Latest Health Research

Supplements 

Vitamin D determines severity in COVID-19

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin are calling on the government in Ireland to change recommendations for vitamin D supplements [Monday 11th May 2020]. A new publication from Dr Eamon Laird and Professor Rose Anne Kenny, School of Medicine, and the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), in collaboration with Professor Jon Rhodes at University of Liverpool, highlights the association between vitamin D levels and mortality from COVID-19. The authors of the article, just published in the *Irish Medical Journal*, analysed all European adult population studies, completed since ... more »

Dietary supplements an important weapon for fighting off COVID-19

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago

Supplements containing vitamins C and D and other micronutrients, sometimes in amounts exceeding the federally recommended levels, are a safe, effective and low-cost means of helping your immune system fight off COVID-19 and other acute respiratory tract diseases, Adrian Gombart , an Oregon State University researcher says. Findings were published in the journal *Nutrients*. "Around the world, acute respiratory tract infections kill more than 2.5 million people every year," said Gombart, professor of biochemistry and biophysics. "Meanwhile, there's a wealth of data that shows the rol... more »

 

Exercise

Online exercise advice rarely aligns with national physical activity guidelines

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Whether for convenience, cost or comfort, many people look to online resources for fitness and exercise information -- especially when faced with fitness center and gym closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, most internet-based recommendations for physical activity don't match up with the guidelines supported by national health organizations, a recent study from Oregon State University found. "Online exercise advice is incomprehensible for many and incomplete for everybody," said researcher Brad Cardi... more »

Aerobics may be a smart workout for your brain at any age

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL MINNEAPOLIS - It's never too late to lace up some sneakers and work up a sweat for brain health, according to a study published in the May 13, 2020, online issue of *Neurology®*, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study suggests older adults, even couch potatoes, may perform better on certain thinking and memory tests after just six months of aerobic exercise. "As we all find out eventually, we lose a bit mentally and physically as we age. But even if you start an exercise program later in life, the ben... more »

Adding yoga to your regularly prescribed migraine treatment may help

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Adding yoga to your regularly prescribed migraine treatment may be better than medication alone, according to a study published in the May 6, 2020, online issue of *Neurology®*, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The new research suggests yoga may help people with migraines have headaches that happen less often, don't last as long and are less painful. "Migraine is one of the most common headache disorders, but only about half the people taking medication for it get real relief," said study author Rohit Bhatia, M.D., D.M., D.N.B., of the All India Institute of... more »

Moderate exercise in middle and older age cuts time spent in hospital

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Men and women aged 40-79 are at significantly lower (25-27%) risk of long or frequent hospital admissions if they do some form of physical activity, a new study suggests. Inactive participants in the study spent just over 4 days more in hospital over the next ten years than those who did at least some physical activity, whether for work or leisure. And similar results were observed 10 years later when the same participants were 50-90 years old. The study, by researchers at the University of Cambridge's Department of Public Health and Primary Care and MRC Epidemiology Unit, calculates ... more »

Strenuous exercise safe for people at high risk of knee arthritis

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

No need to dial back jogging, cycling, skiing, aerobic dance and tennis - Many worry strenuous exercise could hurt their joints - 10 years of vigorous activity did not pose risk - Strenuous activity for one to two hours weekly reduces risk of knee osteoarthritis by 30% - Osteoarthritis affects 32.5 million adults in U.S. CHICAGO---People at high risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA) may be nervous and reluctant to participate in strenuous physical activities such as jogging, cycling, singles tennis and skiing. But a new Northwestern Medicine study that followed high-ris... more »

 

General Health

Acupuncture may be safe and effective for easing indigestion symptoms

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

A 4-week course of acupuncture increased self-reported relief and improvement of symptoms for patients with a subtype of indigestion known as postprandial distress syndrome (PDS). The effects of acupuncture persisted through the 12-week follow-up without symptom relapse or rebound. Findings from a randomized clinical trial are published in *Annals of Internal Medicine*. PDS, a condition characterized by bothersome early fullness after eating and upper abdominal bloating, places a substantial burden on the health care system because of its high prevalence in a relatively young patien... more »

