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Times they are a changing - and science is the engine of that change.
Science News
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Headlines added February 13, 2006
Eating less fat may lower breast-cancer
risk, have little impact on colon-cancer, heart-disease risk
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center | EurekAlert!
Adopting a low-fat diet in later life and following such a regimen for
nearly a decade does not appear to have a significant impact on reducing
overall risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer or heart disease. 2/6/2006
Read whole story
Red grapefruit appears to lower
cholesterol, fight heart disease
American Chemical Society | EurekAlert!
A grapefruit a day -- particularly the red variety -- can help keep heart
disease at bay, according to a new study by Israeli researchers. In a
controlled study group of patients with heart disease, the scientists
found that feeding some patients the equivalent of one grapefruit daily
significantly reduced levels of cholesterol in comparison to patients that
did not eat grapefruit. Chronic high blood cholesterol is a major risk
factor for heart disease. 2/7/2006
Read whole story
Veggies contain chemicals that boost DNA
repair and protect against cancer
Georgetown University Medical Center | EurekAlert!
New research at Georgetown University Medical Center uncovers a molecular
basis for why eating your vegetables can improve health. 2/8/2006
Read whole story
Headlines added
earlier
Research into soy will continue but soy is
not a solution for heart disease
Tufts University | EurekAlert!
Many soy food products carry health claims stating that they reduce the
risk of heart disease. A review of the evidence, however, suggests that
soy's cardiovascular benefits may have been overestimated by the early
studies that formed the basis for its health claim. 2/5/2006
Read whole story
Older adults may reduce risk of metabolic
syndrome by eating more whole grains
Tufts University | EurekAlert!
In a study published in the January issue of American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research
Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA) found that consuming a diet
rich in whole-grain foods may lower an elderly person's risk for
cardiovascular disease and reduce the onset of metabolic syndrome. 2/5/2006
Read whole story
Tufts expert examines the cardiovascular
benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet
Tufts University | EurekAlert!
In a review paper, Mohsen Meydani, DVM, PhD, director of the Vascular
Biology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center
on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, explores the potential benefits,
beyond those achieved with weight loss alone, of a Mediterranean-style
diet for patients with metabolic syndrome. 2/5/2006
Read whole story
British blackcurrants beat Alzheimer's
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | EurekAlert!
Compounds in blackcurrants could prevent Alzheimer's disease and the
characteristics of British berries suggest they do it best. New research
led by Dilip Ghosh of the Horticulture and Food Research Institute in New
Zealand, shows that compounds in blackcurrants have a potent protective
effect in cultured neuronal cells against the types of stress caused by
dopamine and amyloid-b, a peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease.
New research led by Dilip Ghosh of the Horticulture and Food
Research Institute in New Zealand, shows that compounds in blackcurrants
have a potent protective effect in cultured neuronal cells against the
types of stress caused by dopamine and amyloid-b, a peptide associated
with Alzheimer's disease.1/22/2006
Read whole story
Age-related memory improvement linked with
consumption of apple products
U.S. Apple Association | EurekAlert!
"An apple a day" now has new meaning for those who want to maintain mental
dexterity as they age. New research from the University of Massachusetts
Lowell suggests that consuming apple juice may protect against cell damage
that contributes to age-related memory loss, even in test animals that
were not prone to developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
1/22/2006
Read whole story
Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids unlikely
to significantly reduce risk of cancer
JAMA and Archives Journals | EurekAlert!
A review of numerous studies finds no strong evidence indicating a
significantly reduced risk of cancer associated with the consumption of
omega-3 fatty acids, according to an article in the January 25 issue of
JAMA.
Epidemiological studies have suggested that
groups of people who consume diets high in omega-3 fatty acids, found in
certain fish and vegetables, may experience a lower prevalence of some
types of cancer, according to background information in the article. Many
small trials have attempted to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acids
on cancer treatment by adding omega-3 fatty acid to the diet either as
omega-3 fatty acid–rich foods or as dietary supplements. Because of the
results of some studies, a number of omega-3 fatty acid–containing dietary
supplements have appeared on the market claiming to protect against the
development of a variety of conditions including cancer, even though
studies have reported mixed results. 1/23/2006
Read whole story
Heart-healthy compound in chocolate
identified
University of California - Davis | EurekAlert!
In a multifaceted study involving the Kuna Indians of Panama, an
international team of scientists has pinpointed a chemical compound that
is, in part, responsible, for the heart-healthy benefits of certain cocoas
and some chocolate products.
