Health


Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality

Results from 2 prospective cohort studies of US men and women and a meta-analysis of 26 cohort studies found an inverse association between fruit and vegetable intake and mortality up to approximately 5 servings/day.The 2 prospective cohort studies included 66719 women (1984–2014) and 42016 men (1986–2014), and the dose-response meta-analysis […]


Glycemic Index Linked to CVD and Death Globally

A global study concluded that a diet with a high glycemic index was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. The study included 137,851 participants between the ages of 35 and 70 years living on five continents, with a median follow-up of 9.5 years. Country-specific food-frequency […]


Moonstruck Sleep

A study shows that human sleep is synchronized with lunar phases regardless of ethnic and sociocultural background, and of the level of urbanization. The study uses wrist actimetry to show a clear synchronization of nocturnal sleep timing with the lunar cycle in participants living in environments that range from a […]


Update of Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals for CAD

An update of the previous 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis of vitamin and mineral supplementation on cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and all-cause mortality shows similar findings for preventive benefits from both folic acid and B vitamins for stroke, and an increased risk with niacin (with statin) for all-cause mortality. In […]


Make Every Bite Count with the Dietary Guidelines

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out. For the first time the Guidelines provide recommendations by life stage, from birth through older adulthood, while focusing on dietary patterns and recognizing that more than half of adults have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. The guidelines: for about the first […]


Physical Activity Lowered Sedentary Death Risk

A harmonized meta-analysis concluded that longer sedentary time is associated with higher mortality in less active individuals when measured by accelerometry. About 30–40min of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) per day attenuate the association between sedentary time and risk of death. The analysis included 44370 middle-aged and older men and women […]


Vegan Diet Effective in Reducing Weight

A US randomized clinical trial revealed that a low-fat plant-based diet is effective in reducing body weight and increasing insulin sensitivity and postprandial metabolism. A total of 244 participants with body mass index of 28 to 40 (87% female, 48% White, mean age 54.4 years) were randomized in a 1:1 […]


Key Lifestyle Factors in Gout Prevention

A US prospective cohort study suggests that most gout cases could potentially be prevented by achieving and maintaining a normal weight, eating a DASH-style diet, and avoiding alcohol consumption and diuretic use. Men with obesity may not benefit from other modifications unless weight loss is addressed. The study included 44 654 […]


Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a rules-based synthesis of the available evidence on levels and trends in health outcomes, a diverse set of risk factors, and health system responses. Five key insights that are important for health, social, and economic development strategies […]


More Exercise Better Even in the Elderly

A randomized controlled trial in Norway suggested a lower all-cause mortality trend after high intensity interval training at about 90% of peak heart rate (HIIT) compared with controls and moderate intensity continuous training at about 70% of peak heart rate (MICT) in older adults. The trial included 1567 participants (790 […]