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Best Hot Dance Ever
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Best Trish Stratus Sexy Videos And Pics
Patricia Anne Stratigias(born December 18, 1975, pronounced ), better known as Trish Stratus, is a former fitness model, former professional wrestler and television personality from Canada.
After beginning her career as a fitness model, Stratus began working for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which was later renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in March 2000. Early in her career, she was involved in sexually themed angles.
The Top Russian Sexy Fitness Babes All Wanted to See
New Sexy Fitness DVD Trailer Volume 1 - Watch more free videos
Sexy Fitness Video : Kissable Tummy
Susana Spears is back with another SpearsFever.com sexy fitness break. In this episode she shows you how to improve your sexy life by working your abs.
Breast Cancer: A Role For Trans Fatty Acids?
Two groups from INSERM and Institut Gustave Roussy collaborated to conduct an epidemiologic study on a cohort of French women members of the Mutuelle generale de l'Education nationale (E3N). The scientists showed that the risk of breast cancer was doubled in women having higher serum levels of trans fatty acids. The trans fatty acids studied are those from industrial sources (processed foods, processed bread, processed pastries, cakes, potato chips
Unlike Asian countries, where the protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids from fish on breast cancer risk was clearly demonstrated, a protective effect against breast cancer was not found in this study.
These results are published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
The E3N cohort is the French part of EPIC, a large European study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and involving 500 000 Europeans in 10 countries.
The unhealthy effects of trans fatty acids on cardiovascular risk have been well established since the early 1990s, yet their impact on breast cancer risk remained to be elucidated. The teams of scientists from INSERM and Institut Gustave Roussy sought to evaluate the role of various types of fatty acids on breast cancer development, using blood samples collected between 1995 and 1998, amongst 25 000 of the 100 000 women followed up within the E3N study.
In order to assess the health effects of human diet, scientists assayed various biomarkers of diet in the blood, and particularly fatty acid levels. Data on 363 women diagnosed with breast cancer after blood sampling were analysed. Their serum fatty acid levels were then compared with those of breast cancer-free women controls. Two controls were matched to each breast cancer case, for a total of 702 women.
Near-doubling of risk
The analysis of trans and cis fatty acids showed that breast cancer risk increases with the increase in trans fatty acid level, reflecting processed food consumption. These results show that women with elevated serum levels of trans fatty acid have almost twice the risk of developing breast cancer, compared to women with the lowest levels. "At this stage, we can only recommend limiting the consumption of processed foods, the source of industrially-produced trans fatty acid. Particularly, industrial processes generating trans fatty acids (partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) still in use should be curbed, as this has been undertaken in Denmark for a few years. As far as regulations on labeling of processed products, the content in trans fatty acids should be clearly indicated", the report concluded.
Protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids for breast cancer not universal
Also, the authors of the study confirmed the results of other studies conducted in North American and European countries concerning the absence of association between omega-3 fatty acid serum levels, for which the main dietary source is the intake of fish, and risk of breast cancer. While a protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids on breast cancer risk was clearly demonstrated in Asian countries, where fish consumption is much higher than in Europe or in North America, this protective effect could not be measured in this highly-powered French study, probably due to considerably lower per-capita consumption of fish.
In industrialised countries, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. According to the authors of the study, among the risk factors that may lend themselves to primary prevention, diet shows strong potential, as a single but consistent change in dietary habits could lower the risk of breast cancer, subject to clear identification of responsible nutrients. Among those, dietary lipids could play a major role. Further analysis from the EPIC study will therefore test the hypothesis of a role for trans fatty acids in carcinogenesis in a population with wide variations in the intake of those fatty acids, among other lipids.
The E3n Study
E3N, an epidemiologic study conducted on women members of the MGEN (French National Education workers complementary medical insurance scheme) led by Dr Françoise Clavel-Cahpelon (INSERM-Gustave Roussy), is a prospective cohort study of about 100 000 volunteer French women born between 1925 and 1950, and followed up since 1990.
Data on their lifestyle factors (diet, hormonal treatments, etc.) and their health status were collected by self-administered questionnaire every other year since 1990. These data were complemented by biological measurements, obtained for 25 000 volunteers, from a blood specimen taken for later analysis (case-control studies nested within the cohort). E3N gives primary consideration to breast and colorectal cancers, due to their high incidence rates.
Source
Serum trans-monounsaturated fatty acids are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in the E3N-EPIC Study.
V. Chajès; A. C.M. Thiébaut; M. Rotival; E. Gauthier ; V. Maillard; M.C. Boutron-Ruault; V. Joulin; G. M. Lenoir ; F. Clavel-Chapelon.
Am. J. Epidemiol. 2008 (DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwn069)
Alcohol And Genetic Factors Linked To Breast Cancer Risk
US scientists have discovered two genes that play a role in the metabolism of alcohol are linked with increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who drink.
The study was presented yesterday in San Diego, California, at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The research leaders were Dr Peter Shields, professor of medicine and oncology based at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington DC, and Dr Jo Freudenheim, chair of social and preventive medicine at the State University of New York in Buffalo.
The research showed that variations in two genes, ADH1B and ADH1C, that code for an enzyme that breaks down alcohol, were linked with increased risk of breast cancer among women who drink.
Research instructor of cancer genetics and epidemiology at Lombardi, and lead author of the study, Dr Catalin Marian said:
"The higher their alcohol consumption, the higher their risk."
The researchers examined DNA information from 991 women aged 35 to 79 residing in two western New York counties between 1996 and 2001 who had histologically confirmed primary stage breast cancer. These were matched by 1,698 randomly selected healthy participants according to age, race and county of residence.
All participants were taking part in a population-based case-control study called the Western New York Exposure and Breast Cancer (WEB) Study, conducted by Freudenheim.
The results showed that increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women was linked to variations in DNA sequences in two genes: ADH1B (sequence rs1042026) and ADH1C (sequence rs1614972).
Among postmenopausal women with the ADH1B (sequence rs1042026) gene variant, the risk of breast cancer for the alcohol drinkers was nearly double that of the abstainers.
Among women with the ADH1C (sequence rs1614972) gene variant, there was a protective effect against breast cancer risk that varied inversely with the amount of alcohol: the more alcohol a woman with this gene variant consumed, the less protection offered, and the higher the risk of breast cancer. (Conversely, this could be viewed as the protection conferred by the gene appeared to get stronger as alcohol consumption dropped).
