Low nutritional quality in many vegetarian meat substitutes
The availability of foods based on plant proteins to substitute for meat has increased dramatically as more people choose a plant-based diet. At the same time, there are many challenges regarding the nutritional value of these products. A study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden now shows that many of the meat substitutes sold […]
An excess of salty food seasons the body with stress, study says
A diet containing lots of salt can contribute to increased levels of stress, a new study shows. Scientists found in studies of mice that a high-salt diet increased the levels of a stress hormone by 75 per cent. Experts hope the findings will encourage a review of public health policy around salt consumption, with a […]
Outdoor Lighting at Night Tied to Diabetes Prevalence
Nighttime artificial outdoor lighting was associated with impaired glucose control and increased diabetes risk, a cross-sectional study in China showed. In a nationally representative sample of 98,658 adults, the prevalence of diabetes was 28% higher among people exposed to the greatest levels of artificial outdoor light compared with those who had the least exposure (adjusted […]
Tracing tomatoes’ health benefits to gut microbes: Favorable findings in pigs warrant human studies, researchers say
Two weeks of eating a diet heavy in tomatoes increased the diversity of gut microbes and altered gut bacteria toward a more favorable profile in young pigs, researchers found. After observing these results with a short-term intervention, the research team plans to progress to similar studies in people, looking for health-related links between tomatoes in […]
No Excess Pregnancy, Infant Risks With Ocrelizumab for MS
Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who were treated with ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) had no increased risk of adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes, prospective data showed. Cumulative data did not suggest an increased risk of preterm birth, major congenital anomalies, or other adverse outcomes with ocrelizumab in utero exposure and were consistent with epidemiological data, reported Celia […]
Scientists propose that obesity is a neurodevelopmental disorder
Obesity has increased rapidly in recent decades to affect more than 2 billion people, making it one of the largest contributors to poor health worldwide. Despite decades of research on diet and exercise treatments, many people continue to struggle to lose weight. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions now think they know […]
Bariatric Surgery Ups Epilepsy Risk
Bariatric surgery increased the risk of epilepsy, a retrospective Canadian study showed. Over a minimum of 3 years follow-up, bariatric surgery patients had a 45% increased risk of developing epilepsy compared with people who did not have bariatric surgery (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.35-1.56), reported Jorge Burneo, MD, MSPH, of Western University in London, Ontario, […]
Nearly 1 in 4 Young Adults Treated for Mental Health in 2021
The percentage of young U.S. adults receiving mental health treatment increased by nearly 5% from 2019 to 2021, according to National Health Interview Survey data. Overall, the proportion of adults receiving mental health treatment — defined as receiving counseling, therapy, taking a medication, or any combination of the three — increased from 19.2% in 2019 […]
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Colorectal Cancer Risk, CV Death
Regular consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality, according to findings from two studies published in The BMJ. In the first paper, which analyzed three prospective U.S. cohort studies, men in the highest quintile of consumption had a 29% higher risk of developing colorectal […]
Battery-Related ED Visits in Kids ‘Remain Too Frequent,’ Study Suggests
Rates of pediatric battery-related emergency department (ED) visits increased significantly from 2010 to 2017, with children ages 5 and younger making up the majority of cases, an observational study showed. Among a nationally representative sample, an estimated 70,322 (95% CI 51,275-89,369) battery-related ED visits occurred during the study period (9.5 visits per 100,000 children annually), […]