Abstracts & Commmentary
Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Do They Decrease Anxiety in Cancer Patients?
10-21-2020 A meta-analysis of 28 studies, involving about 3,000 participants, finds that mindfulness-based interventions can reduce anxiety for up to 6 months after the intervention but not longer.
Role of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients
10-21-2020 This large study looks at the relationship between IGF-1 levels, body mass index, and recurrence and mortality in HER2+ breast cancer patients, with surprising results.
Ketogenic Diet and Breast Cancer
10-21-2020 Adoption of a ketogenic diet may help women with breast cancer reduce fat mass, a risk factor for recurrence.
Chemical Hair Treatments May Pose Highest Cancer Risk to Black Women
10-21-2020 Use of permanent hair dye was associated with a 45% increase in breast cancer risk in Black women compared to a 7% increase in White women. In contrast, hair straightener use was associated with an 18% increased risk for all participants.
Shifting the Gut Microbiome in People with Type 2 Diabetes
10-07-2020 Supplementing with Scutellaria baicalensis in conjunction with medication may shift the gut microbiota in a way that improves glycemic control.
Vitamin C: Possible Beneficial Treatment for Critically Ill Ventilated Patients
10-07-2020 A safe and simple intervention at the right dose could get patients off mechanical ventilation sooner
Fish Oil May Protect Brain From Air Pollution Damage
10-07-2020 Exposure to fine particulate matter has been shown to shrink brain volume, but new research finds that omega-3 fatty acids may help combat that.
Coronavirus, Pregnancy, and Infant Brain Development
10-07-2020 The link between maternal choline intake during pregnancy and infant outcomes is a hot topic in prenatal nutrition. This article shows that higher levels of the essential nutrient during pregnancy may protect infants from the neurological effects of maternal viral infections. It contributes to a growing body of work suggesting that all providers working with pregnant women should assess choline intake.
Prebiotic Relieves Constipation and Alters Microbiota
09-02-2020 Along with improving gastrointestinal regularity, soluble fiber may also reduce systemic inflammation by purging the body of bacterial endotoxins.
Ashwagandha May Calm Generalized Anxiety Disorder
09-02-2020 New research supports the use of ashwagandha to treat anxiety, sleep issues, and stress-related conditions such as high cortisol levels and muscle tension.
New Links Between Air Pollution, CVD, and Mortality
09-02-2020 A new study finding a link between particulates, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality is especially relevant now, as we observe the effects of decreased air pollution amid Covid shutdowns.
Vitamin D and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
08-05-2020 By modifying the immune response and decreasing antibodies, vitamin D may help in the treatment of autoimmune thyroid disease.
Tuberculosis Mortality Impacted by Residential Tree Density
08-05-2020 For TB patients, the greener the neighborhood, the lower the mortality risk. This inverse relationship may hold true for other respiratory conditions as well.
Ergothioneine and Citrus Metabolites Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
08-05-2020 A recent population-based, prospective study looked at plasma metabolites, including ergothioneine, to identify a link between health-conscious food patterns and reduced cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality.
Association of Longitudinal Patterns of Habitual Sleep Duration With Risk of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality
08-05-2020 People who sleep between 7 and 8 hours per night are at the lowest risk for first-time cardiovascular events, as well as all-cause mortality, according to a new study.
Vitamin D Levels Associated with Covid-19 Infection Risk
08-05-2020 Higher vitamin D status correlates with a lower number of Covid-19 cases and a lower number of deaths from the disease.
The Mediterranean Diet Decreases Diabetes Incidence, Even in the U.S. Population
07-01-2020 People with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet showed a 17% decrease in incidence of diabetes mellitus compared to those with the lowest adherence. Nuts, legumes, moderate alcohol, and less red and processed meat may be the key.
Transcendental Meditation Improves Cardiac Arterial Disease
07-01-2020 Adding Transcendental Meditation to a cardiac rehabilitation regime may increase blood flow to the heart by more than 20%.
Toxicant Exposure in Early Life and the Impact on Early Language Development
07-01-2020 Use of common, toxin-heavy household products correlated with as much as a 6.7% variance in language outcomes in 2-year-olds.
Professional Ballet Dancers Frequently Exhibit Connective Tissue Gene Variants
06-03-2020 Although hypermobility may be advantageous in disciplines such as ballet, it can also come with debilitating consequences.