Marian warned that more research was needed to confirm and replicate the findings before any firm conclusions could be drawn. This study merely suggests that the variants are linked with increased breast cancer risk, it does not suggest they cause it biologically.
Variations in the two genes will impact alcohol metabolism because they are involved in that process, explained Marian, but she was cautious to point out this may not be the whole story:
"We have to keep in mind that the gene sequence variations we observed are not located directly in coding regions, but they may be associated and inherited together with other variations that have this effect on the enzyme function."
According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2008 there will be over 180,000 new cases of breast cancer among women and nearly 2,000 among men, while over 40,000 women and nearly 500 men will die of the disease
Dietary Oil May Need Help In Avoiding Side Effects Of Weight Loss
An oil made of natural fatty acids that is sometimes used as a weight-loss supplement may need to be paired with hormones or other substances to prevent health problems that can follow rapid weight loss, a new study suggests.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a compound naturally found in some meat and dairy products, can reduce body fat in some studies in humans. But a recent study in mice found that the hormone leptin adds an element of protection against side effects that can accompany fat loss with CLA.
Without leptin, fat loss occurs in mice eating a diet containing CLA, but the mice also become insulin resistant. When mice are fed CLA and given leptin, the same fat loss occurs but insulin resistance does not develop.
So though leptin is not essential to the fat loss, it has important protective effects to maintain insulin sensitivity, said Martha Belury, lead author of the study and associate professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University.
"Fat loss is not dependent on leptin but if we didn't have leptin, CLA could have some short-term effects on insulin resistance," Belury said.
The study appears in a recent issue of the Journal of Lipid Research.
CLA is an essential fatty acid found naturally in trace amounts primarily in beef, lamb and milk. Synthetic forms of CLA are marketed as supplements that help reduce body fat.
But continuing research shows that there are consequences associated with the loss of fat. Because fat in the body is energy, it has to go somewhere if it is not burned away by metabolism. When CLA is driving fat out of fat tissue, the fat tends to end up in the liver or in muscles. If that fat can't be used, insulin resistance results. So Belury and colleagues are trying to find out precisely how CLA works to reduce body fat and how to prevent any associated side effects.
"You can reduce body fat, which is a good thing for a person trying to avoid diabetes. But if that body fat is lost too rapidly, the fat has to go somewhere else and in mice, it creates insulin resistance," Belury said. Sometimes, insulin resistance can lead to Type 2 diabetes.
In the animal study, Belury and colleagues tested the effects of leptin by using mice genetically engineered so they have no leptin in their bodies. These mice consume a lot of food and their metabolism is disrupted, so they tend to be quite overweight and are called fatty mice.
"Our thinking was that if you lower body fat, you also lower leptin levels. So if we have a mouse that has no leptin, what does CLA do then?" Belury said.
To create controls for comparison, the researchers gave leptin back to some of the fatty mice. Then they fed regular diets or diets containing CLA to all of the mice to observe the effects of CLA and regular diets with and without leptin present.
Finding that CLA diets can result in weight loss with or without leptin was a new finding. But more significant to understanding the mechanism, the study showed that insulin sensitivity was restored when CLA was fed with leptin present.
That finding answers just one of many questions about possible side effects associated with CLA-induced loss of body fat. The role of fat tissue in regulating metabolism is complex. It stores energy in the form of fat and also produces hormones essential to the metabolism, or burning, of the fat tissue.
In addition to continuing animal studies on CLA's interaction with hormones and other conditions associated with metabolism, Belury is leading parallel human clinical trials on the effects of CLA. So far, the research has shown that CLA can reduce body fat in postmenopausal women with Type 2 diabetes. Another trial is investigating whether CLA can suppress weight gain in people who are gaining weight because of a drug they take for diabetes management.
"People can safely take CLA, but we don't know the most effective dose for weight loss and how long people should take it. We think there are probably some subpopulations that shouldn't take it, but we don't know for sure yet," she said.
Belury conducted the study with former Ohio State nutrition graduate students Angela Wendel, now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina; Aparna Purushotham, now with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; and Li-Fen Liu, now a postdoc at Stanford University.
The work was supported by funds from the Carol S. Kennedy professorship, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, College of Human Ecology scholarships, the Natural Health Research Institute Scholarship for Diabetes, the American Oil Chemists' Society, and the J. Parker and Kathryn Webb Dinius Fellowship.
Exploring Infant Feeding And The Development Of Obesity
A symposium at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting at Experimental Biology was held in which noted scientists discussed new infant feeding studies that used methodology such as randomized clinical trials (involving breastfeeding promotion) as well as sibling pairs analysis. These studies may offer new insights into possible associations between infant feeding and health outcomes such as obesity.
The symposium, "Infant Feeding and the Development of Obesity: What Does the Science Tell Us?" sponsored by the International Formula Council (IFC)* and chaired by Linda Adair, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, brought together international experts in the field of infant nutrition to present their recent findings.
Featured researchers included David Barker, M.D., Ph.D., professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Southampton, UK and professor of Cardiovascular in the Department of Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, whose soon-to-be published study examines breastfeeding in a large group of sibling pairs that were followed into their late 60s.
"This type of study design controls for maternal factors," according to Dr. Barker. "Differences in the long-term effects of breast and bottle feeding may reflect differences in the mothers rather than the effects of feeding itself." Maternal factors include maternal health status, maternal care-giving, mother-child interactions or other health-related behaviors of the mother that may interfere with determining the association of infant feeding and health outcomes and the strength of any possible associations.
Other study designs such as the randomized clinical trial on breastfeeding and health outcomes in infants in Belarus recently conducted by Michael Kramer, M.D., a pediatrician and perinatal epidemiologist at McGill University in Montreal, provide evidence that research design can have a significant impact on infant feeding study results. In a randomized infant feeding clinical trial, known as the gold standard in research, infants would be randomly assigned to be breastfed or formula-fed; however, such trials are generally not feasible in infant feeding research, since most mothers determine their infant's feeding method. Dr. Kramer randomly assigned hospitals to implement breastfeeding promotion practices and standard care. He found that despite the substantial increase in prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding among mothers receiving the intervention, there were no differences between their children (n= 7,108 subjects) and the children of mothers from the control hospitals (n= 6,781 subjects), that did not implement breastfeeding promotion practices, on several measures of adiposity at 6.5 years of age.
