Diet News and Research

Latest Diet News and Research

European viral epidemic linked to global warming

An epidemic of the viral disease nephropathia epidemica (NE) has been linked to increases in the vole population caused by hotter summers, milder winters and increased seedcrop production by broadleaf trees.

19 Jan 2009

Too much coffee can lead to hallucinations

According to a study by researchers at Durham University people with a higher caffeine intake, from coffee, tea and caffeinated energy drinks, are more likely to experience hallucinatory experiences such as hearing voices and seeing things that are not there.

18 Jan 2009

Breakthrough in treating premature babies at risk of developmental disorders

A six-year study led by Dr Maria Makrides from the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute and Professor Bob Gibson from the University of Adelaide has demonstrated that high doses of fatty acids administered to pre-term infants via their mother's breast milk or infant formula can help their mental development.

15 Jan 2009

New model system may better explain regulation of body weight

A new mathematical model of the physiological regulation of body weight suggests a potential mechanism underlying the difficulty of losing weight, one that includes aspects of two competing hypotheses of weight regulation.

15 Jan 2009

New drug shows promise for phenylketonuria

PKU is described by scientists as an autosomal recessive genetic disease that is characterized by a deficiency in an enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH).

15 Jan 2009

Strong relationship between our health as adults and our early diet

If you have trouble keeping weight off and you're wondering why - the surprising answer may well be the cheeseburgers you ate - when you were a toddler.

15 Jan 2009

Pasture-based farming passes the taste test and is healthier too

Cattle and sheep grazed on natural grasslands help maintain biodiversity and produce tastier, healthier meat, according to a study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

15 Jan 2009

Fatty liver disease medication may have no effect

A new randomized, prospective trial has shown that orlistat, a commonly prescribed inhibitor of fat absorption, does not help patients with fatty liver disease (FLD) lose weight, nor does it improve their liver enzymes or insulin resistance.

13 Jan 2009

Certain fatty acids help neurodevelopment for preterm girls

Preterm infant girls who received a high amount of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; an omega-3 fatty acid) had higher measures of neurodevelopment than preterm girls who received a standard amount of DHA, but this effect was not seen among preterm boys, according to a study in the January 14 issue of JAMA.

13 Jan 2009

Scientists unlock secret to overeating

CANCER RESEARCH UK scientists have found new evidence that the tendency to overeat could be genetic according to research published in the International Journal of Obesity.

13 Jan 2009

Vitamin D offers widespread benefits for health

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient with health benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes.

12 Jan 2009

Parents call for boycott of venues selling junk food

A parents advocacy group has called for a boycott of entertainment and sporting venues which promote and sell junk food.

12 Jan 2009

Maslinic acid from olive-skin pomace protects against colon cancer

Researchers from the University of Granada and the University of Barcelona have shown that treatment with maslinic acid, a triterpenoid compound isolated from olive-skin pomace, results in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and causes apoptotic death in colon-cancer cells.

8 Jan 2009

Fighting childhood obesity should be a family affair

Fighting childhood obesity, which is a serious concern in our country, should be looked upon as a family affair.

7 Jan 2009

Fat busting drug Leptin could make a comeback

When an obesity drug called Leptin was first discovered by scientists 13 years ago, experts hoped the appetite-suppressing hormone would be a possible cure for obesity.

7 Jan 2009

Exercise may not be key to obesity epidemic

A recent international study fails to support the common belief that the number of calories burned in physical activity is a key factor in rising rates of obesity.

6 Jan 2009

People with Ala12 gene variant need to watch out for high fat in their diets

New evidence in mice bolsters the notion that a version of a gene earlier shown to protect lean people against weight gain and insulin resistance can have the opposite effect in those who eat a high-fat diet and are heavier, reveals a report in the January 7th issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication.

6 Jan 2009

New hope for leptin as a solution to obesity

The discovery more than a decade ago of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone secreted by fat tissue, generated headlines and great hopes for an effective treatment for obesity.

6 Jan 2009

COUP-TFII plays pivotal role in obesity, metabolic syndrome

A protein known to play a role in development and the formation of organs is also an important factor in the control of obesity and diabetes, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.

6 Jan 2009

Novel treatment option for obesity

A new study in the January 7th issue of Cell Metabolism , a Cell Press publication, helps to explain why obese people and animals fail to respond to leptin, a hormone produced by fat that signals the brain to stop eating.

6 Jan 2009