"Although previous studies strongly indicated
that some flavanol-rich foods, such as wine, tea and cocoa can offer
cardiovascular health benefits, we have been able to demonstrate a direct
relationship between the intake of certain flavanols present in cocoa,
their absorption into the circulation and their effects on cardiovascular
function in humans," said UC Davis biochemist Hagen Schroeter, who
co-authored the paper along with cardiologist Christian Heiss of the
Heinrich-Heine University.
1/18/2006
Read whole story
Vitamin A analog is a potential lung cancer
preventative with few side effects
Washington University School of Medicine | EurekAlert!
The ideal substance to prevent cancer would block tumor growth without
causing unpleasant or dangerous side effects. Researchers at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis now report that a compound
related to vitamin A shows promise in preventing or slowing tumor growth
in mice prone to lung cancer. The compound, called bexarotene, doesn't
cause the severe skin irritations that have limited the use of other
vitamin A derivatives in cancer therapies.
"In the cancer prevention field, you look for drugs that can be given to
healthy patients who have a higher risk of developing cancer," says Ming
You, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Chemoprevention Program at the Siteman
Cancer Center. "These patients wouldn't want to take a medication that
makes them feel sick when they don't have cancer. So the drugs should be
very well-tolerated and not cause harmful side effects."
1/16/2006
Read whole story
New cocoa evidence on why plant foods are
beneficial to cardiovascular health
Weber Shandwick Worldwide | EurekAlert!
While a growing number of studies has shown a link between flavanol-rich
cocoa and cardiovascular health, scientists have now substantiated a
causal relationship between specific compounds present in cocoa and
cardiovascular health. Published today in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) , this new
study identifies the flavanol, (-)epicatechin, as one of the bioactive
nutrients in cocoa that can improve the ability of blood vessels to relax.
"Applying accepted causality criteria and gold standard methodologies, we
have been able to advance our understanding of the relationship between
the intake of certain flavanols present in cocoa, their absorption into
the circulation, and their effects on cardiovascular function," said lead
author Hagen Schroeter, PhD, faculty member at the University of
California, Davis. "This study established direct evidence for the effect
of the flavanol(-)epicatechin as a mediator of blood vessel relaxation."
1/15/2006
Read whole story
People who restrict calories have 'younger'
hearts
American College of Cardiology | EurekAlert!
The hearts of people who follow a low-calorie, yet nutritionally balanced,
diet resemble those of younger people when examined by sophisticated
ultrasound function tests, and they tend to have more desirable levels of
some markers of inflammation and fibrosis, according to a new study in the
Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"Eating less, if it is a high-quality diet, will improve your health,
delay aging, and increase your chance of living a long, healthy and happy
life," said Luigi Fontana, M.D., Ph.D., from the Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and the Italian National
Institute of Health in Rome, Italy. "This is the first paper to show that
long-term calorie restriction with optimal nutrition has cardiac-specific
effects that ameliorate the age-associated decline in diastolic function
in humans. In other words, this is the first report ever to show that
calorie restriction with optimal nutrition may delay primary aging in
human beings." 1/12/2006
Read whole story
Curry and cauliflower could halt prostate
cancer
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey | EurekAlert!
Rutgers researchers have found that the curry spice turmeric holds real
potential for the treatment and prevention of prostate cancer,
particularly when combined with certain vegetables.
The scientists tested turmeric, also known as curcumin, along with
phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a naturally occurring substance
particularly abundant in a group of vegetables that includes watercress,
cabbage, winter cress, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower,
kohlrabi and turnips. "The bottom line is that PEITC and curcumin, alone
or in combination, demonstrate significant cancer-preventive qualities in
laboratory mice, and the combination of PEITC and curcumin could be
effective in treating established prostate cancers," said Ah-Ng Tony Kong,
a professor of pharmaceutics at Rutgers, The State University of New
Jersey.
1/14/2006
Read whole story
Study by Einstein researchers could lead to
a novel strategy for treating obesity
Albert Einstein College of Medicine | EurekAlert!
In their latest finding on the brain's role in controlling appetite and
weight, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have shown
that reducing levels of fatty acids in the hypothalamus causes rats to
overeat and become obese. Their results suggest that restoring fatty-acid
levels in the brain may be a promising way to treat obesity.
The brain's hypothalamus keeps track of the
body's nutritional status by monitoring the blood levels of several
different hormones and nutrients. Taking this information into account,
the hypothalamus regulates our energy intake and metabolism.
In a study published last year in Science, Dr. Rossetti and his colleagues
showed how the hypothalamus monitors and regulates glucose levels in the
body. The present study shows that this brain region also monitors fatty
acid levels and responds by controlling appetite.
