online in Europe, evaluating their species, formulations, and nutritional profiles. They found that these products, though diverse and protein-rich, face cultural resistance and high prices, limiting their dietary integration.

23 Apr 2025

Metabolic syndrome in midlife linked to higher dementia risk

Having a larger waistline, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of young-onset dementia, according to a study published on April 23, 2025, online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Apr 2025

What links dust mites, shellfish, and insect food allergies?

A study of 634 allergy patients in Tenerife found that 22% were sensitized to edible insects—often without ever consuming them, due to cross-reactivity with house dust mites. Tropomyosin and arginine kinase were key shared allergens, but a subset reacted to unknown insect proteins, raising new concerns about emerging food allergies.

23 Apr 2025

UK public backs food tax, if it makes healthy food more affordable

A nationally representative UK survey found that 48% of adults support taxing unhealthy foods, with support rising to 72% if revenues make healthy foods cheaper. Public backing was strongest among non-manual workers and Londoners, and weakest among lower-income and unemployed groups.

23 Apr 2025

DT-109 shows promise in treating atherosclerosis and liver disease

A drug candidate, previously successful at treating severe fatty liver disease, reduces atherosclerosis - a primary driver of cardiovascular death worldwide - in large mammals, a study suggests.

23 Apr 2025

DASH diet and salt reduction work together to reduce cardiovascular risk

Reducing dietary sodium and following the DASH diet each lower 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with the greatest benefit when combined. This effect is especially strong for women, Black adults, and those with stage 2 hypertension.

23 Apr 2025

Mediterranean diet lowers breast cancer risk by 13%, postmenopausal women benefit most

A new meta-analysis of 31 observational studies finds that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a 13% lower risk of breast cancer in women, particularly among postmenopausal populations. The protective effect was strongest in Asian countries and in case-control study designs.

22 Apr 2025

Interferon regulatory factor 8 identified as key driver of liver fat buildup in NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic metabolic syndrome resulting from lipid metabolic imbalance. Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is well known for its roles in immune cell differentiation and tumor pathogenesis; however, its role in regulating glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism remains unclear.

22 Apr 2025

Can a plant-based diet help prevent breast cancer?

A case-control study in Iranian women found that higher adherence to a healthy plant-based diet significantly reduces breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women and those with a BMI under 25. In contrast, high intake of unhealthy plant-based foods raised risk in premenopausal women.

22 Apr 2025

Walnut consumption linked to reduced inflammation and lower colon cancer risk

There are new findings out about the benefits of eating walnuts. Results from a UConn School of Medicine clinical trial on the cover of the April edition of the journal Cancer Prevention Research show walnuts improve systemic inflammation while also reducing colon cancer risk.

22 Apr 2025

Plastic additives found in 85% of foods raise concern for infant health

Researchers assessed plasticizer levels in foods typical of the Spanish diet and found widespread contamination, with infants showing the highest exposure. Certain additives, like DEHP, exceeded safety thresholds in high-exposure scenarios.

21 Apr 2025

Only 13% of French adults have optimal heart health, study finds

Researchers assessed the Life’s Essential 8 cardiovascular health (CVH) scores in over 190,000 French adults, revealing that only 13% had optimal CVH. Higher scores were associated with being younger, female, well-educated, and having healthier lifestyle factors.

21 Apr 2025

Ursolic acid modulates estrogen conversion to alleviate MASLD inflammation

The incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been escalating annually, positioning it as the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.

21 Apr 2025

Muscle building unaffected by vegan or animal-based protein sources

A new study asked three questions about muscle protein synthesis in response to a nine-day diet and weight training regimen: First, does the source of protein - plant or animal-based - make any difference to muscle gain? Second, does it matter if total daily protein intake is evenly distributed throughout the day? And third, does a moderate but sufficient daily protein intake influence any of these variables? The answer to all three questions is "no," the researchers found.

21 Apr 2025

Reversing adipose tissue fibrosis through targeted microRNA therapies

A new review published in Genes & Diseases highlights the transformative role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating and potentially reversing adipose tissue fibrosis, a condition closely linked to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

20 Apr 2025

Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier structure solved after fifty years

Fifty years since its discovery, scientists have finally worked out how a molecular machine found in mitochondria, the 'powerhouses' of our cells, allows us to make the fuel we need from sugars, a process vital to all life on Earth.

18 Apr 2025

Key enzyme found to influence immune aging and B cell production

Our immune systems weaken as we get older, making fewer cells that fight infection and help us recover from illness and injury. Scientists aren't completely sure why. They may have a better idea now, however, thanks to a new study in GeroScience.

17 Apr 2025

Public ignorance and apathy towards bird flu could hinder preventive efforts

In an editorial in the American Journal of Public Health, a team led by researchers from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) say public ignorance and apathy towards bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI) could pose a serious obstacle to containing the virus and preventing a larger-scale public health crisis.

17 Apr 2025

How a cartoon bear revealed surprising gaps in toddler hunger awareness

Preschool children aged 3–5 successfully used the Teddy the Bear pictorial scale to rate hunger before and after meals, supporting its validity for group-level research. However, younger children, especially three-year-olds, struggled more with using the tool accurately.

17 Apr 2025