Work-related stress linked to increased risk for peripheral artery disease

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago

People who reported work-related stress were more likely to be hospitalized for peripheral artery disease compared to those who did not report work-related stress, according to new research published today in the *Journal of the American Heart Association*, an open access journal of the American Heart Association. The article appears in a special spotlight issue exploring different aspects of the complex relationships between psychosocial factors and cardiovascular health. Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a cardiovascular disease that occurs when cholesterol or other fatty subs... more »

 

Diet

Healthy eating behaviors in childhood may reduce the risk of adult obesity and heart disease

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

How children are fed may be just as important as what they are fed, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, "Caregiver Influences on Eating Behaviors in Young Children," published today in the *Journal of the American Heart Association*. The statement is the first from the Association focused on providing evidence-based strategies for parents and caregivers to create a healthy food environment for young children that supports the development of positive eating behaviors and the maintenance of a healthy weight in childhood, thereby reducing the ri... more »

Effects of antioxidant rich Indo-Mediterranean foods on pre-heart failure

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

The role of diets in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction is controversial. However, it is well known that Western diet causes oxidative stress and has pro-inflammatory effects, whereas Mediterranean style diets are anti-inflammatory. Recently, cohort studies and case control studies, have demonstrated that western style diets rich in sugar and physical inactivity with obesity are important behavioural risk factors of heart failure. Pre-heart failure may be defined as a state of myocardial dysfunction, which is at high risk for developing complete heart failure. It is similar to... more »

 

Our ability to focus may falter after eating one meal high in saturated fat

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

Fatty food may feel like a friend during these troubled times, but new research suggests that eating just one meal high in saturated fat can hinder our ability to concentrate - not great news for people whose diets have gone south while they're working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study compared how 51 women performed on a test of their attention after they ate either a meal high in saturated fat or the same meal made with sunflower oil, which is high in unsaturated fat. Their performance on the test was worse after eating the high-saturated-fat meal than after they ate ... more »

Drinking sugary drinks daily may be linked to higher risk of CVD in women

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

Drinking one or more sugary beverages a day was associated with a nearly 20% greater likelihood of women having a cardiovascular disease compared to women who rarely or never drank sugary beverages, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access journal of the American Heart Association. In the large, ongoing California Teacher's Study, which began in 1995, drinking one or more of any type of sugary beverage daily was associated with a 26% higher likelihood of needing a revascularization procedure, such as angioplasty to op... more »

Excess coffee consumption a culprit for poor health

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 4 days ago

PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: TOO MUCH COFFEE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF OSTEOARTHRITIS, ARTHROPATHY (JOINT DISEASE) AND OBESITY. view more CREDIT: PHOTO BY CYRIL SAULNIER ON UNSPLASH Cappuccino, latte or short black, coffee is one of the most commonly consumed drinks in the world. But whether it's good or bad for your health can be clarified by genetics, as a world-first study from the University of South Australia's Australian Centre for Precision Health shows that excess coffee consumption can cause poor health. Using data from over 300,000 participants in the UK Biobank, re... more »

 

Green tea may help with weight loss efforts

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

PRINT E-MAIL In an analysis of randomized controlled trials, individuals who consumed green tea experienced a significant decline in body weight and body mass index. On the other hand, the analysis did not show any significant change in terms of waist circumference (a measure of abdominal fat) with green tea supplementation. The findings are published in *Phytotherapy Research*. The analysis of 26 randomized controlled trials including 1,344 participants found that body weight and body mass index significantly changed after green tea was consumed for periods longer than 12 week... more »

 

 

Researchers find certain foods common in diets of US adults with inflammatory bowel disease

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: DR. DIDIER MERLIN, PROFESSOR IN THE INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY view more CREDIT: GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY ATLANTA--Foods, such as French fries, cheese, cookies, soda, and sports and energy drinks, are commonly found in the diets of United States adults with inflammatory bowel disease, according to a new study by researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. The researchers analyzed the National Health Interview Survey 2015 to determine the foo... more »

 

High alcohol consumption = increased stroke and peripheral artery disease risk

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Higher alcohol consumption was shown to be associated with an increased risk of having a stroke or developing peripheral artery disease, according to new research published today in *Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine*, an American Heart Association journal. While observational studies have consistently shown that heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of certain cardiovascular diseases, they often use self-reported data and are unable to determine cause. Researchers in this study used a different technique called Mendelian randomization that identif... more »

