A dietary supplement believed to protect against Alzheimer’s disease might instead be potentially harmful to the brain, a new study warns. L-serine is an amino acid that serves many different roles in the body, and one is to influence the development and function of synapses in the brain. Clinical trials are underway to test serine… read on > read on >
Overweight kids don’t have it easy, and a new study warns they may also at increased risk for type 1 diabetes later in life. “A critical window exists in childhood to mitigate the influence of adiposity [being severely overweight, or obese] on the escalating numbers of type 1 diabetes diagnoses,” said the study’s lead author,… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning Americans to watch out for phony at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests that look a lot like the real things. The counterfeit test kits may put you at risk of unknowingly spreading the disease or not seeking appropriate medical treatment, the agency cautions. The phonies “are made to look… read on > read on >
For some children with autism, there’s a connection between gastrointestinal problems and stress, anxiety and social withdrawal, a new study suggests. The findings could help efforts to develop personalized treatments for autism patients with gastrointestinal problems such as stomach pain and constipation, the University of Missouri researchers suggested. Such problems tend to occur more often… read on > read on >
Vegetarian diets are a healthy choice for growing kids — though they may slightly raise the odds of youngsters being underweight, a new study suggests. The study, of nearly 9,000 young children, found that those on vegetarian diets were, on average, of similar weight and height as their peers who ate meat. They were also… read on > read on >
Adults who suffer from asthma often need to take corticosteroids to open up their airways, but the medications may have an unintended side effect: New research shows the treatment, particularly when taken in pill form, raised the risk of patients becoming obese. “Oral corticosteroids are often given to asthma patients, particularly those who had a… read on > read on >
If a mother reaches for cakes, chocolates or other snacks when she’s feeling down, her children could become emotional eaters as well. Kids’ chances of becoming emotional eaters are shaped by both their natural eating tendencies and their parent’s influence, according to a new British study. Emotional eating refers to indulging in “comfort” foods when… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday released proposed rules — first announced a year ago — to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. “The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in an… read on > read on >
Dietary fiber gets a lot of praise for helping people feel full and for lowering the risk of certain types of disease. Yet many types of dietary fiber exist — and they don’t all work the same, according to a small new study. “When you actually get down to it, fiber is incredibly heterogeneous. It’s… read on > read on >
Seniors are often advised to take calcium supplements, but new research says the pills might significantly increase an aging person’s risk of heart valve problems that contribute to heart failure. People taking either calcium supplements alone or calcium with vitamin D had a higher risk of heart-related death or death from any cause compared with… read on > read on >
