Popular dietary supplement causes cancer risk, brain metastasis, study finds
While previous studies have linked commercial dietary supplements like nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, to benefits related to cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological health, new research from the University of Missouri has found NR could actually increase the risk of serious disease, including developing cancer. The international team of researchers led by Elena […]
A common dietary fiber promotes allergy-like immune responses in preclinical studies
A type of dietary fiber called inulin, commonly used in health supplements and known to have certain anti-inflammatory properties, can also promote an allergy-related type of inflammation in the lung and gut, and other parts of the body, according to a preclinical study from researchers in the Friedman Center for Nutrition and Inflammation and Jill […]
Vitamin D Failed to Stop COVID, Other Respiratory Infections
Vitamin D supplements did not ward off COVID-19 or other respiratory infections, two randomized controlled trials showed. Among 6,200 participants in a phase III study from the U.K., 2.6% of those in the control group developed COVID-19 compared with 3.6% of those who received 800 IU vitamin D daily (OR 1.39, 95% CI 0.98-1.97) and […]
It doesn’t matter much which fiber you choose — just get more fiber! The human gut evolved to thrive on fermentable fibers
That huge array of dietary fiber supplements in the drugstore or grocery aisle can be overwhelming to a consumer. They make all sorts of health claims too, not being subject to FDA review and approval. So how do you know which supplement works and would be best for you? A rigorous examination of the gut […]
Vitamins, supplements are a ‘waste of money’ for most Americans: There’s no ‘magic set of pills to keep you healthy.’ Diet and exercise are key
Drawn to the allure of multivitamins and dietary supplements filling nutritional gaps in their diet, people in the U.S. in 2021 spent close to $50 billion on vitamins and dietary supplements. But Northwestern Medicine scientists say for non-pregnant, otherwise healthy Americans, vitamins are a waste of money because there isn’t enough evidence they help prevent […]
Benefit of supplements for slowing age-related macular degeneration: After 10 years, AREDS2 formula shows increased efficacy compared to original formula, benefit of eliminating beta-carotene
The Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2) established that dietary supplements can slow progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in older Americans. In a new report, scientists analyzed 10 years of AREDS2 data. They show that the AREDS2 formula, which substituted antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin for beta-carotene, not […]
About 3 grams a day of omega-3 fatty acids may lower blood pressure, more research needed
About 3 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids, consumed in foods or supplements, appears to be the optimal daily dose to help lower blood pressure, according to a research review published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. Omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid […]
Athletes warned against potential dangers of natural supplements
Nutritional supplements taken to boost athletic performance can pose risks to the heart, according to a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) statement published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the ESC. “Nutritional supplements are commonly viewed as risk-free substances that may improve performance,” states the paper. “Some nutritional supplements, including […]
Ketone supplement might be a novel therapeutic for boosting brain function in obesity
New research published in The Journal of Physiology has shown that ketone supplements may be a novel therapeutic strategy for protecting and improving brain health in people with obesity. People with obesity are known to be at a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. This new study found that giving a ketone […]