Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Children who drank whole milk had lower risk of being overweight or obese
A systematic review and meta-analysis led by St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto found children who drank whole milk had 40 per cent lower odds of being overweight or obese compared with children who consumed reduced-fat milk.
The research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, analyzed 28 studies from seven countries that explored the relationship between children drinking cow's milk and the risk of being overweight or obese. None of the studies - which involved a total almost 21,000 children between the ages of one and 18 years old - showed that kids who drank reduced-fat milk had a lower risk of being overweight or obese. Eighteen of the 28 studies suggested children who drank whole milk were less likely to be overweight or obese.
The findings challenge Canadian and international guidelines that recommend children consume reduced-fat cow milk instead of whole milk starting at age two to reduce the risk of obesity.
"The majority of children in Canada and the United States consume cow's milk on a daily basis and it is a major contributor of dietary fat for many children," said Dr. Jonathon Maguire, lead author of the review and a pediatrician at St. Michael's Hospital.
"In our review, children following the current recommendation of switching to reduced-fat milk at age two were not leaner than those consuming whole milk."
Dr. Maguire, who is also a scientist at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, next hopes to establish the cause and effect of whole milk and lower risk of obesity in a randomized controlled trial.
"All of the studies we examined were observational studies, meaning that we cannot be sure if whole milk caused the lower risk of overweight or obesity. Whole milk may have been related to other factors which lowered the risk of overweight or obesity," Dr. Maguire said.
"A randomized controlled trial would help to establish cause and effect but none were found in the literature."
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Fewer fats over the festive season may be the perfect formula for men's fertility
The research, by Dr Karma Pearce from the University of South Australia in collaboration with fertility specialist Prof Kelton Tremellen, Repromed, and Flinders University, presents a direct link between diet and testosterone - showing that what men eat could affect their fundamental male sex hormone.
The study is the first to identify that a diet high in any type of fat - including healthy mono-saturated fats such as olive oil - negatively impacts testosterone production over as little as five hours, yet one supplemented with egg whites, and to a lesser extent whey protein, can positively affect serum testosterone.
Globally, infertility affects 15 per cent of couples, with the World Health Organization estimating that up to 25 per cent of couples in developing countries are affected. While the causes are many and varied, 20-30 per cent of the problems are attributed to male factors alone.
Lead researcher, Dr Karma Pearce, says the preliminary findings present controversial insights over the shorter five-hour term about the link between testosterone and 'healthy' monounsaturated fat, which is popularly considered to be a component of a healthy diet, including the Mediterranean dietary pattern.
"There's an assumption that 'good' fats and 'bad' fats perform as they're described - but what's surprising, is that it wasn't the type of fat that mattered at all, as an equal amount of the good and bad fats significantly supressed testosterone production," Dr Pearce says.
While the researchers acknowledge they have tested individual nutrients and the effects may be different in the context of whole food dietary patterns, their earlier work has shown that 'Western diets' typified by fast food dietary pattern produced a 25 per cent decrease in serum testosterone within an hour of eating, with levels remaining suppressed below fasting baseline for up to four hours.
"In this study we also found that consuming albumen - the protein in egg whites - increased testosterone levels, and did so by four-fold relative to fasting, while albumin, combined with the bad saturated fat somewhat ameliorated the effect of the bad fats on testosterone levels, providing another diet-based influencer of testosterone levels."
The study tested eight diet protocols (meals comprising polyunsaturated fat; monounsaturated fat; refined carbohydrate (orange juice); whey; egg white; and mixed meals of polyunsaturated fat and refined carbohydrate; polyunsaturated fat and egg white; refined carbohydrate (orange juice) and egg white) with four blood tests/hormone analyses taken before eating and at every hour afterwards for five hours.
Dr Pearce says the study is one step in a series of work needed to support and enhance fertility.
While the study only analyses the impact of various dietary macronutrients on testosterone production, not sperm quality, the researchers believe the study results suggest at least the potential for diet to negatively impact on sperm production and fertility. The findings are extremely promising for couples trying to start a family.
"It's important to note that it's still early days and more research needs to be done, particularly at looking at the effect of these nutrients in the context of whole food dietary patterns over the longer-term," Dr Pearce says. "Over the Christmas period, for infertile men, and men with lower than normal testosterone levels, lowering the overall fat content and possibly increasing whey or adding egg whites may lead to improvements in testosterone levels over the shorter term."
The next step in their research is to evaluate the longer-term effect of these nutrients on testosterone levels in the context of whole food dietary patterns.
TB vaccine lowers rates of Alzheimer's disease in cancer patients
Holidays are a time for family. Festive gatherings with parents,
grandparents, aunts and uncles create memories that last a lifetime.
But when a loved one has Alzheimer's disease (AD), holidays often become
painful reminders of loss and deterioration. Currently, Alzheimer's
affects one-in-ten adults over the age of 65--a number that is expected
to triple by 2030. The need to find a cure is great.
Now there may be a glimmer of hope. A research team headed by Hervé Bercovier, Charles Greenblatt and Benjamin Klein at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)'s Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics has discovered that the Bacillus Calmette-Gue?rin (BCG) vaccine, originally developed for tuberculosis and commonly used to treat bladder cancer, may also be an effective treatment to prevent Alzheimer's. They published their findings in PLOS ONE.
"There's data reaching back to the 1960's that shows that countries treating bladder cancer patients with the BCG vaccine had a lower prevalence of Alzheimer's disease but it hadn't been properly analyzed," shared lead author Bercovier.
