Stung by recent food safety scandals — most notably last year’s infant formula shortage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it is creating a new unit devoted to food safety. The newly dubbed Human Foods Program will wield wide-ranging powers. “We’re proposing the creation of a unified, newly envisioned organization, called the… read on > read on >
People with celiac disease may be more likely to develop heart disease despite having fewer traditional heart risks than other folks. Celiac disease is an immune reaction that occurs when some people eat gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. The only treatment is following a strict gluten-free diet. People with celiac disease… read on > read on >
Chromium picolinate is a supplement that many folks take, as it’s touted to unlock insulin, burn fat and build muscle. But do you really need to add it to your diet when the mineral chromium is already present in many foods, albeit in tiny amounts? “There is little evidence or support for chromium supplementation, though… read on > read on >
It’s clear that staying active is key to being healthy, and fitness trackers and smartwatches have become popular tools for tracking activity. But just how many steps does someone need to take to lose weight? That’s not such a simple a question. While evidence is limited on exactly how many steps a day it takes… read on > read on >
It may be that as many as 13% of older adults are addicted to highly processed comfort foods, a new survey finds. Craving cookies, chips, packaged snacks and soda was seen in adults aged 50 to 80, according to new data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, from the University of Michigan Institute for… read on > read on >
The U.S. government could save billions every year once Medicare begins negotiating drug prices in 2026, new research suggests. The Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress last year allows Medicare to bargain with drug companies on the prices of 10 of the highest-priced drugs in 2026 before adding 15 more in 2027, 15 more in… read on > read on >
Treatments for gum disease may have little benefit for heavy smokers, new research shows. The study findings suggest the need to rethink treatment of the common gum disease periodontitis, according to researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark. “To our surprise, we could see that the disease had actually grown worse in some parameters in the… read on > read on >
Longstanding restrictions on blood donations from gay or bisexual men could soon shift towards a more nuanced policy, where such men are asked about sexual partners and practices instead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday. Specifically, gay men who are in monogamous relationships will no longer be required to abstain from sex for… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it can’t regulate CBD supplements because there isn’t enough evidence on their safety. The agency also called on Congress to create new rules for what has become a burgeoning industry. “The use of CBD raises various safety concerns, especially with long-term use,” FDA Deputy Commissioner Dr. Janet… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel on Thursday voted unanimously to recommend that the agency phase out original versions of COVID vaccines for use in the unvaccinated, in favor of updated bivalent booster shots. Committee members also weighed a proposal to streamline the dosing schedule for COVID vaccines by turning them into… read on > read on >