These findings challenge the concept that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity in childhood, as some other studies have found. Speaking of the strength of his study design and the fact that other studies due to their design may have been prone to inherent bias, Dr. Kramer noted, "Previously reported beneficial effects on these outcomes (measurements of obesity) may be the result of uncontrolled confounding and selection bias." The study performed by Dr. Kramer represents the largest randomized trial done to date in the area of human lactation.
Other researchers at the symposium presented the outcomes of more traditional epidemiologic studies that were based on observational designs and thus had limitations such as not being able to control subjects' behavior. Beth Mayer-Davis, Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition and diabetes researcher at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discussed findings from her research on infant feeding and diabetes in ethnic groups in a United States population. In her observational study of less than 300 subjects, mothers of children with diabetes were asked to recall if and for how long they breastfed their infant. Dr. Mayer-Davis reported that breastfeeding appeared to reduce the risk for development of type 2 diabetes in youth, possibly mediated in part by weight status in childhood.
Nancy Butte, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, discussed early infant feeding practices and effects on obesity. Dr. Butte presented her work from the VIVA LA FAMILIA study, an observational study with a cohort of 1,030 Hispanic children. Dr. Butte noted that although breastfeeding appeared to have a small protective effect against childhood obesity, other genetic and environmental factors "far supersede infant feeding practices as risk factors for childhood obesity."
Weight Loss Drug Rimonabant May Not Slow Progression Of Heart Disease
According to a recent study published in JAMA, a clinical trial testing how well the anti-obesity medication rimonabant slowed the development of coronary artery disease in patients with abdominal obesity and pre-existing coronary disease resulted in mixed conclusions. Called STRADIVARIUS (the Strategy to Reduce Atherosclerosis Development Involving Administration of Rimonabant - The Intravascular Ultrasound Study), the trial was conducted by Steven E. Nissen, M.D. (Cleveland Clinic) and several STRADIVARIUS investigators.
Nissen and colleagues write that, "Abdominal obesity, even in the absence of type 2 diabetes, is associated with a constellation of metabolic and physiological abnormalities that amplify the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease." Some examples of metabolic syndrome are high triglyceride levels, low HDL (good) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.
Atherosclerotic disease is more commonly known as "hardening" of the arteries, and it occurs when the inner walls of the arteries accumulate plaque deposits. Abdominal obesity is a fundamental cause of atherosclerotic disease, but currently there are few treatment options available for the condition. The drug rimonabant, a selective cannabinoid type 1 receptor antagonist, is one possible treatment option. Lacking the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the drug is only available in other countries.
To compare rimonabant against placebo, the researchers designed a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial that included 839 patients at 112 centers in North America, Europe, and Australia selected from December 2004 to December 2005. For 18 to 20 months after random assignment, participants received either 20 mg daily of rimonabant or a matching placebo. Part of the selection process maintained that patients were eligible only if they needed coronary angiography for medical reasons. After randomization, participants scheduled clinic visits at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. The STRADIVARIUS researchers were chiefly concerned with the change in the percent atheroma volume (PAV) and secondarily concerned with the change in normalized total atheroma volume (TAV). Both PAV and TAV indicate how much plaque has built-up on the inner lining of an artery. These markers of atherosclerotic progression were measured by ultrasonographic coronary imaging.
"In the rimonabant vs. placebo groups, PAV increased 0.25 percent vs. 0.51 percent, respectively, and TAV decreased -2.2mm³ vs. an increase of 0.88mm³," write the researchers. "Rimonabant-treated patients had a larger reduction in body weight (-4.3kg [-9.5 lbs.] vs. -0.5 kg [-1.1 lbs.]) and greater decrease in waist circumference (-4.5 cm [-1.77 inches] vs. -1.0 cm [- 0.39 inches]). In the rimonabant vs. placebo groups, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased 5.8mg/dL (22.4 percent) vs. 1.8mg/dL (6.9 percent) and median (midpoint) triglyceride levels decreased -24.8 mg/dL (20.5 percent) vs. -8.9 mg/dL (6.2 percent)."
The investigators also found, however, that changes in the level of "bad" cholesterol (LDL-C) and changes in blood pressure were not significantly different between groups. "Psychiatric adverse effects were more common in the rimonabant group (43.4 percent vs. 28.4 percent)," with anxiety and depression being the most commonly reported adverse side effects.
In the authors' words: "Administration of rimonabant, 20mg, daily for 18 months did not significantly reduce the rate of progression of coronary disease for the primary IVUS (intravascular ultrasound) end point, the change in PAV." Although, "The secondary endpoint, change in TAV, showed a statistically significant treatment effect favoring rimonabant."
"Because the current study failed to achieve a statistically significant effect for the primary efficacy measure, additional studies will be required to further define the role of rimonabant in the treatment of abdominally obese patients with coronary disease and metabolic risk factors," the authors conclude.
An accompanying editorial by John S. Rumsfeld, M.D., Ph.D. (Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado) and Brahmajee K. Nallamothu, M.D., M.P.H. (Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Department of Medicine, University of Michigan) notes that the STRADIVARIUS trial is critical to understanding the effectiveness and safety of rimonabant.
"This drug is clearly efficacious for weight loss, underscoring its promise as a therapeutic option for obesity. However, despite improvements in metabolic parameters, STRADIVARIUS demonstrated no efficacy of rimonabant for coronary artery disease progression while it simultaneously heightened concern about its safety profile," write Rumsfeld and Nallamothu.
They conclude: "The hopes for rimonabant ultimately may be realized if the drug is shown to have a favorable effect on mortality and cardiovascular events. In that case, clinicians will be grateful for a new weapon in the fight against the obesity epidemic but will have to remain vigilant for trade-offs in quality of life, an outcome of equal importance to survival and certainly more important than any surrogate measure."
Effect of Rimonabant on Progression of Atherosclerosis in Patients With Abdominal Obesity and Coronary Artery Disease: The STRADIVARIUS Randomized Controlled Trial
Steven E. Nissen; Stephen J. Nicholls; Kathy Wolski; Josep Rodés-Cabau; Christopher P. Cannon; John E. Deanfield; Jean-Pierre Després; John J. P. Kastelein; Steven R. Steinhubl; Samir Kapadia; Muhammad Yasin; Witold Ruzyllo; Christophe Gaudin; Bernard Job; Bo Hu; Deepak L. Bhatt; A. Michael Lincoff; E. Murat Tuzcu;
JAMA (2008). 299[13]:1547-1560.