Until now. Bercovier and his team followed 1,371 bladder cancer patients receiving treatment at HU's Hadassah Medical Center. The average patient age was 68. During follow-up visits, 65 cancer patients had developed Alzheimer's. Those who had not received BCG as part of their treatment had a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than did BCG-treated patients: 8.9% (44 patients) as opposed to 2.4% (21). Further, when compared with the general (healthy) population, people who had never been treated with BCG had a 4-fold higher risk for developing Alzheimer's than did those who were treated with BCG.
It's important to note that the researchers have not developed a vaccine that prevents Alzheimer's. However, shared Bercovier "our study is an important step towards understanding the ways in which our immune system is a major player in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and how the BCG vaccine, which modulates the immune system, may serve as an effective preventative treatment to this crippling condition."
And that would be the best holiday gift of all.
Now there may be a glimmer of hope. A research team headed by Hervé Bercovier, Charles Greenblatt and Benjamin Klein at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)'s Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics has discovered that the Bacillus Calmette-Gue?rin (BCG) vaccine, originally developed for tuberculosis and commonly used to treat bladder cancer, may also be an effective treatment to prevent Alzheimer's. They published their findings in PLOS ONE.
"There's data reaching back to the 1960's that shows that countries treating bladder cancer patients with the BCG vaccine had a lower prevalence of Alzheimer's disease but it hadn't been properly analyzed," shared lead author Bercovier.
Until now. Bercovier and his team followed 1,371 bladder cancer patients receiving treatment at HU's Hadassah Medical Center. The average patient age was 68. During follow-up visits, 65 cancer patients had developed Alzheimer's. Those who had not received BCG as part of their treatment had a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than did BCG-treated patients: 8.9% (44 patients) as opposed to 2.4% (21). Further, when compared with the general (healthy) population, people who had never been treated with BCG had a 4-fold higher risk for developing Alzheimer's than did those who were treated with BCG.
It's important to note that the researchers have not developed a vaccine that prevents Alzheimer's. However, shared Bercovier "our study is an important step towards understanding the ways in which our immune system is a major player in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and how the BCG vaccine, which modulates the immune system, may serve as an effective preventative treatment to this crippling condition."
And that would be the best holiday gift of all.
###
Higher magnesium intake - reduced fatal coronary heart disease risk in women
Charles Eaton, MD, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and a
large team of researchers from various institutions, coauthored the
article entitled "Association
of Dietary Magnesium Intake with Fatal Coronary Heart Disease and
Sudden Cardiac Death: Findings from the Women's Health Initiative."
The researchers examined magnesium intake at baseline for more than
153,000 postmenopausal women and identified the development of fatal
coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death over the subsequent 10.5
years of follow-up. The data revealed that higher magnesium intake was
associated with statistically significant risk reduction in fatal
coronary heart disease and a reduction in risk of sudden cardiac death.
Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health and Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, states: "If the findings of this study are confirmed, future research should test whether high-risk women would benefit from magnesium supplementation to reduce their risk of fatal coronary heart disease."
Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health and Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, states: "If the findings of this study are confirmed, future research should test whether high-risk women would benefit from magnesium supplementation to reduce their risk of fatal coronary heart disease."
FDA approves new treatment for adults with migraine
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration today approved Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) tablets for the acute
(immediate) treatment of migraine with or without aura (a sensory
phenomenon or visual disturbance) in adults. Ubrelvy is not indicated
for the preventive treatment of migraine. It is the first drug in the
class of oral calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists
approved for the acute treatment of migraine.
“Migraine is an often
disabling condition that affects an estimated 37 million people in the
U.S.,” said Billy Dunn, M.D., acting director of the Office of
Neuroscience in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
“Ubrelvy represents an important new option for the acute treatment of
migraine in adults, as it is the first drug in its class approved for
this indication. The FDA is pleased to approve a novel treatment for
patients suffering from migraine and will continue to work with
stakeholders to promote the development of new safe and effective
migraine therapies.”
Migraine headache pain is
often described as an intense throbbing or pulsating pain in one area
of the head. Additional symptoms include nausea and/or vomiting and
sensitivity to light and sound. Approximately one third of individuals
who suffer from migraine also experience aura shortly before the
migraine. An aura can appear as flashing lights, zig-zag lines, or a
temporary loss of vision. Migraines can often be triggered by various
factors including stress, hormone changes, bright or flashing lights,
lack of food or sleep and diet. Migraine is three times more common in
women than in men and affects more than 10% of people worldwide.
The
effectiveness of Ubrelvy for the acute treatment of migraine was
demonstrated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
In these studies, 1,439 adult patients with a history of migraine, with
and without aura, received the approved doses of Ubrelvy to treat an
ongoing migraine. In both studies, the percentages of patients achieving
pain freedom two hours after treatment (defined as a reduction in
headache severity from moderate or severe pain to no pain) and whose
most bothersome migraine symptom (nausea, light sensitivity or sound
sensitivity) stopped two hours after treatment were significantly
greater among patients receiving Ubrelvy at all doses compared to those
receiving placebo. Patients were allowed to take their usual acute
treatment of migraine at least two hours after taking Ubrelvy. 23% of
patients were taking a preventive medication for migraine.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
First FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of Ebola virus disease
|
EVD is contagious and is
transmitted through direct contact with blood, body fluids and tissues
of infected wild animals or people, as well as with surfaces and
materials, such as bedding and clothing, contaminated with these fluids.
