Eating Less Salt Doesn’t Cut Heart Risks: Using data from two different studies, incorporating a total of about 3,700 Europeans who had their salt consumption measured through urine samples at the start of the studies. Staessen and his colleagues broke the participants up into three groups: those with highest and lowest salt intakes, and those with average intake. None of the participants had heart disease at the outset, and two thirds had normal blood pressure. They were followed for an average of 8 years, during which researchers determined how many of them were diagnosed with heart disease, and in a smaller group, how many got high blood pressure. People who ate lots of salt were not more likely to get high blood pressure, and were less likely to die of heart disease than those with a low salt intake. JAMA, online May 3, 2011.
Grape tomato products recalled for salmonella: Products using the recalled tomatoes were sold in Albertsons, Raley's, Safeway, Savemart, Sam's Club and Walmart stores in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah, according to a statement from the Food and Drug Administration. FDA
Fish Oil May Not Prevent Depression in Women: A ten year study of 55,000 nurses , women, between 50 and 77 years old, were free of depression when the study began in 1996. Over the next decade, five percent of them eventually developed clinical depression. But the risk was the same regardless of how much DHA and EPA -- two omega-3 fatty acids -- women got from eating fish. Fish rich in omega-3s include salmon, trout, sardines and herring. The researchers did find preliminary signs that a plant-based omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid could play a role in mood. For every increase of half a gram in daily intake of the substance --common in walnuts and canola oil, for instance -- there was an 18-percent reduction in the risk of depression. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2011
Socializing May Keep Elderly Minds Sharp: Being sociable can help keep your brain healthy as you age, researchers report. The team at Rush University Medical Center found that elderly people with the highest levels of social activity -- doing things such as visiting friends, going to parties or attending church -- showed much lower levels of cognitive decline than those who were the least socially active. The study included 1,138 adults, average age 80, who are participants in the ongoing Rush Memory and Aging Project. At the start of the study, none of the participants had any signs of cognitive impairment. Over an average of five years, those who were the most socially active experienced only one-fourth the rate of cognitive decline as those with the lowest levels of social activity. The effect was independent of other factors that can play a role in cognitive decline, such as age, physical activity and general health. April 8 in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.
Hot flashes may last a decade or more: Hot flashes that are common during and after menopause may last an average of more than 10 years, suggests a new study. Women who start getting hot flashes before menopause or in the early stages of menopause will have them for longer, on average, than women who don't have their first hot flashes until later. Obstetrics & Gynecology, May 2011
Group Checkups: Shared checkups aim to help patients who are battling certain chronic diseases, and they're far from the typical 15-minute office visit. They're stretched over 90 minutes or even two hours, offering more time to quiz the doctor about concerns, learn about managing the disease — and get tips from fellow patients. What's in it for the doctor? A neurologist found he learned more about how his Parkinson's patients were faring by watching them interact with others than when he had them one-on-one. It's a small but slowly growing trend that promises to get more attention with the tight supply of primary care physicians, who find it hard to squeeze in time to teach their patients how to deal with complex chronic illnesses like diabetes. An American Academy of Family Physicians survey found more doctors trying the group approach — about 10 percent of its active members in 2009, up from fewer than 6 percent in 2005. Group appointments don't replace the patient's annual in-depth physical. Associated Press
Online Gaming with Real-World Friends is Healthier: Contrary to what some might think, spending hours online playing video games and interacting with others through avatars may contribute to emotional health, if virtual gaming partners or opponents include real-world family members, findings from a new data analysis suggest. Communication Research
Supplements don’t prevent Prostate Cancer: Canadian researchers found that vitamin E, selenium and soy, taken daily for three years, provided no benefit to men who were at a higher risk of developing the disease. The findings come three years after a larger study of men, who were at no increased risk of prostate cancer, also found no benefit of selenium or vitamin E supplementation. Journal of Clinical Oncology, online May 2, 2011
Study Adds Weight to Link Between Calcium Supplements and Heart Problems: New research published online in the British Medical Journal adds to mounting evidence that calcium supplements increase the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly heart attacks, in older women. The findings suggest that their use in managing osteoporosis should be re-assessed. Calcium supplements are often prescribed to older (postmenopausal) women to maintain bone health. Sometimes they are combined with vitamin D, but it's still unclear whether taking calcium supplements, with or without vitamin D, can affect the heart. BMJ 2011; 342 (April 19 1)
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