Are You What You Eat? New Study Of Body Weight Change Says Maybe Not
f identical twins eat and exercise equally, must they have the same body weight? By analyzing the fundamental equations of body weight change, NIH investigators Carson Chow and Kevin Hall find that identical twins with identical lifestyles can have different body weights and different amounts of body fat.
The study, published March 28th in the open-access journal PLoS Computational Biology, uses a branch of mathematics called dynamical systems theory to demonstrate that a class of model equations has an infinite number of body weight solutions, even if the food intake and energy expenditure rates are identical. However, the work also shows that another class of models directly refutes this, predicting that food intake and energy expenditure rates uniquely determine body weight. Existing data are insufficient to tell which is closer to reality, since both models can make the same predictions for a given alteration of food intake or energy expenditure.
Given the ongoing obesity epidemic, Drs. Chow and Hall are interested in what factors determine human body weight and its stability. Of particular importance is whether a treatment for obesity would have to be administered repeatedly over a lifetime or could be given only until a target body weight is reached. As a particular example, the study considers whether weight lost from a liposuction procedure is permanent. For the class of equations with an infinite number of body weight solutions, fat removal through liposuction could lead to permanent results. However, the opposing models predict that the body would eventually return to its original weight.
Chow and Hall note that neither class of models accounts for the many variables affecting how much a person tends to eat, an important factor determining bodyweight. Nevertheless, for any food intake rate this latest research suggests that an individual may have an infinite number of possible body weights. The study outlines the mathematical conditions underlying this possibility and suggests how future experiments could determine if it is true.
"The Dynamics of Human Body Weight Change"
Chow CC, Hall KD (2008)
PLoS Comput Biol 4(3): e1000045. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000045
Keeping In Good Shape In Old Age Is Harder For Women Than Men
Women over the age of 65 years have a more difficult time preserving muscle than their male counterparts, which probable impacts their ability to stay as strong and fit, according to new research published on March 26, 2008 in the open-access journal PLoS ONE.
Muscle maintenance is very important in reducing the risk of falls in the elderly, one of the major causes of premature death. After the age of 50, people lose up to 0.4% of their muscle mass every year. This makes them less mobile, more at risk for fracture, and more at risk for potentially life threatening falls.
Of elderly people who suffer a serious fall, one half die within to years. But, it is thought that the number of falls can be curtailed if muscle mass is maintained. This would keep knees and hips more properly supported and strong.
Until now, no differences had been found between men and women in muscle protein synthesis, the process the body uses to build muscle. However, recently, it has been found that the female body's response to food and exercise declines in the mid- to late-60s. Women are at a higher risk for muscle loss because they already tend to have less muscle and more fat than men in early and middle age, so when they reach their 50s and 60s, they are already closer to becoming frail.
Now, scientists have shown for the first time that it is actually more difficult for women to replace naturally lost muscle as they get older, and this difficulty is linked to a key difference in the way men's and women's bodies react to food.
Experts at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, USA, and at The University of Nottingham, UK, funded by the US National Institutes of Health, studied 29 men and women aged 65-80 years old who were in good health. They examined the ability to respond to food meant to build muscle mass. It was found that post-menopausal women were less able to respond to this food than men, who were able to store protein in the muscle.
The scientists attribute this change to hormonal adjustments that occur with menopause. Specifically, the suspicion falls on estrogen, which is already known to be necessary in both women and men to help maintain bone mass. According to the researchers, these findings corroborate other preliminary results indicating that women are less able to repsond to build muscle after resistance exercise, such as lifting weights in the gym. Younger men and women, who have not reached menopause, do not seem to show any discrepancy in muscle mass potential.
Regarding this finding, Michael Rennie, Professor of Clinical Physiology at The University of Nottingham, said: "Nobody has ever discovered any mechanistic differences between men and women in muscle loss before. This is a significant finding for the maintenance of better health in old age and reducing demands on the National Health Service."
There is advice for older women to help combat this degeneration. These new results underscore the importance of a diet sufficient in protein, including foods such as eggs, fish, chicken, and lean red meat, as well as resistance exercise.
"Rather than eating more, older people should focus on eating a higher proportion of protein in their everyday diet. In conjunction with resistance exercise, this should help to reduce the loss of muscle mass over time. There is also a case for the beneficial hormonal effect of limited HRT, although this has to be balanced against the other risks associated with such treatment," continues Rennie.
About the Contributing Universities
Washington University School of Medicine is ranked in the US's Top 5 Medical Schools and the World's Top 35 universities by the U.S. News & World Report and the Times Higher (THES) World University Ranking.
The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 70 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THES) World University Rankings. It provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's "only truly global university", it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation - School of Pharmacy).
Its students are much in demand from 'blue-chip' employers. Winners of Students in Free Enterprise for three years in succession, and current holder of UK Graduate of the Year, they are accomplished artists, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and fundraisers. Nottingham graduates consistently excel in business, the media, the arts and sport. Undergraduate and postgraduate degree completion rates are amongst the highest in the United Kingdom
4,000 Women Attempt New World Record at 2008 Lady of America/Ladies Workout Express Ab Crunch Challenge
Women Get a Six Pack While Giving Back Through Fitness Fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Four thousand women across the country will "feel the burn" as they crunch their abs for one hour straight during the Ab Crunch Challenge taking place tomorrow (Saturday), March 29. More than 200 local Lady of America, Ladies Workout Express and Workout Express gyms will host the fitness challenge, with a goal to raise $1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and make history by creating a new Guinness Record for the most abdominal crunches done in one hour by a group.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Protect the Spinal Cord, Heart, Brain and Eyes
DENVER, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Long-chain (seafood) omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) continue to prove their value in heart, brain and eye health, according to recent research summarized in the March 2008 Fats of Life and PUFA Newsletter electronic publications. Groundbreaking studies also show that omega-3s may improve recovery from spinal cord injury and dry eye syndrome.
The effect of fish oil consumption on arterial elasticity, which allows for more rapid blood flow, was examined in China in overweight patients with high blood pressure. Participants who took 900 mg of seafood omega-3s daily for eight weeks had a 21% increase in arterial elasticity.
"While blood pressure did not change in these participants, their arterial elasticity significantly improved," said Editor Joyce Nettleton, D.Sc. "This observation suggests another way in which these omega-3s protect heart health."
A US study reported that marine omega-3s prevented atrial fibrillation- uncontrolled rapid trembling -- from developing in animals with fast heartbeats. By increasing the heart's recovery time, the omega-3s prevented abnormal rhythms from becoming established.