More berries, apples and tea may have protective benefits against Alzheimer's

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

*Study shows low intake of flavonoid-rich foods linked with higher Alzheimer's risk over 20 years* Older adults who consumed small amounts of flavonoid-rich foods, such as berries, apples and tea, were two to four times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and related dementias over 20 years compared with people whose intake was higher, according to a new study led by scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University. The epidemiological study of 2,800 people aged 50 and older examined the long-term relationship betwee... more »

Higher caffeine intake protective against Parkinson's

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Two purines, caffeine and urate, have been associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in multiple study groups and populations. Analysis of data from the Harvard Biomarkers Study shows that lower levels of caffeine consumption and lower blood urate are inversely associated with PD, strengthening the links between caffeine intake and urate levels and PD, reports a study in the *Journal of Parkinson's Disease (JPD)*. "Both caffeine and urate possess neuroprotective properties via adenosine receptor antagonist and antioxidant actions, respectively," explained lead inves... more »

Potatoes serve high quality protein that's good for women's muscle

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Researchers from McMaster University have found that the potato, primarily known as a starchy vegetable, can be a source of high-quality protein that helps to maintain muscle. The findings, reported in the journal *Nutrients*, highlight the potential benefits of what is considered a non-traditional source of protein, particularly as dietary trends change and worldwide demand has increased for plant-based alternatives to animal-derived sources. "While the amount of protein found in a potato is small, we grow lots of potatoes and the protein, when isolated, it can provide some measurab... more »

 

Which foods do you eat together? How you combine them may raise dementia risk

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago

Study finds 'food networks' centered on processed meats, starches may raise risk AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL MINNEAPOLIS - It's no secret that a healthy diet may benefit the brain. However, it may not only be what foods you eat, but what foods you eat together that may be associated with your risk of dementia, according to a new study published in the April 22, 2020, online issue of *Neurology*®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at "food networks" and found that people whose diets consisted mostly of highly process... more »

How to make the healthiest coffee

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago

We may all be drinking more coffee to help us survive the COVID-19 lockdown. Today scientists announce the healthiest way to make a brew. The first study to examine links between coffee brewing methods and risks of heart attacks and death has concluded that filtered brew is safest. The research is published today in the *European Journal of Preventive Cardiology*, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 "Our study provides strong and convincing evidence of a link between coffee brewing methods, heart attacks and longevity," said study author Professor Dag S. Thelle of... more »

 

Coffee changes our sense of taste

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago

AARHUS UNIVERSITY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Sweet food is even sweeter when you drink coffee. This is shown by the result of research from Aarhus University. The results have just been published in the scientific journal *Foods*. Coffee lovers with a penchant for dark chocolate now have a scientific explanation for why the two are a perfect match. A study from Aarhus University shows that coffee makes you more sensitive to sweetness. In the study, 156 test subjects had their sense of smell and taste tested before and after drinking coffee. The researchers found no changes tin their se... more »

 

Aging

Cognition and gait speed often decline together

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Do thinking and walking go hand in hand in determining the health course of senior adults? A study published by UT Health San Antonio researchers found that, indeed, the two functions often parallel each other in determining a person's health trajectory. The researchers analyzed data from 370 participants in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA) and found that they grouped into three distinct trajectories. These classifications were based on the participants' changes on a cognitive measure and a gait speed task over an average of 9½ years: - Stable cognition and ga... more »

Seniors should pick up weights to combat frailty

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Physical exercise may not be top of mind for older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. But according to one UBC Okanagan researcher, strength training can be an effective way to stay healthy while at home. A recent study from UBCO professor Jenn Jakobi shows that strength training with free-weights that progresses in intensity is effective in combating declining health often observed with adult aging. "Inactivity and social isolation are key contributors to age-related frailty," says Jakobi. "While social isolation is a complex challenge these days, there is absolutely some work we ... more »

 

Latest Health Research - Last Summary

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago

Diet Children's fruit drinks need clearer labels Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 5 days ago Health and nutrition experts recommend that children do not consume drinks with added sugars or nonnutritive sweeteners, yet drinks containing both represent a major portion of beverages consumed by children. One reason may be that the labels of drinks marketed to kids do not help parents and other consumers differentiate among fruit juice and sugar-laden, artificially flavored drinks, finds research from NYU School of Global Public Health. While the FDA regulates drink labels, it p... more »