An Indiana University analysis of 30.1 million U.S. births from 1996 to 2002 found higher rates in half of 22 birth defect categories among babies conceived from April through July, when pesticide levels in surface water peak. The researchers stress it shows no cause and effect.
Food Consumer
Watch-List
Eating grapefruit may raise clotting risk
Doctors in Olympia, Washington describe a woman on birth control pills who carried a clotting-related genetic mutation and nearly lost her leg to a blood clot after three days of grapefruit juice at breakfast. They stress the juice was not proven to be the cause.
Environment
Sociodemographic differences in binge drinking among adults
CDC's analysis of 2004 BRFSS data found binge drinking most common among men (24.3%), people aged 18-24 (27.4%) and whites (17.5%). Adjusted for sex and age, the most episodes came from drinkers earning under $25,000, and the most drinks per binge from non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics.
Politics
Family farmers fear being run over by food safety juggernaut
A Cornucopia Institute press release warns that food safety bills moving through Congress, among them Rosa DeLauro's HR 875, could sweep up organic growers and home gardeners. Research director Will Fantle says the industrialized food system does need a new regulatory focus.
Food Chemicals
New vitamin E found in Kiwi
Italian researchers found alpha- and delta-tocopherol in both the pulp and peel of kiwi fruit, plus a compound new to it, delta tocomonoenol, in the peel alone. The peel is not normally eaten, though the writer suggests drying it into antioxidant blends.
Food
Matzo ball soup may help lower high blood pressure
A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry identified four peptides from chicken leg collagen that can act as ACE inhibitors, which may lower blood pressure. The researchers note chicken breast muscle does not yield the same materials.
Food Chemicals
Calcium-rich foods
An overview of calcium's role in bones, teeth, enzyme function and blood clotting, listing animal and plant sources. It states the calcium in plant foods such as rhubarb, spinach, Chinese cabbage, tofu, red beans and pinto beans is more easily absorbed than the calcium in milk.
Diet
Maternal personality affects child's eating habits
In a Norwegian study of 27,763 mothers, those who were emotionally unstable, anxious, angry or low in self-confidence more often fed their 18-month-olds sweet and fatty foods. Daily smoking, high BMI and more children tracked the same way; older, better-educated mothers did not.
Supplements
Pea protein helps kidney health, lowers blood pressure
Rats with polycystic kidney disease given a small daily dose of yellow pea protein hydrolysate had blood pressure 20 percent lower after eight weeks and urinated up to 30 percent more, back to normal levels. A trial in mildly hypertensive people is under way.
Diet
The truth about vegetarianism in young adults
A study from three universities found 15- to 23-year-olds following vegetarian diets were more likely than others to binge and purge or misuse diet pills and diuretics, though they were less often obese. The writer urges parents and clinicians to ask why a teen switches diets.
Drug
Early screening for ovarian cancer appears ineffective
A University of Alabama at Birmingham study questions CA-125 blood tests paired with ultrasound for early detection: the combination caught 70 percent of cancers only in late stages, and about 1.6 percent of positive results were true positives, driving unnecessary surgery.
Watch-List
Infants exposed to unsafe levels of thyroid toxin
CDC scientists found perchlorate, a thyroid toxin from rocket fuel, in 15 brands of powdered infant formula; the two most contaminated cow's-milk brands held 87% of the 2000 U.S. market. Mixing them with water at 4 parts per billion would push 54% of infants past EPA's safe dose.
Supplements
Fish oils offer no heart benefit
At the American College of Cardiology meeting, the OMEGA trial reported no difference between nearly 4,000 heart attack patients given omega-3 supplements and those given placebo, echoing a 2006 review of 89 trials and cohort studies that found no mortality or cardiovascular benefit.
Vitamins
Health Benefits, Consequences of Folic Acid Dependent on Circumstances
Two Nutrition Reviews articles by Omar Dary and Joel Mason weigh folic acid's benefits against its risks: folate protects against some cancers and neural tube defects, but because it drives DNA synthesis, abundant intake may also speed the growth of pre-cancerous and cancerous tumors.
Alerts
Recall of Certain Pistachios
The FDA and California health officials are investigating Salmonella in pistachios from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, which halted distribution and recalled about 1 million pounds. The agency advises avoiding pistachio products until more is known.
Politics
Institute of Medicine cautioned on dangers of population-wide salt reduction
The Salt Institute's Morton Satin told an Institute of Medicine committee that population-wide salt reduction has not been scientifically established to improve health outcomes and may harm some people, and he warned that untested synthetic salt replacements could repeat the trans fat mistake.
Cooking
Healthy Recipes: Go Global with Asparagus
A recipe pairing spring asparagus with Asian flavours: steam thin stalks and scallions, then toss them with a warm dressing of ginger, chicken broth, rice vinegar, soy sauce, pepper and lemon juice. Makes four servings at 86 calories each.
Alerts
FDA Expands Nationwide Alert to Include 72 Tainted Weight Loss Supplements
The FDA widened its alert on tainted weight-loss supplements from 22 products to 72 sold online, in salons and in stores. Undeclared ingredients include the prescription appetite suppressant sibutramine, the antidepressant fluoxetine, potent diuretics and drugs not approved in the U.S.
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