Investigators in the Netherlands recently examined the relationship between children's omega-3 status at birth, which depends on the mother's omega-3 intake during pregnancy, and their motor development at age seven. Those with the highest levels of the omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) at birth had significantly higher total motor scores than children born with less DHA.
"This means that a mother's consumption of seafood omega-3s during pregnancy is important for her child's later motor development," Nettleton said.
Two other studies covered by the e-newsletters report improvement in mental disorders with dietary seafood omega-3s. Treating substance abuse patients with these omega-3s, mainly EPA (eicosapen-taenoic acid), for example, resulted in significantly lower scores for anxiety and anger. In adults diagnosed with neuroticism, researchers found the condition was related to low blood levels of EPA.
Groundbreaking animal research suggests that human treatment with DHA within the first hour after a spinal cord injury could be effective in limiting the extent and spread of damage. Also included in the e-newsletters is a report of significantly reduced inflammation and corneal damage in dry eye syndrome with eye drops containing the plant omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid.
The quarterly Fats of Life and PUFA Newsletter, sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products, are at http://www.fatsoflife.com/ and by complimentary subscription.
Source: Fats of Life
CONTACT: Angela Dansby of Fats of Life, +1-773-697-7686,
angela@fatsoflife.com
Web site: http://www.fatsoflife.com/
Why Can Grapefruit Interfere With Some Medications?
People are discouraged from consuming grapefruits or grapefruit juice while taking certain medications because they can affect the way the medications are metabolized. Now scientists are closer to understanding why this dangerous interaction occurs. Johns Hopkins Health Alerts reports on the latest research.
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 13, 2008 --Johns Hopkins Health Alerts' recent Prescription Drug Health Alert reported on new research regarding the reason why grapefruit juice can potentially cause a dangerous interaction with certain of the medications you take.
FOOD AND DRUG INTERACTIONS
Certain foods and drinks don't mix well with certain medications. For example, grapefruits or grapefruit juice may interact badly with a number of medications, because natural grapefruit contains a substance that affects the activity of an enzyme in the intestines and liver that processes these medications. This could result in a dangerous increase in the level of the drug in your blood.
Another potentially dangerous interaction is between the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin and generic brands) and vitamin K. The vitamin, present in many multivitamins and supplements, neutralizes or reduces the effect of the medication warfarin. This raises the risk of a blood clot, which the warfarin is intended to prevent.
GRAPEFRUIT AND DRUG INTERACTIONS
Now scientists have identified the specific chemical in grapefruit juice responsible for many drug-food interactions, according to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Volume 83, page 1097).
Previous research implicated a family of chemical compounds called furanocoumarins (FCs) as the culprit in grapefruit juice. To confirm this suspicion, the scientists created FC-free grapefruit juice and compared its effects with those of whole grapefruit juice or orange juice (the control group in the study).
GRAPEFRUIT AND DRUG INTERACTION STUDY
Eighteen study volunteers drank 8 oz of whole or FC-free juice along with a dose of felodipine (Plendil), a blood pressure medication.
The blood concentration of Plendil was nearly THREE times higher when people took it with 8 ounces of whole grapefruit juice, compared with blood levels after subjects took it with the FC-free grapefruit juice or orange juice (the control group in the study).
This means that the blood level of Plendil was higher when taken with whole grapefruit juice, potentially causing dangerously low blood pressure.
The researchers said their finding could assist in the study of other drug-food interactions.
Grapefruit has also been known to diminish the absorption of some drugs in the body. So always follow the guidelines given on your medications with regard to food and drug interactions.
One further note: In reference to the control group in the study, regular orange juice was found to be safe to drink with Plendil. However, you may want to avoid Seville oranges in juice or marmalade, as they are the only type of oranges to contain furanocoumarins.
You can learn more about the latest research on prescription drugs in the annual Johns Hopkins Prescription Drug White Paper:
The Johns Hopkins White Paper: Prescription Drugs
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician.
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Daycare Program To Prevent Obesity Benefits Preschoolers
A preschool-based intervention program helped prevent early trends toward obesity and instilled healthy eating habits in multi-ethnic 2- to 5-year-olds, according to a report presented at the American Heart Association's Conference on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism.
"Nobody would dispute that we are experiencing an epidemic of obesity in this country," said Ruby Natale, Ph.D., Psy.D., author of the study and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Fla. "Children as young as 7 years old are experiencing health consequences of being overweight, suggesting that intervention must occur as early as possible and involve the entire family.
"Inner-city minority children spend many hours of the day in preschool, making it a significant influence in many aspects of their lives. Children depend on their parents for nutrition and physical activity choices at this age, so the home environment must be accounted for as well."
Natale and colleagues studied 2- to 5-year-old children from ethnically diverse, low-income families in eight subsidized childcare centers in Miami Dade County, Fla. The intervention group received a six-month home- and school-based obesity prevention program with two tiers.
The classroom-based (tier one) program included menu modifications and education:
* The menu promoted water as the primary beverage for staff and children; offered only skim or 1 percent milk; limited juices and other sweetened beverages; and incorporated fruits and vegetables in snacks as much as possible.
* Classroom teachers were educated weekly about how to incorporate nutrition and physical activity curriculums and how to better understand and overcome children's cognitive, cultural and environmental barriers to implementing a healthy low-fat, high-fiber diet.
The family-based (tier two) program reinforced what the children learned at childcare, including:
* Monthly parent dinners to educate parents about food labels, the food guide pyramid and portion sizes.
* Newsletters focusing on topics such as picky eaters, healthy cooking tips, healthy fast food options and recipes for healthy snacks.
* At-home activities such as sampling different vegetables and various types of lower-fat milks.
Comparing data from the intervention group to a control group of children, researchers found that intervention is an effective obesity prevention strategy.
"While 68.4 percent of children were at normal weight at the start of the study, this increased to 73 percent at follow-up," said Sarah E. Messiah, Ph.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study and research assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Clinical Research, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. "Also, the percentage of children who were at risk for overweight decreased from 16 percent to 12 percent."
From the beginning to the end of the intervention, children changed the amounts and types of foods they ate. Those at two intervention sites ate less junk food, more fresh fruits and vegetables, and drank less juice and more 1 percent milk compared to those at control sites.
Specifically, on average in the intervention groups:
* Chip consumption decreased from daily to no consumption.
* Cookie consumption decreased 50 percent.
* Fresh fruit and vegetable consumption increased 25 percent.
* Juice consumption decreased 50 percent and was replaced with a 20 percent increase in water consumption.