Onset of symptoms of EVD can be sudden and can include fever, fatigue,
muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting,
diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function and in some cases
internal and external bleeding. EVD has an incubation period that ranges
from 2 to 21 days. Individuals who provide care for people with EVD,
including health care workers who do not use correct infection control
precautions, are at the highest risk for infection.
Confirmed outbreaks of
EVD have been documented since the 1970s, primarily in areas of
sub-Saharan Africa, where scientists believe the virus is always present
at low levels in certain infected wild animals. On rare occasions,
people become sick with EVD after coming into direct contact with
infected animals, which can then lead to EVD outbreaks when the virus
spreads between people.
An outbreak in three West
African countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) from 2014 to 2016
resulted in more than 28,000 cases of EVD and more than 11,000 deaths
that were caused by Zaire ebolavirus.
The Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC) is currently experiencing the world’s second largest
EVD outbreak. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the DRC
began to use Ervebo as an investigational vaccine under an expanded
access program to help mitigate this outbreak. With or without
vaccination, it is critical to implement appropriate infection control
and prevention measures as part of efforts to prevent the spread of EVD.
Friday, December 20, 2019
Long work hours at the office linked to both regular and hidden high blood pressure
Office workers who spend long hours on the job are more likely to have high blood pressure, including a type that can go undetected during a routine medical appointment, according to a new study published today in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
High blood pressure affects nearly half of Americans ages 18 and older and is a primary factor in more than 82,000 deaths per year. Approximately 15-30% of U.S. adults have a type of the condition called masked hypertension, meaning their high blood pressure readings are normal during health care visits but elevated when measured elsewhere.
The new study, conducted by a Canadian research team, enlisted more than 3,500 white-collar employees at three public institutions in Quebec. These institutions generally provide insurance services to the general population. Compared with colleagues who worked fewer than 35 hours a week:
- Working 49 or more hours each week was linked to a 70% greater likelihood of having masked hypertension and 66% greater likelihood of having sustained hypertension- elevated blood pressure readings in and out of a clinical setting.
- Working between 41 and 48 hours each week was linked to a 54% greater likelihood of having masked hypertension and 42% greater likelihood of having sustained hypertension.
- The findings accounted for variables such as job strain, age, sex, education level, occupation, smoking status, body mass index and other health factors.
"The observed associations accounted for job strain, a work stressor defined as a combination of high work demands and low decision-making authority. However, other related stressors might have an impact," Trudel said. "Future research could examine whether family responsibilities - such as a worker's number of children, household duties and childcare role - might interact with work circumstances to explain high blood pressure."
The five-year study involved three waves of testing - in years one, three and five. To simulate in-clinic blood pressure readings, a trained assistant provided participants with a wearable monitor to check each participant's resting blood pressure three times in one morning. For the rest of the workday, the participant wore the blood pressure monitoring device, which took readings every 15 minutes - collecting a minimum of 20 additional measures for one day. Average resting readings at or above 140/90 mmHg, and average working readings at or above 135/85, were considered high.
In all, almost 19% of the workers had sustained hypertension, which included employees who were already taking high blood pressure medications. More than 13% of the workers had masked hypertension and not receiving treatment for high blood pressure. "The link between long working hours and high blood pressure in the study was about the same for men as for women," Trudel said.
The study "did not include blue-collar workers (employees who are paid by the hour and perform manual labor work in positions such agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, maintenance or hospitality service), therefore, these findings may not reflect the impact on blood pressure of shift-work or positions with higher physical demands," the authors said. Other limitations include the study's measurement of blood pressure only during daytime hours, and the omission of hours worked outside participants' primary job.
The authors noted several strengths of the study, including its many volunteers, accounting for multiple factors that can impact blood pressure, repeated testing over several years, the use of wearable monitors instead of relying on workers' reports of their blood pressure readings; and the use of the same monitors for all blood pressure measurements.
"People should be aware that long work hours might affect their heart health, and if they're working long hours, they should ask their doctors about checking their blood pressure over time with a wearable monitor," Trudel said. "Masked hypertension can affect someone for a long period of time and is associated, in the long term, with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. We have previously shown that over five years, about 1 out of 5 people with masked hypertension never showed high blood pressure in a clinical setting, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment."
Acid reflux affects nearly a third of US adults weekly
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive disorder that causes heartburn and other uncomfortable symptoms, may affect nearly a third of U.S. adults each week, and most of those who take certain popular medications for it still have symptoms, according to a new Cedars-Sinai study.
Also known as acid reflux, GERD is caused by gastric acid from the stomach flowing back up into a person's food pipe, or esophagus. This backup can happen when the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that briefly opens to let food into the stomach and closes to take food inside, relaxes too often or too long. Besides causing the burning sensation in the throat and chest known as heartburn, GERD can damage tissues and cause food to be regurgitated.
For their research, published today in the journal Gastroenterology, investigators conducted an online survey of more than 71,000 people age 18 or over across the U.S., asking them if they experienced specific GERD symptoms and how often, and if they were taking drugs for it.
"Our study is among the largest and most diverse population-based studies on gastrointestinal symptoms ever conducted," said Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, director of Cedars-Sinai's Health Service Research, professor of Medicine and corresponding author of the journal article. Most previous published research on GERD, which found a somewhat lower incidence of the disease than this study did, was conducted within limited geographic areas or with a less representative sampling of U.S. adults, he explained.
