Health News Tidbits - May
FDA Recalls Solgar Digestive Aid: Possible Salmonella Contamination -
A dietary supplement by Solgar called Digestive Aid 100’s has recalled 754
bottles that were distributed between March 30 and April 20, 2001. The recalled
bottles are labeled with the lot numbers 31993 or 30957. No illnesses have been
associated with the product, but the FDA said it has the potential to be
contaminated with salmonella.
Child Health Foundation Recommends Infant Formula Contain DHA and AA -
Child Health Foundation of Munich, Germany, recommends that infant formula
be enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), both long
chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, for their role in maternal and child health.
This appeared in the April 2001 issue of Acta Paediatrica. DHA and AA, two
essential nutrients of breast milk, are believed by many researchers to enhance
mental and visual development in infants and play a pivotal role in brain
function throughout life. For healthy infants, the panel recommended and
strongly supported breast-feeding as the preferred feeding method.
Probiotics Reduce Diarrhea in Hospitalized Children-
Researchers found that infants who were given twice daily preventive doses
of Lactobaccilli (good gut bacteria referred to as Probiotics) had an 80% lower
risk of developing Nosocomial diarrhea compared to other children. Nosocomial
diarrhea develops in a patient while being treated in the hospital, often in
response to catching a virus. The double blind, placebo controlled study was
published in the Journal of Pediatrics 2001; 138: 361-5.
Study Suggests Probiotics Could Reduce Childhood Eczema-
In another positive study for Probiotics, The Lancet reported that 159
pregnant women with a family history of allergies were randomly given either
Lactobacillus GG or fake pills twice a day for about three weeks before they
gave birth. After they delivered, breast-feeding mothers also took the Probiotic
for six months, or the child was fed the contents in water. Twenty-three percent
of the babies fed the probiotic developed eczema by age two, compared with 46
percent of the infants given the fake supplement.
Two More Studies Show Moderate Alcohol Intake May Protect Against Heart
Disease -
Two studies recently published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association appear to show that moderate alcohol intake (less than two drinks
per day) may lower the risk of developing heart failure in men and women. The
first study looked at men and women who had recently suffered from a heart
attack. People who drank between one and seven drinks per week had a greater
than 20% reduction in death rate when compared with people who drank more than
seven drinks or abstained from alcohol altogether. In the second study, elderly
men and women who drank less than two drinks per day were found to be at lower
risk of developing heart failure than those who did not drink. Two side-notes
mention that the source of alcohol appears to make no difference and drinking
more than the amount in the studies increases heart disease risk.
Low Folate Levels Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease -
In a research study done on 30 nuns who had died from various causes, 15
subjects had a significant number of neural plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s
disease. All 15 subjects had low blood folate (folic acid) levels. Researchers
then attempted to find correlations between Alzheimer’s and 18 other
nutrients, but no other nutrient was strongly related to the level of
age-related brain changes as folate.
Soy-Based School lunches Lower Kid’s Fat Intake -
According to a report in the Journal of the American Diabetic Association,
reducing the meat-based portion of school lunches by 30% and adding a soy
protein reduced the amount of calories, fat and saturated fat students consumed.
The USDA Dept. of Agriculture, which oversees the federal school lunch program,
limited soy protein substitution at 30% for entrees at the time of the study.
New regulations allow schools to include entrees that consist entirely of soy
protein.
Study Shows Ginger Protect Against Heart Disease in Mice -
A Journal of Nutrition article reports that when mice predisposed to
atherosclerosis were given 250 mcg of ginger extract per day, their cholesterol
went down 29 percent, their triglycerides fell 27 percent, and plaques in their
arteries were reduced by 44 percent. Ginger has also been mentioned as effective
for joint discomfort.
Peanut Allergy May Begin With Breast-Feeding -
According to a clinical investigation in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, the risk of allergy to peanuts may start during breast-feeding.
Researchers asked 23 nursing mothers to consume 1-2 cups of roasted peanuts and
found that 11 of the 23 breast-milk samples showed significant levels of peanut
proteins. This suggests along with prior research that transfer of maternal
dietary peanut protein to breast milk may predispose at-risk children to occult
sensitization.
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