* One percent milk consumption increased 20 percent.
"In the control sites, cake and cookie consumption actually increased 35 percent and 75 percent, respectively, while average fresh fruit and water consumption decreased," Messiah said. "We are hoping that our study will impact policy around the country leading to healthier standards for meals served at childcare centers. If we are successful in improving attitudes toward nutrition and physical activity in early childhood, we can potentially influence adult behavior and begin to hope that the public health epidemic of obesity can be ended."
----------------------------
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
----------------------------
Other co-authors are: Lee Sanders, M.D.; Gabriela Lopez-Mitnik, M.A.; and Jennifer Barth, Ph.D.
Children's Trust of Miami Dade funded the study.
Statements and conclusions of abstract authors that are presented at American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific meetings are solely those of the abstract authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The associations make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
Source: Karen Astle
American Heart Association
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Display An Anti-Inflammatory Response To The Vegan Diet
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who eat a gluten-free vegan diet could be better protected against heart attacks and stroke. RA is a major risk factor for these cardiovascular diseases, but a gluten-free vegan diet was shown to lower cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidizedLDL (OxLDL), as well as raising the levels of natural antibodies against the damaging compounds in the body that cause symptoms of the chronic inflammatory disease rheumatoid arthritis, such as phosphorylcholine. These findings are reported in the open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
The idea that we can influence our health by changing our eating habits has become a fashionable idea among lifestyle and consumer magazines. There is evidence that dietary changes can bring about health benefits but specific results are not widespread.
Now, Johan Frostegard of the Rheumatology Unit at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm and colleagues divided sixty-six RA patients randomly into two groups. They randomly assigned 38 of the volunteers to eat a gluten-free vegan diet, and the other 28 a well-balanced but non-vegan diet for one year. They analysed the levels of fatty, lipid molecules in blood samples using routine analytical methods at regular periods. They also measured oxLDL and anti-phosphorylcholine (antiPC) factor at the beginning of the experiment, at 3 months and again at 12 months.
The researchers found that the gluten-free vegan diet not only reduced LDL and oxLDL levels and raised antiPC antibodies but lowered the body-mass index (BMI) of the volunteers in that group. Levels of other fatty molecules, including triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) stayed the same. In contrast, none of the indicators differed significantly for the control groups on the conventional healthy diet.
AntiPC antibodies are studied within CVDIMMUNE, an European consortium led by Dr Frostegard with the hypothesis that such antibodies can protect against cardiovascular disease and can be used as diagnostic and therapeutic factors.
Frostegard and colleagues have now shown that diet could be used to improve the long-term health of people with rheumatoid arthritis. They concede that a bigger study group will be needed to discern which particular aspects of the diet help the most.
Diet And Colorectal Cancer Risk
According to Heinz-Josef Lenz, M.D., professor of medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC and the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, diet may have a major impact on people's risk of developing cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most-common cause of cancer-related death in men and women in the nation.
The most important risk factor is red meat, particularly beef, he says. The countries with the highest beef consumption are the ones with the highest colon cancer risk. White meat such as chicken and pork don¹t seem to be associated with colon cancer risk.
Alcohol consumption is another major risk factor, particularly for women, Lenz notes. To reduce risk, people should limit themselves to one glass of wine per day.
Avoiding alcohol and decreasing intake of red meat can decrease your risk of colon cancer significantly, he says.
People should have rich sources of calcium intake, such as dairy products, daily. It is also important to include fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables and reduce intake of fatty foods. One of the most powerful ways to reduce colon cancer development is vitamin D and calcium.
With easy adjustments in your diet, supplements such as calcium and modest exercise you can reduce your risk of colon cancer by more than 50 percent,² says Lenz.
For more information on colorectal cancer, visit Dr. Lenz¹s blog at www.revolutionhealth.com/pages/colon-cancer
deCODE Obesity Study Sheds Light on How Genetics Affects Risk and Onset of Common Diseases
REYKJAVIK, Iceland, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a paper published online today in the journal Nature, a team of deCODE scientists detail a major mechanism through which genetic factors contribute to major public health problems. In its work on the inherited components of dozens of common diseases, deCODE has discovered gene variants that significantly affect individual susceptibility or protection against disease. In the common forms of these conditions -- such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases -- deCODE has previously shown that genetic variants confer increased or decreased risk by upregulating or downregulating the activity of major biological pathways. As a result, these variants place individuals on a spectrum of risk, with most of the population clustered at roughly average risk and a smaller number of people at either significantly higher or lower risk.
In today's paper, the deCODE team and collaborators from Merck demonstrate one of the principal ways in which the activity of biological pathways is functionally perturbed in a quintessentially complex condition: obesity. Through analysis of adipose tissue from some 1700 Icelandic participants in obesity research cohorts, the deCODE team showed in data derived from primary human tissue that variations in gene expression -- in the up-regulation or downregulation of how genes are translated into proteins -- have a major impact on several parameters of clinical obesity. The deCODE team then used its unique resources for genome-wide linkage and association analysis to demonstrate that variability in gene expression, like overall risk for disease, has a significant inherited component that can be linked to specific versions of genetic markers. The paper, "Genetics of gene expression and its effect on disease," is published today on Nature's website, www.nature.com, and will appear in a subsequent print edition of the journal.
"One of the observations we have made in our work on the isolation of disease genes is that the genetic risk of common diseases is often conferred by variations in the sequence of the genome that affect expression of genes. Hence, one of the ways to approach the study of common diseases is through the analysis of gene expression. This paper provides a substantial contribution towards the understanding of gene expression in man and one example of how it can be used to expand our knowledge of one disease, namely obesity," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
Secrets For Healthy Eating With Rachael Ray
Stacey Antine, MS, RD and founder of HealthBarn(R) USA was honored today on The Rachael Ray Show as part of Ray's Incredible People & Healthy Eating series sponsored by The American Egg Board (www.rachaelrayshow.com/incrediblepeople/). Antine joins an all-star team of people recognized for their important contributions to helping communities lead healthier lives at the grass roots level.
"It's gratifying to be recognized by Rachael Ray's Incredible People & Healthy Eating series," said Stacey Antine, founder and CEO, HealthBarn USA, Inc. "We've seen first-hand how HealthBarn USA, the leader in proven, hands-on healthy-lifestyle education for children and families, can transform children's eating habits benefiting the whole family."
Antine went on to say that "We empower children with fundamental knowledge about healthy food and nutrition. We've found that when kids take part in growing and preparing a variety of different vegetables and other natural foods, they start asking their parents to serve more veggies and fruits at home."