An important feature of the new study was its finding that more than half of GERD patients who took popular over-the-counter drugs known as proton pump inhibitors, designed to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach, still reported persistent symptoms.
The survey also indicated that certain categories of people, including younger people, women, Latinos, and people with irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease, were less likely to respond to proton pump inhibitors.
"Given the significant effect of GERD on quality of life for millions of Americans, further research and development of new therapies are needed to help patients whose disease does not respond to proton pump inhibitors," said Spiegel, who also directs the Cedars-Sinai Center for Outcomes Research and Education.
The investigators conducted their nationwide survey in October and November 2015 using MyGiHealth, a mobile app that asked respondents to select any symptoms they had experienced in the past week or "ever experienced." Investigators measured the severity of patients' symptoms, using validated questionairres from the National Institutes of Health. The symptoms included GERD-relevant ones -- such as heartburn, acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux -- plus other general gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation and nausea.
Out of 71,812 people who responded to the survey, 44.1% reported experiencing GERD symptoms in the past and 30.9% in the last week. More than a third of the GERD sufferers said they were currently on therapy, mostly involving proton pump inhibitors. Of those taking daily proton pump inhibitors, 54.1% reported persistent GERD symptoms.'
"The MyGiHealth digital platform allowed us to efficiently recruit a large, highly diverse, representative population in a very short period of time," said Christopher Almario, MD, MSHPM, assistant professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. Yet it also carried potential limitations because individuals with limited computer skills or poor access to the internet may be underrepresented, he explained. In addition, since the study was described as a "GI Survey" to potential respondents, it may have led to overestimating GERD prevalence since those without gastrointestinal issues may have opted not to complete the survey.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Latest Health Research - Aging, Exercise, Medicine and Supplements, Sleep, etc.
Aging
Obesity, but not poor diet and inactivity, linked to higher risk of dementia
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 14 hours ago
A large study that followed more than one
million women for nearly two decades has found that obesity in midlife
is linked to a greater risk of dementia later in life; however, poor
diet and lack of exercise are not. The study is published in the
December 18, 2019, online issue of *Neurology®*, the medical journal of
the American Academy of Neurology. “Some previous studies have suggested
poor diet or a lack of exercise may increase a person’s risk of
dementia,” said study author Sarah Floud, PhD, of the Nuffield
Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford in the Un… more »
Large study links sustained weight loss to reduced breast cancer risk
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 day ago
Results show that higher breast cancer risk
from excess body weight can be reversed with weight loss American Cancer
Society A large new study finds that women who lost weight after age 50
and kept it off had a lower risk of breast cancer than women whose
weight remained stable, helping answer a vexing question in cancer
prevention. The reduction in risk increased with the amount of weight
lost and was specific to women not using postmenopausal hormones. The
study appears in *JNCI*. In the United States, more than two in three
adult women are overweight or obese. And while high body… more »
Hydration may affect cognitive function in some older adults
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 6 days ago
Not getting enough water is enough to make you
feel sluggish and give you a headache, but a new Penn State study
suggests it may also relate to cognitive performance. The researchers
investigated whether hydration levels and water intake among older
adults was related with their scores on several tests designed to
measure cognitive function. They found that among women, lower hydration
levels were associated with lower scores on a task designed to measure
motor speed, sustained attention, and working memory. They did not find
the same result for men. The findings were recently publ… more »
Older adults who ‘train’ for a major operation spend less time in the hospital
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
Older adults who “train” for a major operation
by exercising, eating a healthy diet, and practicing stress reduction
techniques preoperatively have shorter hospital stays and are more
likely to return to their own homes afterward rather than another
facility, compared with similar patients who do not participate in
preoperative rehabilitation, according to research findings. The new
study, which appears as an “article in press” on the *Journal of the
American College of Surgeons* website in advance of print, evaluated a
home-based program of preoperative rehabilitation–called preh… more »
Playing board games may help protect thinking skills in old age
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
People who play games – such as cards and
board games – are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, a
study suggests. Those who regularly played non-digital games scored
better on memory and thinking tests in their 70s, the research found.
The study also found that a behaviour change in later life could still
make a difference. People who increased game playing during their 70s
were more likely to maintain certain thinking skills as they grew older.
Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh tested more than 1000
people aged 70 for memory, problem solving, thinking spe… more »
Aerobic exercise and heart-healthy diet may slow development of memory problems J
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND),
or mild cognitive impairment, is a condition that affects your memory
and may put you at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. According
to the U.S. National Library for Medicine, signs of mild cognitive
impairment may include frequently losing things, forgetting to go to
events and appointments, and having more trouble coming up with words
than other people of your age. Some experts believe that risk factors
for heart disease also are risk factors for dementia and late-life
cognitive decline and dementia. Recently, researchers exa… more »
Exercise
Good aerobic fitness doesn’t protect children against type 2 diabetes, staying active does
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 day ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *Physical
activity, fitness and insulin resistance in children view more Credit:
Eero Haapala Good aerobic fitness does not protect children against
obesity-induced insulin resistance, which is a key risk factor of type 2
diabetes, a new study from Finland shows. However, more physical
activity and less sedentary time were associated with reduced insulin
resistance also in obese children. Published in *Medicine &
Science in Sports & Exercise*, the findings are based on the
Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study carried out in
the Universit… more »
Yoga enhances many of the same brain structures and functions that benefit from aerobic exercise
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 6 days ago
Scientists have known for decades that aerobic
exercise strengthens the brain and contributes to the growth of new
neurons, but few studies have examined how yoga affects the brain. A
review of the science finds evidence that yoga enhances many of the same
brain structures and functions that benefit from aerobic exercise. The
review, published in the journal *Brain Plasticity*, focused on 11
studies of the relationship between yoga practice and brain health. Five
of the studies engaged individuals with no background in yoga practice
in one or more yoga sessions per week over a peri… more »
The relationship between migraine and exercise
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 6 days ago
A recent study published in the journal
*Cephalalgia*, the official journal of the International Headache
Society, highlights an overlooked relationship between migraine and
exercise. The study, entitled “Anxiety sensitivity and intentional
avoidance of physical activity in women with probable migraine”, was led
by Samantha G Farris, from Rutgers, Department of Psychology, the State
University of New Jersey, NJ, USA. Migraine affects around 10-15% of
the population around the globe, and among its most common diagnosis
criteria include a throbbing, unilateral head pain, hypersensiti… more »
Play sports for a healthier brain – Even football, soccer, hockey athletes have healthier brains
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
There have been many headlines in recent years
about the potentially negative impacts contact sports can have on
athletes’ brains. But a new Northwestern University study shows that, in
the absence of injury, athletes across a variety of sports — including
football, soccer and hockey — have healthier brains than non-athletes.
“No one would argue against the fact that sports lead to better
physically fitness, but we don’t always think of brain fitness and
sports,” said senior author Nina Kraus, the Hugh Knowles Professor of
Communication Sciences and Neurobiology and director of … more »
Being active reduces risk of prostate cancer
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in
men in the UK , yet we still don’t know all of its causes. The largest
ever study to use genetics as a measurement for physical activity to
look at its effect on prostate cancer, reveals that being more active
reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Over 140,000 men were included in
the study, of which, 80,000 had prostate cancer. This new study,
published in the *International Journal of Epidemiology* today [5
December], was led by the University of Bristol and co-funded by World
Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK). … more »
Moderate intensity physical activity associated with lower risk of diabetes
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
Daily exercise at moderate intensity is
associated with beneficial levels of a hormone that may lower risk of
diabetes, according to a study published in *Endocrine Connections*. Men
who were physically active at moderate intensity for 30 minutes a day,
released higher levels of a hormone that reduces appetite and blood
sugar levels. These findings may suggest that even lower intensity of
daily habitual physical activity could help prevent metabolic diseases
such as diabetes. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to metabolic
complications such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and … more »
Medicine and Supplements
Sinuses bothering you? Use those nasal sprays regularly
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 day ago
Nasal saline and corticosteroid sprays are
pretty standard treatment for individuals battling chronic
rhinosinusitis (CRS). They thin out thick mucus buildup and help ease
the swelling in the nasal cavity that are the bane of anyone who has
battled what physicians often refer to as the asthma of the sinuses. If
used consistently and appropriately, these nasal sprays can lessen the
need for antibiotics and oral steroids that are needed when symptom
severities flare, according to a recent study from Dr. Ahmad Sedaghat,
an ear, nose and throat specialist at the University of Cincinnati… more »
Aspirin may no longer be effective as cardiovascular treatment
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
A new paper in *Family Practice*, published by
Oxford University Press, found that the widespread use of statins and
cancer screening technology may have altered the benefits of aspirin
use. Researchers concluded that aspirin no longer provides a net benefit
as primary prevention for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Nearly
half of adults 70 years and older have reported taking aspirin daily
even if they don’t have a history of heart disease or stroke. Overall,
an estimated 40% of adults in the United States take aspirin for primary
prevention of cardiovascular diseases, making it… more »
Scientists discover multiple mechanisms at work in widely-used diabetes drug metformin
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 2 weeks ago
Salk Institute [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE:
*Computational analysis revealing targets of metformin. view more
Credit: Salk Institute Metformin is the most commonly prescribed type 2
diabetes drug, yet scientists still do not fully know how it works to
control blood sugar levels. In a collaborative effort, researchers from
the Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute and Weill Cornell
Medical College have used a novel technology to investigate why it
functions so well. The findings, which identified a surprising number of
biochemical “switches” for various cellular processes, could a… more »
Aspirin can be considered a possible clinical option to other, more costly treatment and preventive options for migraines
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 2 weeks ago
According to a new reportin *The American
Journal of Medicine*, published by Elsevier, aspirin can be considered
an effective and safe option to other, more expensive medications to
treat acute migraines as well as prevent recurrent attacks. A review of
randomized evidence suggests efficacy and safety of high dose aspirin in
doses from 900 to 1,300 milligrams taken at the onset of acute
symptoms. The data also support a lower dose of from 81 to 325
