Health


Breath Training Lowers BP

A double‐blind, randomized, sham‐controlled trial concluded that high‐resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) improves blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function in midlife/older adults with above‐normal initial systolic BP. Thirty‐six participants of 50–79 years old with systolic BP ≥120 mm Hg were randomized to high‐resistance IMST (75% maximal inspiratory pressure, 30 breaths/day, 6 days/week, n=18) or […]


Sedentary Behaviors Differentially Associated with Dementia

A prospective UK cohort study suggested that high levels of cognitively passive sedentary behaviors (SB) were associated with increased risk of dementia, while cognitively active SB were associated with reduced risk of dementia. The study included 146,651 participants who were 60 years or older (mean age 64.59 years) and did […]


Salt Substitutes Beneficial and Generalizable

A meta-analyses and metaregressions concluded that the beneficial effects of salt substitutes on blood pressure and clinical outcomes were consistent and might be generalizable across diverse population subgroups worldwide. The study included 21 trials and 31 949 participants, with 19 reporting effects on blood pressure and 5 reporting effects on […]


Early Time-Restricted Eating Effective for Weight Loss

A US randomized clinical trial suggested that early time-restricted eating (eTRE) was more effective for weight loss than eating over a window of 12 or more hours. A total of 90 obese participants (mean body mass index, 39.6; age, 43 years; 80% female) received weight-loss treatment (energy restriction [ER] of […]


Comparative Effects of Sleeping Pills

A systematic review and network meta-analysis provided the most comprehensive data synthesis on pharmacological treatments for adults with insomnia. The study included 170 trials (36 interventions and 47 950 participants) in the systematic review and 154 double-blind, randomized controlled trials (30 interventions and 44 089 participants) for the network meta-analysis. Benzodiazepines, doxylamine, […]


Moderate Alcohol Intake Linked to Higher Brain Iron and Malfunction

A UK cohort study and Mendelian randomization (MR) suggested that moderate alcohol consumption [>7 units (56 g) alcohol weekly] was associated with markers of higher brain iron and worse cognitive function. The study included 20,729 UK Biobank participants (mean age 54.8 years, 48.6% female). Multiorgan susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (~9.60 […]


Adding Salt to Foods Linked to Mortality and Life Expectancy

A prospective study indicates that the higher frequency of adding salt to foods is associated with a higher risk of all-cause premature mortality and lower life expectancy. The study included 501 379 participants from UK biobank. There were graded relationships between higher frequency of adding salt to foods and higher concentrations […]


Sleep Loss Predisposes to Abdominal Visceral Obesity

A US randomized, controlled, crossover study in healthy, nonobese individuals revealed that sleep restriction combined with ad libitum food promotes excess energy intake, weight gain and particularly central accumulation of fat without changing energy expenditure. The study included 12 healthy, nonobese individuals (9 males, age range 19 to 39 years), […]