Moreover, by teaching thousands of children ages 3-15, and their families, over the past three years to grow, cook, and taste a variety of fresh, seasonal foods and dishes, Antine and her team of nutritionists have identified secrets to getting children to eat vegetables. Here are some tips she shared with Rachael Ray on today's show:
-- Be a Role Model: Kids eat vegetables, often it's parents who don't;
-- Listen to Kids Opinions: If a vegetable or food gets rejected at the
table, ask why? At HealthBarn USA, we learn directly from the children
what works and what doesn't;
-- Use Positive Language: YUK! is a four letter word at HealthBarn USA.
Kids give the thumbs up or down only after trying new foods;
-- Be Creative with Food Preparation and Presentation: Kids love to cook
and eat hands-on recipes, e.g. add bell peppers to the typical
scrambled egg breakfast, wrap it up, and it becomes an exciting
breakfast burrito -- watch their faces light up;
-- Go Fresh: Serve a variety of raw seasonal vegetables because they
taste better all-natural before being altered in the cooking process.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a growing body of research shows that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health. "The key to our success lies in HealthBarn USA's healthy-lifestyle philosophy rooted in common sense and fun for the whole family," said Antine. "There's a lot of focus on obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease among children and adults; but what's different about HealthBarn USA is that we are helping children and their parents learn how to read labels to make better food choices and to cook simple, nutritious and delicious meals for the whole family. Taking time to eat together as a family completes the HealthBarn picture."
HealthBarn USA, located at Abma's Farm, Wyckoff, NJ, developed the hands- on innovative curricula in conjunction with Rutgers Cooperative Extension and its esteemed advisory board. The core concept is to educate children, ages 3- 15, and their families through year-round farm programs, summer camp, and school assemblies and workshops. Information on the programs including the one-of-a-kind recipe book -- a "must-have" for parents 'in the know' -- can be obtained online at www.healthbarnusa.com.
CONTACT: Julie Meyer, RD
201-891-2066
press@healthbarnusa.com
Source: HealthBarn USA
Contact: Julie Meyer, RD, of HealthBarn USA, +1-201-891-2066,
press@healthbarnusa.com
Web site: http://www.healthbarnusa.com/
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/incrediblepeople/
More Vitamin D In Childhood Cut Risk Of Adult Diabetes?
Researchers claim that vitamin D supplements in early childhood could prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes in later life.
The research showed that children given additional vitamin D were around 30 per cent less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes compared with those not given the supplement.
It suggested that the higher and more regular the dose, the lower the likelihood of developing the disease.
Potential to prevent Type 1 diabetes
Dr Victoria King, Research Manager of leading health charity, Diabetes UK, said: "This study suggests that taking vitamin D in childhood has the potential to prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes.
"However, much more research, in particular controlled trials which compares the results when one group of people are given vitamin D supplements and one group is not, are needed before we can confirm a concrete association between vitamin D and Type 1 diabetes."
The results come from the analysis of five separate studies published previously.
Tooth Erosion Caused By Popular Energy Drinks
For more than 10 years, energy drinks in the United States have been on the rise, promising consumers more "oomph" in their day. In fact, it is estimated that the energy drink market will hit $10 billion by 2010. While that may be great news for energy drink companies, it could mean a different story for the oral health of consumers who sometimes daily rely on these drinks for that extra boost.
Previous scientific research findings have helped to warn consumers that the pH (potential of hydrogen) levels in beverages such as soda could lead to tooth erosion, the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth that leads to decay. The studies revealed that, whether diet or regular, ice tea or root beer, the acidity level in popular beverages that consumers drink every day contributes to the erosion of enamel.
However, in a recent study of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer reviewed journal, the pH level of soft drinks isn't the only factor that causes dental erosion. A beverage's "buffering capacity," or the ability to neutralize acid, plays a significant role in the cause of dental erosion.
The study examined the acidity levels of five popular beverages on the market. The results proved that popular "high energy" and sports drinks had the highest mean buffering capacity, resulting in the strongest potential for erosion of enamel.
According to the study, the popularity of energy drinks is on the rise, especially among adolescents and young adults. Their permanent teeth are more susceptible to attack from the acids found in soft drinks, due to the porous quality of their immature tooth enamel. As a result, there is high potential for erosion among this age demographic to increase.
In fact, Raymond Martin, DDS, MAGD, AGD spokesperson, says he treats more patients in their teens to 20s for tooth erosion. "They drink a great deal more sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks," he says. "The results, if not treated early and if extensive, can lead to very severe dental issues that would require full mouth rehabilitation to correct," says Dr. Martin.
Drink responsibly for your oral health:
* Use a straw positioned at the back of the mouth so that the liquid avoids the teeth
* Rinse the mouth with water after drinking acidic beverages
* Limit the intake of sodas, sports drinks and energy drinks
Personal Counseling And Web-Based Strategies Show Modest Success For Sustaining Weight Loss, According
Adults who lost weight in a six-month program were able to keep at least some of the weight off for 2.5 years with the help of brief monthly personal counseling, according to a new study from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. A Web-based intervention also helped participants keep the weight off for two years, but the benefit waned during the last six months of the trial.
The results of the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial, the largest and longest duration trial to test different weight-loss maintenance strategies, are published in the March 12, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Results will also be presented at the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism Council Meeting on March 12 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"Maintaining a healthy weight is a key tenet of every heart disease prevention plan. We have well-tested techniques for successful weight loss, but preventing weight re-gain is especially challenging. This study provides insight into best practices for practical interventions that can help adults keep the weight off and therefore lower their risks for heart disease and other conditions," said Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D., director, NHLBI.
The study initially enrolled 1,685 overweight or obese adults with high blood pressure or high cholesterol or both. Of those, 1,032 lost an average of 18.7 pounds during an initial six-month weight loss intervention involving 20 weekly group-counseling sessions which emphasized a heart-healthy dietary pattern and three hours per week of physical activity. They were then randomly assigned to one of three strategies for weight loss maintenance: monthly personal counseling on diet and physical activity, a Web-based intervention with the same advice, and self-direction, where participants received minimal further intervention from study staff.
At the end of the study, participants receiving personal counseling retained an average weight loss of 9.2 pounds, compared to an average of 7.3 pounds for those using the Web-based intervention and 6.4 pounds for those in the self-directed group.