milligrams as a possible preventive option. “Aspirin provides a possible
clinical option for primary healthcare providers to relieve … more »
Cannabis reduces headache and migraine pain by nearly half
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Inhaled cannabis reduces self-reported
headache severity by 47.3% and migraine severity by 49.6%, according to a
recent study led by Carrie Cuttler, a Washington State University
assistant professor of psychology. The study, published online recently
in the *Journal of Pain*, is the first to use big data from headache and
migraine patients using cannabis in real time. Previous studies have
asked patients to recall the effect of cannabis use in the past. There
has been one clinical trial indicating that cannabis was better than
ibuprofen in alleviating headache, but it used nabilone,… more »
HPV vaccines & vaccine schedules in adolescent girls and boys
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
New evidence published in the Cochrane Library
today provides further information on the benefits and harms of
different human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and vaccine schedules in
young women and men. HPV is the most common viral infection of the
reproductive tract in both women and men globally (WHO 2017). Most
people who have sexual contact will be exposed to HPV at some point in
their life. In most people, their own immune system will clear the HPV
infection. HPV infection can sometimes persist if the immune system does
not clear the virus. Persistent infection with some ‘hig… more »
Diet pills, laxatives used for weight control linked with later eating disorder diagnosis
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Among young women without an eating disorder
diagnosis, those who use diet pills and laxatives for weight control had
higher odds of receiving a subsequent first eating disorder diagnosis
within one to three years than those who did not report using these
products, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital. “We’ve
known that diet pills and laxatives when used for weight control can be
very harmful substances. We wanted to find out if these products could
be a gateway behavior that could lead to an eating… more »
Sleep
Good sleep patterns offset genetic susceptibility to heart disease and stroke
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 15 hours ago
Getting a good night’s sleep could be
beneficial for long-term health. A pioneering new study led by Dr. Lu
Qi, director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center, found
that even if people had a high genetic risk of heart disease or stroke,
healthy sleep patterns could help offset that risk. The study is
published in the *European Heart Journal*. The researchers looked at
genetic variations known as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that
were already known to be linked to the development of heart disease and
stroke. They analysed the SNPs from blood samples taken from m… more »
Nightly sleep disturbance linked to daily risk of migraines x
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 2 days ago
*Sleep fragmentation predicted migraine risk a
day later while sleep duration and low sleep quality were not
associated with risk of migraines * Nearly half of all patients who
suffer migraines report sleep disturbance as a trigger for their
headaches. But the relationship between sleep and migraine headaches is
not well understood or well-studied. Investigators from Brigham and
Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have conducted
the largest prospective study using objective measures of sleep to date
to evaluate the relationship between sleep and migraine head… more »
Take long naps? Sleep more than nine hours a night? Your stroke risk may be higher
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
People who take long naps during the day or
sleep nine or more hours at night may have an increased risk of stroke,
according to a study published in the December 11, 2019, online issue of
*Neurology*®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
People who took a regular midday nap lasting more than 90 minutes were
25 percent more likely to later have a stroke than people who took a
regular nap lasting from one to 30 minutes. People who took no naps or
took naps lasting from 31 minutes to one hour were no more likely to
have a stroke than people who took naps lasting… more »
Skipping one night of sleep may leave insomniacs twice as impaired
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
A new study conducted by researchers at
Washington State University shows that individuals with chronic
sleep-onset insomnia who pulled an all-nighter performed up to twice as
bad on a reaction time task as healthy normal sleepers. Their findings
were published today in the online journal *Nature and Science of
Sleep*. Poor daytime functioning is a frequent complaint among those
suffering from insomnia, said lead author Devon Hansen, an assistant
professor in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and a researcher in
the WSU Sleep and Performance Research Center. However, previous …
Science underestimated dangerous effects of sleep deprivation
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Michigan State University’s Sleep and Learning
Lab has conducted one of the largest sleep studies to date, revealing
that sleep deprivation affects us much more than prior theories have
suggested. Published in the *Journal of Experimental Psychology:
General*, the research is not only one of the largest studies, but also
the first to assess how sleep deprivation impacts placekeeping – or, the
ability to complete a series of steps without losing one’s place,
despite potential interruptions. This study builds on prior research
from MSU’s sleep scientists to quantify the effect lack of … more »
Lack of sleep may explain why poor people get more heart disease
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Insufficient sleep is one reason why
disadvantaged groups have more heart disease. That’s the finding of a
study published today in *Cardiovascular Research*, a journal of the
European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 People with lower socioeconomic
status sleep less for a variety of reasons: they may do several jobs,
work in shifts, live in noisy environments, and have greater levels of
emotional and financial stress. This was the first large
population-based study to examine whether lack of sleep could partly
explain why poor people have more heart disease. It found that short
sleep e… more »
Mindfulness
Mindfulness training may help lower blood pressure
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
As the leading cause of death in both the
United States and the world, heart disease claims nearly 18 million
lives every year, according to the World Health Organization. Many of
these deaths are due to hypertension, or abnormally high blood pressure,
and could be prevented through medication or lifestyle changes such as
healthier eating, weight loss and regular exercise — but behavior change
is often challenging. That’s where mindfulness may be useful, says Eric
Loucks, an associate professor of epidemiology, behavioral and social
sciences, and medicine at Brown University. “We… more »
General Health
Early-life exposure to dogs may lessen risk of developing schizophrenia
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 15 hours ago
Ever since humans domesticated the dog, the
faithful, obedient and protective animal has provided its owner with
companionship and emotional well-being. Now, a study from Johns Hopkins
Medicine suggests that being around “man’s best friend” from an early
age may have a health benefit as well — lessening the chance of
developing schizophrenia as an adult. And while Fido may help prevent
that condition, the jury is still out on whether or not there’s any
link, positive or negative, between being raised with Fluffy the cat and
later developing either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder…. more »
