Health News Tidbits - October
FDA Proposes Antibiotic Warnings -
Antibiotics may soon bear an official warning - that overusing them is wearing
them out. Germs are growing increasingly impervious to the world's antibiotics. The more
often an antibiotic is used, the more chances bacteria have to evolve ways to evade it.
Experts agree that antibiotics are prescribed for colds and flus that drugs simply cannot
treat, and they're often used improperly. FDA officials proposed Tuesday to label special
warnings for physicians to prescribe only when truly necessary.
One-third of American diet is junk food: other two-thirds doesn't achieve 100% of RDA's -
In addition to being high in calories and fat, these junk foods take the place of
healthier foods, so Americans are depending on two-thirds of their diet for RDA's. The
study examined the eating patterns of over fifteen thousand American adults. The results
showed the average American gets 27 percent of their total energy from junk foods and an
additional 4 percent from alcoholic beverages. About one-third of Americans consume an
average of 45 percent of energy from these foods!
American Society for Clinical Nutrition
When combined with certain medications, grapefruit juice may boost the amount of the drugs
in the bloodstream -
Scientists are not sure which ingredient in the grapefruit is responsible for inhibiting
the action of an enzyme in the intestine that breaks down drugs, but it doesn't appear to
be shared by oranges or any other fruit. The drugs that grapefruit may interact are
cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins (Zocor, Lipitor, among others), calcium
antagonists used to treat high blood pressure (Plendil, Sular), the sedative valium, the
anti-anxiety medication BuSpar and possibly the impotence drug Viagra. The effect can last
up to 24 hours, according Mayo Clinic internist Garvan C. Kane.
Compliments of the September issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Olive Oil has protective effect on colorectal cancer development -
Through its influence on secondary bile acid patterns in the colon, olive oil appears to
protect against the development of colorectal cancer, according to Oxford university
researchers.
Journal of Epidemiol Community Health 2000; 54:756-760
Vitamin E - natural versus synthetic -
The Antioxidant Panel of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine at the
National Academy of Sciences reported that natural vitamin E can be twice as potent as the
synthetic version.
FDA Reaffirms Soy Claim -
The FDA issued a comment reiterating its position that soy is safe, despite the claims of
two FDA scientists to the contrary.
Mom's diet in early pregnancy affects baby health -
What a pregnant woman eats in the first few days after conceiving could have an important
impact on the health of her child. If a woman is malnourished, for instance, the embryo
will grow more slowly and often have a lower birth weight.
New Scientist Magazine
Severe stress may exacerbate childhood asthma -
Dr. Seija Sandberg, of the HYKS Institute, note that researchers sought to "examine
whether severely negative life events increase the risk of acute exacerbations of asthma
in children." In children who had a high level of chronic stress brought about by
factors such as family discord and school problems, the odds ratio for a new asthma attack
almost tripled within the first two weeks following a severe event. Events deemed
"severe," such as a loss of parent through separation or death of a grandparent,
significantly increased the risk of new asthma attacks.
The Lancet, September 16th
ABC Reporter Apologizes -
Reporter John Stossel of ABC's "20/20" apologized for using inaccurate
information in two reports on the safety of organic food. Stossel said that organic food
was no safer than regular food and warned it could even be dangerous.
Health News Tidbits - June
Health News Tidbits - July
Health News Tidbits - August
Health News Tidbits - September