Personal counseling sessions were brief and mainly by telephone. The Web site was developed to provide the same advice as personal counseling. Both interventions were designed to be practical to implement in a variety of settings.
"Most people in the study regained at least some of the weight they initially lost. However, both the personal counseling and the Web-based program modestly alleviated weight re-gain for up to two years, with the personal counseling ultimately proving to be the most beneficial by the end of the 2.5 year study," said Laura Svetkey, M.D, a professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and the study's lead author.
Maintaining a healthy weight is an important part of heart disease prevention. Weight loss is shown to lower blood pressure, lower LDL "bad" cholesterol, and help prevent type 2 diabetes. Each 2.2 pounds of weight loss can lower blood pressure by one point and can lower the risk of developing diabetes by 16 percent in high-risk adults.
"The relatively long-term, 24-month success of the Web-based intervention shows promise particularly because of the potential to reach a large number of adults at a relative low cost per person," said Catherine Loria, Ph.D., program officer at NHLBI, and a study co-author. "We need to continue working to improve both interventions so that they are more effective and can be implemented widely."
Approximately 38 percent of participants were African-American and 37 percent of participants were men.
Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov.
Some Diet Risk Perceptions
How good are we at judging what's risky to our health?
Some of our perceptions of risks in our diet fly in the face of science, according to a new survey by the Food Standards Agency. The survey investigated how consumers perceive the risks associated with various food issues in comparison to the scientific evidence.
Survey results
Bird flu - 90% of people would be concerned about eating chicken from a factory contaminated with bird flu. In reality, there's no scientific evidence to show that the food chain has a role in the contraction of bird flu in humans. People can't catch bird flu through eating properly cooked chicken.
Raw milk - nearly a quarter of people, and particularly those aged over 66, thought that there is a very low risk, or no risk at all, from drinking raw (unpasteurised) milk. The science, however, says that raw milk cannot be guaranteed free from germs, even when produced under the best possible hygiene conditions. A study carried out in 1995-96 showed that 60% of samples tested were contaminated with faecal matter. Another study in 1996-97 also showed that 4% of raw milk contained harmful bacteria that could make people ill. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, the very young and pregnant women are particularly at risk.
Genetically Modified (GM) food - 65% of people were concerned about the safety of consuming GM food. The scientific evidence tells us that the GM foods currently available are as safe as their non-GM counterparts, and pose no additional risk to the consumer. There is general agreement that foods containing GM material need to be labelled to allow consumers to make a choice.
Trust - people are more likely to trust the advice of a friend or a family member on health issues than scientists, even independent scientists.
The survey did, however, show that there is now little concern about the safety of eating beef. There was good awareness of the risks associated with eating too much salt and of the food safety dangers of eating old leftovers.
GACS meeting
The survey was conducted for the launch of the first meeting of the independent General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) chaired by leading scientist Professor Colin Blakemore, on Tuesday 11 March. GACS will be holding an open panel debate in the afternoon to look at the question 'Should we trust what scientists say about food?'. Panellists will include the Guardian's 'Bad Science' columnist Ben Goldacre.
Prof Colin Blakemore said: 'This survey is just a snapshot of people's opinions about food and risk but it prompts some interesting questions about how and why we judge some food to be risky. The good news is that people are clearly more aware of the impact of some risks to their health - particularly too much salt in their diet and some food safety issues. However, it also seems to show people are more likely to listen to advice about risk from friends than from scientists. It's clear that scientists need to communicate reliable evidence in a way that everyone can understand and to find constructive ways of engaging with the public on areas of concern. It's a challenge that the Food Standards Agency will have to rise to.'
Notes
The overall purpose of the General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) is to offer independent challenge and advice on how the Food Standards Agency (FSA) collects and uses scientific evidence. The membership of the committee includes 13 expert members and two lay members.
The FSA survey was designed to assess:
- the level of risk consumers associate with various activities, particularly looking at food related issues
- who consumers would trust to tell them about the risk associated with each activity
A series of questions were placed on the RSGB Omnibus survey, which interviewed a representative (in terms of gender, age, and working status) sample of 2,019 UK adults (aged 16+) between the 20 and 24 February 2008. Data was weighted at the analysis stage to ensure that the sample was demographically representative.
Eating chicken from factory contaminated with bird flu
- 90% associated risk with this activity (73% associated high risk with this activity)
- The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) Avian (Bird) Influenza Risk Assessment considered this issue in May 2007.
Drinking raw (unpasteurised) milk
- 22% considered this to be no or negligible concern
- Older consumers (particular those aged over 66) were more likely to think there is no/negligible risk (28%)
- 1995-1996 Research by ADAS on behalf of the Department of Health. 1996-1997 Research by Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS). Information on both surveys in paragraph 7-9 of FSA Board Paper.
- Further information also available from FSA Board discussion paper, executive summary, March 2002.
Consuming genetically modified (GM) food
- 65% of people associated risk with this activity
- The Board of the Food Standards Agency stated in June 2000 that it was satisfied that the safety assessment procedures for GM foods were sufficiently robust and rigorous to ensure that approved GM foods were as safe as their non-GM counterparts, and posed no additional risk to the consumer. For more information see the FSA Board Paper.
Eating meat leftovers three days after cooking
- 88% of people associated a risk with this activity
- If you're reheating leftover meat, or other food, always make sure it's piping hot all the way through before you eat it. And don't reheat more than once. Ideally, try to use leftovers within 48 hours. For more information see the Eatwell website.
Eating beef
- 63% of people considered this to be no or negligible concern
- The number of BSE cases in Great Britain has declined from a peak of over 36,000 in 1992 to 53 cases in 2007. Further information is available on the Defra website.
Eating too much salt
- 89% of people associated a risk with this activity
- Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop heart disease and stroke and twice as likely to die from these conditions than people who have normal blood pressure levels. High blood pressure contributes to 170,000 deaths in England alone every year. The current, daily average salt consumption of people in the UK is 9g. The Government health recommendation is that people should aim to eat no more than 6g of salt per day. More information on salt can be found on the Agency's Salt website.
For more information on the GACS panel debate go to:
- http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2008/feb/debate
Trust
In the survey consumers were asked 'Who would you trust to tell which of the activities posed the most risk to health?'
Percentage of people rating the person/organisation they would trust as their first, second or third choice:
- health professional (such as a doctor) 81%
- someone close to you 48%
- independent scientist 42%
- the Government 21%
- the media 16%
- a charity 13%
- health insurance company 10%
- supermarkets 7%
Food Standards Agency
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