A strong link between non-HDL cholesterol levels and long-term risk for cardiovascular disease in people aged under 45 years
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
– Study is the most comprehensive analysis of
long-term risk for cardiovascular disease related to non-high-density
lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol – including almost 400,000 people from
19 countries who were followed for up to 43.5 years (median 13.5 years
follow-up) between 1970 to 2013. – This longer-term evidence may be
particularly important in people aged under 45 years. – Depending on
cholesterol level and number of cardiovascular risk factors, men and
women aged under 45 years have a 12-43% or 6-24% risk (respectively) of
having fatal or no… more »
Analysis of US life expectancy
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
JAMA *Bottom Line:* Examining life expectancy
in the United States over nearly 60 years and identifying factors that
contributed to recent increases in mortality were the focus of this
expansive report. Researchers used data from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the U.S. Mortality Database to analyze
changes in life expectancy and mortality rates, and they reviewed
epidemiologic literature to add context to the vital statistics and
explore explanations for the trends. Life expectancy increased almost 10
years, from 69.9 years in 1959 to 78.9 years in 2016, but the… more »
Latest Health Research - Diet
The highest costs associated with cardiometabolic disease may be attributable to suboptimal consumption of foods such as nuts and seeds, and seafood-derived omega-3 fats
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
Approximately $50 billion dollars of the annual healthcare cost of cardiometabolic disease in the US population could be associated with poor diet, according to a research article published this week in the open access journal *PLOS Medicine*. The results of the study, conducted by Renata Micha and Thomas Gaziano of Tufts University and the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, United States and colleagues, suggest that the highest costs associated with cardiometabolic disease may be attributable to suboptimal consumption of foods such as nuts and seeds, and seafood-derived omega-... more »
Artificial sweeteners may be doing more harm than good
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *Artificial sweeteners are a $2.2 billion industry view more Credit: Creative Commons A $2.2 billion industry to help people lose weight through artificial sweeteners may be contributing to type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from the University of South Australia. A recently published review led by UniSA Professor Peter Clifton reveals that people who use low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) are more likely to gain weight, the exact opposite of what consumers expect. This is despite controlled clinical trials showing that artificial sweeteners do lead to weight ... more »
Filtered coffee helps prevent type 2 diabetes, show biomarkers in blood samples
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
Coffee can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes - but only filtered coffee, rather than boiled coffee. New research from Chalmers University of Technology and Umeå University, both in Sweden, show that the choice of preparation method influences the health effects of coffee. Many previous studies have shown a connection between high coffee intake and a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Now, a study from Chalmers University of Technology and Umeå University, offers new insight into this connection, using a novel method to help differentiate between the effects...
Consumption of chili pepper cuts down the risk of death from a heart or cerebral attack
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 days ago
Chili pepper is a common guest in Italians kitchens, and over the centuries it has been praised for its supposed therapeutic virtues. Now an Italian research shows that people who consume it on a regular basis have a mortality risk for every cause reduced by 23% compared to those who do not like it. The study, published in the *Journal of the American College of Cardiology* (JACC), has been conducted by the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention of I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy, in collaboration with the Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine of the Istituto Supe... more »
Heart-healthy diets are naturally low in dietary cholesterol and can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 days ago
*Egg intake was not significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease* Reducing dietary cholesterol by focusing on an overall heart-healthy dietary pattern that replaces saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats remains good advice for keeping artery-clogging LDL cholesterol levels healthy. Such dietary patterns are naturally low in dietary cholesterol. Current research does not support a specific numerical limit on cholesterol from food according to a Scientific Advisory (Advisory) from the American Heart Association, published today in the Association's premier journ... more »
Egg-industry-funded research downplays danger of cholesterol
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 days ago
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *The graph tracks the rise of egg-industry-funded cholesterol studies over time. view more Credit: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine WASHINGTON--Controversial headlines claiming that eggs don't raise cholesterol levels could be the product of faulty industry-funded research, according to a new review published in the *American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine*. Researchers with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine examined all research studies published from 1950 to March of 2019 that evaluate... more »
Want to avoid the holiday blues? New report suggests skipping the sweet treats
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
If you're prone to depression, this holiday season you might want to say "bah humbug" to offers of sugar plum pudding, caramel corn and chocolate babka. A new study from a team of clinical psychologists at the University of Kansas suggests eating added sugars - common in so many holiday foods - can trigger metabolic, inflammatory and neurobiological processes tied to depressive illness. The work is published in the journal *Medical Hypotheses*. Coupled with dwindling light in wintertime and corresponding changes in sleep patterns, high sugar consumption could result in a "perfect s... m
Diet, not exercise, may be key to addressing our biggest cause of liver disease
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Edith Cowan University researchers have found that a chronic disease affecting up to 80 per cent of overweight people may be causing an iron deficiency that simply leaves them too tired to get off the couch. Fatty liver disease affects about one in three Australians and is often associated with being overweight or obese. If left untreated, it can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and increase the risk of a heart attack. But the remedy - to lose weight through diet or exercise - is often difficult to achieve for affected individuals. In other words, it may not be laziness but lac... more »
Study finds association between poor diet, age-related macular degeneration
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Participants who ate a diet high in red and processed meat, fried food, refined grains and high-fat dairy were three times more likely to develop an eye condition that damages the retina and affects a person's central vision, according to the results of a study from the University at Buffalo. The condition is called late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is an irreversible condition that affects a person's central vision, taking away their ability to drive, among other common daily activities. "Treatment for late, neovascular AMD is invasive and expensive, and there ... more »
