Lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin E combo eyed for cataract reduct
A higher intake of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as vitamin E, could reduce the risk of developing cataracts by about 15 per cent, suggests a new study. Over 35,000 women took part in the study, which showed that a high intake of the two carotenoids reduced the risk of cataracts by 18 […]
Daidzein-rich supplement shows menopause potential
A dietary supplement rich in the soy isoflavone daidzein can reduce the incidence of hot flushes by 52 per cent, suggests new research from Harvard Medical School. Moreover, no negative side effects were reported by the researchers, following the 12-week trial with 147 post-menopausal women and published in Menopause, the journal of the North American […]
Isoflavones may stop benign breast lumps: study
The potential benefits of soy isoflavones for breast health may extend beyond malignant tumours, as a new study suggests a lower incidence of benign breast cysts. Indeed, population studies have shown that a diet rich in soy is associated with fewer cases of breast cancer, linked to the presence of soy isoflavones. China has the […]
Vitamin E pills may cut heart disease risk in diabetics
Supplements of vitamin E may counteract complications in type-2 diabetics linked to an increased risk of heart disease, says a new study from Italy. Daily vitamin E supplements (500 International Units) were found to decrease levels of a protein associated with higher risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and ultimately cardiovascular disease in this […]
Plant sterols in low fat milk effective for cholesterol cuts
Phytosterols incorporated into low-fat fermented milk was effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels in people with slightly elevated cholesterol, French researchers have reported. Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Boris Hansel from Paris’ Hôpital de la Pitié and co-workers report that daily consumption of the low fat milk containing 1.6 grams of phytosterols […]
Soy isoflavones could reduce infant mortality
A soy isoflavone used in soy infant formula could reduce diarrhea in infants, according to a new study, and thereby save lives in developing countries. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) found that the soy isoflavone genistin may reduce a baby’s susceptibility to rotavirus infections by as much as 74 percent. The […]
Isoflavone-rich pasta effective to boost heart health – stud
Pasta, enriched with soy isoflavones in the aglycone form, can effectively reduce blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol by about eight per cent, new research from Italy has reported. The study, published in the October issue of the Journal of Nutrition, has implications for using soy isoflavones as functional ingredients for heart healthy foods, […]
Study extends understanding of phytosterol benefits
Phytosterol-enriched products may reduce apolipoprotein levels by up to four per cent, says a new study that highlights these markers as better than traditional risk factors. The study, published online in the journal Clinical Nutrition, is one of the first studies to consider alipoprotein levels as a measure of the benefits of phytosterols, and adds […]
Higher vitamin E doses may produce better results for heart
Increased doses of vitamin E may produce positive results for heart health, says a new study from the US that questions the ‘under-dosing’ used in earlier clinical trials. The study, published early online in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, reports that a higher dose – 3200 International Units – of vitamin E is needed to […]
Soy isoflavones may halve prostate cancer risk
Increased intake of soy isoflavones may cut the risk of prostate cancer by 58 per cent, suggests a new study from Japan. The new case-control study recruited 200 Japanese men with different stages of prostate cancer – one case of Stage 1, 131 cases of Stage 2, 44 cases of Stage 3, and 24 cases […]
