A systematic review of six trials found serum vitamin B12 significantly lower in patients taking metformin than in those on placebo or other drugs, down 37.99 pmol/L below 2,000 mg a day and 78.62 pmol/L at higher doses. The authors suggest B12 supplements.
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Nutrition
Vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbs and diet: the research on how what we eat shapes our health.
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Herbs
Cinnamon improves menstrual cyclicity in women with PCOS
In a six-month randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 45 women with polycystic ovary syndrome, 1.5 grams of cinnamon a day produced more frequent menstrual cycles than placebo but did not change insulin resistance or androgen levels. The authors call the data preliminary.
Minerals
Zinc supplements fight asthma
In an 8-week randomized, double-blind trial in Sari, Iran, 284 children on inhaled steroids took 50 mg of zinc daily or a placebo. Researchers report the zinc group's serum zinc rose to 129 ug/dL and showed significant improvement in cough, wheezing, dyspnoea and all spirometry measures.
Minerals
Calcium supplements reduce risk of pre-eclampsia
A Cochrane review led by G.J. Hofmeyr found that more than 1 gram of calcium a day during pregnancy reduced pre-eclampsia risk among women on low-calcium diets, and also lowered eclampsia and preterm birth. WHO advises 1.5 to 2 grams daily for such women.
Minerals
Calcium supplements do not raise cardiovascular risk
Tracking 74,245 women in the Nurses' Health Study for 24 years, Brigham and Women's researchers found no independent link between calcium supplements and coronary heart disease or stroke. After adjustment, women taking 1 gram or more daily had 18 percent lower cardiovascular risk.
Vitamins
Vitamin C helps wound healing
A British Journal of Community Nursing report says vitamin C plays a role in every phase of wound healing, including collagen production and maturation, and that wounding can deplete ascorbic acid in blood and tissue. It urges clinicians to watch for deficiency.
Supplements
Fish oil supplements preserve brain volume, cognitive function
Among 819 people given repeat cognitive tests and brain imaging, fish oil supplement use was associated with less cognitive decline and less brain atrophy in those with normal cognition. The favorable associations appeared only in participants who were APOE e4-negative.
Minerals
Zinc supplements help fight pneumonia in young children
In a double-blind trial of 120 children aged 3 to 60 months hospitalized with pneumonia, those given zinc alongside standard antibiotics had shorter symptoms and hospital stays than those given placebo. The authors say zinc can speed recovery as an adjuvant therapy.
Supplements
Pigmented rice bran, plant sterols lower cholesterol
Twenty-four overweight adults on a 25 percent calorie-reduced diet lost about 4.7 kg over eight weeks whether they took pigmented rice bran alone or with plant sterols. The combination cut cholesterol far more, 36 versus 7 g/dL, and LDL by 22.3 versus 4.4 g/dL.
Supplements
Multivitamin, calcium supplements may prevent breast cancer
In a Puerto Rico case-control study of 312 women with breast cancer and 524 without, the women with cancer were 30% less likely to take multivitamins and 30% less likely to take calcium supplements. Supplement use also tracked with higher DNA repair capacity.
Supplements
Dietary supplements isoflavones that ease menopausal symptoms
University of Washington researchers reviewed 17 trials of isoflavone and amino acid supplements for menopausal symptoms. Soy germ extract, soy nuts and other isoflavones significantly reduced hot flashes, red clover eased mood and pain, and amino acids showed no benefit.
Food
Palm oil no match for vegetable oils, but better than trans fat
A review of more than 40 studies found palm oil diets produced a mixed lipid profile compared with vegetable oils low in saturated fat, but improved only the favourable blood markers when set against diets rich in trans fat.
Supplements
Medical cannabis effective painkiller
A Hawaii survey of 100 patients renewing medical cannabis certification found 97 percent used it for pain and reported 64 percent relief on average. Half reported less stress or anxiety, 45 percent better sleep, and 71 percent no adverse effects; none reported serious ones.
Vitamins
Prenatal multivitamin-mineral better than multivitamin for infants
In a single-blind trial, 104 Iranian women took either a multivitamin or a multivitamin-mineral supplement for 20 weeks from week 16 of pregnancy. Those on the multivitamin-mineral gained less weight, had lower BMI at week 28 and delivery, and had babies with heavier birth weight and larger heads.
Herbs
Herbal remedies that fight depression
A Polish review names seven of more than 20 herbal remedies as effective antidepressants: hypericum, lavender, borage, roseroot, chamomile, saffron and ginseng. Only hypericum and saffron have randomized trial evidence in mild to moderate depression.
Supplements
Omega 3 fatty acids prevent endometrial cancer
In cultured cells, DHA slowed endometrial cancer cell growth, colony formation and migration and promoted cell death, and dietary omega-3s curbed tumor growth in mouse models. The authors tie the effect to suppression of mTORC1 and mTORC2. The work was done in cells and animals, not women.
Supplements
Glycerol supplements extend your lifespan
Writing in Experimental Gerontology, Georgia Tech researchers report that 150 to 300 mM glycerol extended rotifers' mean lifespan by 40% to 50% and improved stress resistance, swimming and mitochondrial activity. They note the dose needed is too high to manage.
Vitamins
Vitamin D deficiency linked to depression
Among 3,570 Korean adults, those reporting depressive symptoms had lower serum vitamin D than those without (41.6 vs 44.3 nmol/L), and 28% fewer of those at 50 nmol/L or above reported symptoms. The authors say low levels were associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms.
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