Refined carbs may trigger insomnia
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
An estimated 30% of adults experience insomnia, and a new study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons suggests that diet may be partly to blame. The study found that postmenopausal women who consumed a diet high in refined carbohydrates--particularly added sugars--were more likely to develop insomnia. Women whose diet included higher amounts of vegetables, fiber, and whole fruit (not juice) were less likely to develop problems with insomnia. "Insomnia is often treated with cognitive behavioral therapy or medications, but these can be expen... more »
Even light alcohol consumption linked to higher cancer risk
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
In a study conducted in Japan, even light to moderate alcohol consumption was associated with elevated cancer risks. In the study published early online in *CANCER*, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the overall cancer risk appeared to be the lowest at zero alcohol consumption. Although some studies have linked limited alcohol consumption to lower risks of certain types of cancer, even light to moderate consumption has been associated with a higher risk of cancer overall. To study the issue in Japan, Masayoshi Zaitsu, MD, PhD, of The University of Tokyo and the... more »
Adding 2-3 servings of fresh lean pork each week, the Mediterranean-Pork diet delivers cognitive benefits, while also catering to Western tastes, and ensuring much lower greenhouse-gas emissions than beef production
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Barbecued, stir-fried or roasted, there's no doubt that Aussies love their meat. Consuming on average nearly 100 kilograms of meat per person per year, Australians are among the top meat consumers worldwide. But with statistics showing that most Australians suffer from a poor diet, and red meat production adding to greenhouse-gas emissions, finding a balance between taste preferences, environmental protection, and health benefits is becoming critical. Now, researchers from the University of South Australia can reveal that Aussies can have their health a... more »
Eating within 10-hour window may help stave off diabetes, heart disease
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, that increase the risk for adverse health issues, from heart disease and diabetes to stroke. Eating healthier, getting more exercise and taking prescribed medications when needed are common remedies but often prove insufficient to fully managing risks. In a recent collaborative effort, researchers from University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies reported a form of intermittent fasting, called time-restricted eating,... more »
Protein amounts larger than the recommended dietary allowance benefits only those who are cutting calories or strength training
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Purdue University [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *A new study by Purdue University nutrition scientists show that eating more protein daily than what is recommended may only benefit a few - those who are actively losing weight... view more Credit: Shaw Nielsen While some diets load up on protein and other diets dictate protein sources, it can be hard to know what to consume while managing weight or during weight loss. A new study by Purdue University nutrition scientists shows that eating more protein daily than what is recommended may benefit only a few - those who are actively losing we... more »
Aspartame Is Linked To Leukemia And Lymphoma In Landmark Study On Humans
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
[image: aspartame] It’s time to play Kick the Can—of soda, that is. In a 22-year landmark study published in *The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition* involving over 125,000 people, significant links were found between daily intake of aspartame and the development of leukemia and lymphoma. (1) These findings are consistent with previous studies in animal models: “A recent megaexperiment in 1800 rats tested at aspartame doses much lower than the currently acceptable daily intake (ADI) for humans reported a dose-dependent increase in lymphomas, leukemias, and transitional renal c... more »
Legumes boost heart health, according to new review study
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 4 weeks ago
Consuming beans, lentils, peas, and other legumes reduces the risk for cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and high blood pressure, according to a review published in *Advances in Nutrition*. Researchers reviewed prospective cohort studies that assessed consumption of legumes on the risk for cardiometabolic diseases and related markers. The study found that those who consumed the most legumes reduced incidence rates for cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and hypertension by as much as 10 percent when compared to those with the lowest intakes. "Cardiovascular... more »
Sesame allergy common among children with food allergies
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 4 weeks ago
Sesame allergy is one of the ten most common childhood food allergies. Reactions to sesame can be severe among children with the allergy. Only an estimated 20% to 30% of children with sesame allergy outgrow it. The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering whether to include sesame in the list of allergens that must be disclosed on food labels. Currently, Europe, Australia, and Canada do so. Diagnosing sesame allergy has been challenging. Standard allergy tests—skin prick tests and blood tests of sesame antibody levels—have yielded inconsistent results in past studies. T... more »
Healthful diet tied to lower risk of hearing loss
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 4 weeks ago
Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital have found that eating a healthy diet may reduce the risk of acquired hearing loss. Using longitudinal data collected in the Nurses' Health Study II Conservation of Hearing Study (CHEARS), researchers examined three-year changes in hearing sensitivities and found that women whose eating patterns more closely adhered to commonly recommended healthful dietary patterns, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, the Alternate Mediterranean (AMED) diet, and the Alternate Healthy Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), had substanti... more »
Salt, sugar, frying in oil bad; Ketogenic diet good
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 3 weeks ago
Mice fed a very high-salt diet showed accumulation of a protein in the brain linked with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias A diet high in salt is known to be a risk factor for high blood pressure, which in turn raises the risk of stroke and other health problems. Research has suggested that high salt intake may also be a risk factor for declining brain function with age. However, the mechanisms responsible for this link aren’t understood. Previous studies suggested that high levels of salt in the diet can cause immune changes in the gut that lead to reduced blood flow in the b... more »
Extra virgin olive oil staves off multiple forms of dementia in mice
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 3 weeks ago
Boosting brain function is key to staving off the effects of aging. And if there was one thing every person should consider doing right now to keep their brain young, it is to add extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to their diet, according to research by scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM). EVOO is a superfood, rich in cell-protecting antioxidants and known for its multiple health benefits, including helping put the brakes on diseases linked to aging, most notably cardiovascular disease. Previous LKSOM research on mice also showed that EVOO pres... more »