1/14/2006
Read whole story
Blockade of fat hormone helps halt and heal
multiple sclerosis
Giuseppe Matarese and colleagues from Universit. di Napoli "Federico II"
have found that blockade of the hormone leptin, which is primarily
produced in fats cells, has beneficial effects on the induction and
progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice -
the animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS). The data, published
online in the JCI on January 12, suggest that leptin neutralization may be
a potential way to both prevent and treat MS. 1/11/2006
Read whole story
Higher intake of vegetable protein
associated with lower blood pressure levels
JAMA and Archives Journals | EurekAlert!
People who eat more protein from vegetables tend to have lower blood
pressure, according to a new study in the January 9 issue of Archives of
Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Most adults have either high blood pressure (hypertension) or
prehypertensive blood pressure levels, according to background information
in the article. Previous studies have found evidence that meat eaters
generally have higher blood pressure than vegetarians. Other research
looked directly at the effect of high overall protein intake and found
that people with higher total protein intake are likely to have lower
blood pressure, the authors report.
Paul Elliott, M.B., Ph.D., from Imperial College London, and colleagues
analyzed data from the INTERMAP study, which included 4,680 people (2,359
men and 2,321 women) aged 40 to 59 years from four countries. They
measured each participant's systolic and diastolic blood pressure eight
times at four visits in a three- to six-week period. Each person wrote
down everything they had eaten and drank during the previous 24 hours,
including dietary supplements, at each visit. Urine samples were also
taken on the first and third examinations.
Judging by their food records and urine samples, those who ate more
vegetable protein were more likely to have lower blood pressure than those
who ate less vegetable protein. Though the researchers noted a slight
association between animal protein and high blood pressure, this link
disappeared when they accounted for participants' height and weight. There
was no link between total protein intake and blood pressure, in contrast
to previous studies. 1/8/2006
Read whole story
Three-week diet/exercise study shows 50
percent reversal in metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes
American Physiological Society | EurekAlert!
Obese and overweight individuals suffering metabolic syndrome and Type 2
diabetes showed significant health improvements after only three weeks of
diet and moderate exercise even though the participants remained
overweight.
"The study shows, contrary to common belief, that Type 2 diabetes and
metabolic syndrome can be reversed solely through lifestyle changes,"
according to lead researcher Christian Roberts of University of
California, Los Angeles.
"This regimen reversed a clinical diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes or
metabolic syndrome in about half the participants who had either of those
conditions. However, the regimen may not have reversed damage such as
plaque development in the arteries," Roberts said. "However, if Type 2
diabetes and metabolic syndrome continue to be controlled, further damage
would likely be minimized and it's plausible that continuing to follow the
program long-term may result in reversal of atherosclerosis."
1/8/2006
Read whole story
Tomato juice keeps emphysema from
developing in new model; Lycopene cited
American Physiological Society | EurekAlert!
Feeding tomato juice to mice kept them from developing emphysema after
cigarette smoke exposure that was long enough to induce emphysema in a
control group, Japanese researchers report in February issue of the
American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
Researchers at Juntendo University School of Medicine first compared the
reaction of two mostly similar mouse strains to inhaled cigarette smoke.
Since the lungs of one of the mouse strains "naturally" age very quickly,
the researchers believed that exposure to inhaled cigarette smoke would
induce emphysema in that strain much more quickly than in the other
strain. And indeed, they found that after eight weeks of breathing 1.5%
tobacco smoke through the nose for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, the
test strain, called SAMP1, did develop emphysema, while the control
strain, called SAMR1, did not.
Then, using the same experimental method, but substituting a 50% tomato
juice mixture for their regular water supply, the researchers again
compared the effect of smoking on the mice. They found that "smoke-induced
emphysema was completely prevented by concomitant ingestion of lycopene (a
potent antioxidant) given as tomato juice" in SAMP1 mice. They added:
"Smoke exposure increased apoptosis and active caspase-3 of airway and
alveolar septal cells and reduced VEGF in lung tissues, but tomato juice
ingestion significantly reduced apoptosis and increased tissue VEGF
level." 1/8/2006
Read whole story
Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet
not associated with weight gain in postmenopausal women 1/2/2006
Read whole story
Packaged-Food Labels Now
Required to Mention Trans Fat, Allergens
1/3/2006
Read whole story
Researchers discover how a high-fat diet causes type 2 diabetes
12/27/2005
Read whole story
Dietary intake of antioxidants associated with reduced risk of
age-related macular degeneration
12/26/2005
Read whole story
Air
pollution, high-fat diet cause atherosclerosis in laboratory mice
12/21/2005
Read whole story
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