Genetics May Influence the Effects of Vitamin E

A US study suggested that genetic variations may be at play with vitamin E, increasing cancer risk in some individuals while decreasing risk for others. Multiple pathways may link the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) to the vitamin E supplement, alpha-tocopherol, and cancer. The most extensively studied variant in COMT comes in […]

More Warnings with Fluoroquinolones

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review found that fluoroquinolone antibiotics can increase the occurrence of rare but serious events of ruptures or tears in the main artery of the body, so called aortic dissections or aneurysm. Systemic use given by mouth or through an injection of fluoroquinolones should […]

Exercise Lowered High Blood Pressure

A network meta-analysis of 391 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) confirmed modest but consistent reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in many studied exercise interventions across all populations but individuals receiving medications generally achieved greater reductions than those following structured exercise regimens. The analysis included 197 RCTs of exercise interventions (10 461 […]

Red Meat Increases Trimethylamine N-oxide

An US randomized crossover study showed that chronic dietary red meat increases systemic trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels through enhanced dietary precursors, increased microbial trimethylamine (TMA)/TMAO production from carnitine, but not choline, and reduced renal TMAO excretion. Discontinuation of dietary red meat reduces plasma TMAO within 4 weeks. There were 113 healthy […]

Sleep Pattern Matters

A prospective global cohort study suggested that total sleep duration of 6–8 h per day is associated with the lowest risk of deaths and major cardiovascular events (MCEs). Daytime napping is associated with increased risks of MCEs and deaths in those with >6 h of nighttime sleep but not in those sleeping […]

Colorectal Adenomas Prevention with Aspirin and EPA?

An UK multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial suggests that aspirin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might have chemopreventive effect on colorectal adenomas. Between Nov 11, 2011, and June 10, 2016, 709 patients aged 55–73 years who were identified during colonoscopy as being at high risk were randomly […]

Hypnotherapy Relieved IBS

A multicenter randomized controlled trial in the Netherlands showed that both individual and group hypnotherapy were effective in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Between May 31, 2011, and April 6, 2016, 354 patients with IBS (aged 18–65 years) were randomly allocated (3:3:1) to three groups to receive six sessions of individual […]

Prolonged Functional Connections in Autism

An US cohort study showed that prolonged temporal synchrony of functional brain connections is reproducibly observed in autism. The study included male autism (n = 52, mean age 27.73 years) and typically developing individuals (n = 38, 27.09 years) between December 2016 and April 2018. Increases in both sustained and functional brain connectivity at […]

Qualified Health Claim for High Oleic Acid Oils

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) responded to a petition for a new qualified health claim for edible oils containing high levels of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that’s been shown to have cardiovascular benefits when it replaces heart-damaging saturated fat. Manufacturers of these oils can choose to include […]

Lower Dietary Carbohydrate Increased Energy Expenditure

An US randomized feeding trial concluded that lowering dietary carbohydrate increased energy expenditure during weight loss maintenance. The study included 164 adults aged 18-65 years with a body mass index of 25 or more from August 2014 to May 2017. After 12% (within 2%) weight loss on a run-in diet, […]