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Diet & Nutrition

News, opinions and meeting coverage in primary care.

Small, Frequent Meals Don't Rev Metabolism

Dieters are often told to eat small, frequent meals instead of two or three bigger meals a day to shed extra pounds, but eating this way does not boost metabolism and may increase cardiovascular disease risk, researchers found.

Is There a Flaw in This Large Vitamin D Trial?

A co-principal investigator of the VITAL trial addresses the possibility that out-of-study testing of vitamin D levels and initiation of high-dose supplementation could be a limitation, but not a serious one.

Women on Seizure Meds Need More Folic Acid

WASHINGTON -- About half of epileptic women taking anti-seizure drugs who could have become pregnant said they were not taking the recommended folic acid supplements, results of a survey found.

Bone Density Higher in Blacks, Vitamin D Lower

Black Americans had lower levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D-binding protein than whites, but similar levels of bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and higher bone density.

Supplements Blamed for Liver Toxicity

WASHINGTON -- The rate of liver damage caused by dietary and herbal supplements -- especially those used for bodybuilding -- appears to be on the rise, a researcher said here.

Baked Goods OK for Most Kids Allergic to Milk

Allergic esophagitis triggered by milk may not require complete avoidance, according to a small study that found most such patients could tolerate dairy if it was baked into bread or other foods.

Honey, Cola May Disrupt Heart

A detailed history of patients with arrhythmia or syncope might need to include their cola intake or the origin of the honey they consume, two case studies suggest.

How Much Exercise to Burn Off a Burger?

Menus displaying the amount of exercise required to burn off calories in a meal had some impact on food choice, researchers found.

Food Allergies Cost Society a Bundle

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The economic cost of food allergy in an average American child tops $4,000, with less than 20% of that attributable to direct medical expenses, a researcher said here.

Weight Gain After Bypass Not Affected by Diet

SAN ANTONIO -- Lifestyle factors -- including dietary intake, physical activity levels, and treadmill time -- were not predictive of weight regain from 2 to 6 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, researchers found.

Genetic Obesity Risk Heightened by Sugary Drinks

SAN ANTONIO -- The relationship between genetics, body mass index, and obesity risk appears to be magnified in adults who drink the most sugar-sweetened beverages, researchers found.

Cranberry Juice May Help Lower BP a Bit

Cranberry juice modestly lowers blood pressure in healthy adults when consumed daily, a carefully controlled trial showed.

NYC to Limit Baby Formula in Hospitals

By Labor Day, at least 27 hospitals in New York City will have implemented the main components of an initiative aimed at encouraging breastfeeding for new mothers.

Vitamin D Test Accuracy Called into Question

HOUSTON -- Two widely used tests to determine vitamin D status produced results that exceeded the allowable limits for error in at least 40% of cases, according to a study reported here.

Big Breakfast, Plus Dessert Aids Weight Loss

HOUSTON -- Obese adults lost significantly more weight by starting the day with a calorie-and carbohydrate-heavy breakfast that included a sweet treat, instead of saving more calories for dinner, according to a study reported here.

AMA: Trust but Verify Genetically Modified Foods

茂禄驴CHICAGO -- When it comes to genetically modified foods, the American Medical Association has adopted a "trust but verify" policy: the foods seem safe, but they still need to be checked out.

DSM-5: What's In, What's Out

PHILADELPHIA -- Reports here provided what may be the last public update on DSM-5, the next edition of American psychiatry's diagnostic guide, before it is formally released in May 2013.

Fructose No Substitute for Glucose in Diabetes

NEW YORK -- Although it negates the dumping of glucose directly into the bloodstream, fructose may not be the choice sweetener for diabetics, researchers said here.

Consumer Reports Backs Dr. Oz on Arsenic in Juice

Roughly 10% of apple and grape juice samples tested by Consumer Reports contained total levels of arsenic that exceeded federal standards set for drinking water, according to results of an investigation released today.

Readers Say Vitamin Levels Should Be Checked Yearly

Processed foods, mineral-depleted soil, overcooked vegetables, increased stress levels -- all of these increase the chances of having a vitamin deficiency, according to a vocal majority of 麻豆传媒 readers who commented on last week's poll.

Brain Takes Multiple Hits from Low B12 Levels

Low levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to cognitive problems for older adults in more than one way, according to a cross-sectional study.

FDA Slams 'Dr. Oz' for Apple Juice Report

Mehmet Oz, MD, the Columbia University thoracic surgeon who gained fame first in books and more recently with his syndicated television show, has run afoul of the Food and Drug Administration with his report about levels of arsenic in popular brands of apple juice.

Ornish, Pritikin Cleared for Medicare Payment

Medicare will pay for intensive diet and exercise programs developed under the Ornish and Pritikin brands for reducing cardiovascular event risk, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced.

Early Feeding Problems Hint at Autism

Feeding problems are evident among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) from infancy, researchers found.

Down a Beer to Improve Bone Health? Not So Fast

A flagon of ale may indeed be a good source of dietary silicon, a recent study showed, but experts say any attempt to link beer drinking to bone health is not based on scientific data.

ACR: Drinking Water May Wash Away Gout Attacks

PHILADELPHIA -- A half-gallon of drinking water a day may keep gout attacks away, researchers said here.

Gluten Sensitivity Raises Risk of Death

Patients with mild intestinal inflammation and gluten sensitivity are at higher risk of death, even if their symptoms are not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of full-blown celiac disease, a new Swedish study found.

FDA: Cholesterol Claim Makes Cheerios an 'Unapproved Drug'

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Cereal maker General Mills can continue to claim Cheerios cereal lowers cholesterol only if it wins FDA approval for the product as a drug, the agency told the company.

Fish, Shellfish Associated with Advanced Prostate Protection

SAN FRANCISCO -- Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly those found in dark fish and shellfish, are associated with protection against aggressive prostate cancer, a case-control study showed.

Melamine Found in U.S.-Made Baby Formula

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A trace amount of melamine, the toxic chemical that has sickened tens of thousands of infants in China, was found in a U.S.-manufactured infant formula, the FDA confirmed.

FDA Warns Against Use of Red Yeast Rice Supplements

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The FDA has warned consumers against using three brands of red yeast rice, a product marketed as a natural remedy for high cholesterol, because they may contain lovastatin, the active ingredient in Mevacor.

Some Bariatric Surgery Patients Develop Wernicke's Encephalopathy

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- For a few patients undergoing, weight-loss surgery, a thiamine deficiency may cause memory loss and other neurologic problems, easily correctable when recognized.

Slentrol (dirlotapide) Goes to the Dogs

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The FDA approved a diet drug today that it wants no one to even consider taking. Slentrol (dirlotapide), is an obesity agent for dogs, with nasty side effects if humans try it.

Pediatricians Say Most U.S. Kids Don't Get Enough Calcium

ELK GROVE, Ill. - Most U.S. children don't get enough calcium in their diets, and pediatricians should intervene to help remedy the problem, according to guidelines issued today by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Feeding Tube Replacement Is Fast and Simple

LOUISVILLE-If a federal appeals court in Atlanta orders Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be replaced, the procedure can be done in less than a minute, says an expert in percutaneous enteral nutrition.

Licorice Compound May Fight Latent Herpes Infection

A compound found in licorice, glycyrrhizic acid (GA), induces apoptosis in cells latently infected with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus and may one day form the basis of a treatment for latent herpes infection, according to a report in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.