4:3 Intermittent Fasting Outperforms Daily Caloric Restriction for Weight Loss

A U.S. randomized clinical trial found that 4:3 intermittent fasting (IMF) led to slightly greater weight loss than daily caloric restriction (DCR) in adults with overweight or obesity. The study included 165 participants (mean age: 42; mean BMI: 34.1 kg/m²; 73.9% female), randomly assigned to either 4:3 IMF (n=84) or […]

Comparative CVD Efficacy of Newer Glucose-Lowering Drugs in Elderly T2D Patients

A Danish nationwide cohort study provided real world evidence that both glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) were associated with reduced rates of 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (3P-MACE) and hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) compared to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4is). Compared to […]

Efficacy of Non-Surgical and Non-Interventional Treatments in Low Back Pain

A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized trials showed that there is moderate certainty evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are efficacious for acute low back pain, and that exercise, spinal manipulative therapy, taping, antidepressants, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonists are efficacious for chronic low back […]

Statin Use Linked to Lower Risks of HCC and Liver Disease Progression

A US cohort study indicated that statin use may reduce the risks of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and progression of chronic liver disease (CLD). The study included 16 501 CLD patients (mean age, 59.7 years, females 40.9%), with 3610 statin users and 12 891 nonusers. Compared with nonusers, statin users exhibited a significantly […]

Clinical Significance of Carotid Artery Plaque with Age and Sex

A US cohort study suggests that carotid artery plaque (CAP) becomes very common with increasing age among individuals without clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and the association of CAP with incident ASCVD events was stronger in younger ages, especially among women. A total of 5689 participants with complete data were […]

Substituting Butter with Plant-Based Oils May Improve Survival

A prospective US population-based cohort study suggested that higher intake of butter was associated with increased mortality, while higher intake of plant-based oils was associated with lower mortality. Substituting butter with plant-based oils may prevent premature deaths. There were 221 054 adults with mean age at baseline of 36.1 ~ 56.3 […]

Salt Substitution May Reduce Recurrent Stroke and Death

A prespecified subgroup analysis of a Chinese randomized clinical trial suggested that salt substitution significantly reduced the risks of stroke recurrence and death. The analysis included 15 249 patients with stroke (mean age, 64.1 years; female 45.9%; male 54.1%) from an open-label, cluster randomized clinical trial. Patients were assigned to […]

CBT-Based Programs for IBS

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by addressing the connection between the gut and the brain. Following are some available programs: Mahana IBS (FDA-Approved): A clinically validated, prescription 3-month digital therapy program designed to reduce the severity of IBS symptoms. […]

Online Programs for Anxiety Disorders

MindShift CBT (Free) – A mobile app based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles, helping users manage anxiety with guided exercises. https://www.anxietycanada.com/ CBT-i Coach (Free) – Designed for those struggling with anxiety-related insomnia, based on the therapy manual, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Veterans. https://mobile.va.gov/ This Way Up (Low-cost, some […]

Supine High BP Increases CVD Risk and Mortality

A US prospective cohort analysis suggested that supine high blood pressure (BP) regardless of seated high BP was associated with a higher risk of CVD and mortality than seated high BP alone. The analysis used data from 11 369 participants without known CVD (female 55.7%, male 44.3%; Black 25.1%, White 74.9%; […]