Med is best: Five diets linked to lower cognitive decline in older Singaporean Chinese
Researchers in Singapore have found five healthy dietary patterns consumed in midlife are associated to a lower risk of cognitive impairment in late life in Chinese adults.
The five diets are the alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED), DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), AHEI-2010 (alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010), PDI (plant-based diet index), and hPDI (healthful plant-based diet index).
Although all five diets were linked with cognitive benefits, aMed came out on top.
Tocotrienol-rich vitamin E improves diabetic patients’ renal functions nine months post washout: Malaysia RCT
Intake of tocotrienol-rich vitamin E for 12 weeks can improve the renal function of diabetic patients with damaged kidney, and the results persist even nine months after the washout period, a randomised-controlled trial in Malaysia has shown.
It found that diabetic patients who previously took tocotrienol-rich vitamin E six to nine months earlier had a lower amount of serum creatinine – signifying better kidney function in removing bodily waste as compared to the placebo group.
For the intervention group, their serum creatinine remained relatively stable, fluctuating by only 0.82 ± 8.33 μmol/l six to nine months post washout, while that of the placebo group fluctuated by 11.3 ± 15.5 μmol/l.
Low levels of dietary selenium intake linked to higher prevalence of osteoporosis – China study
A study on the elderly Chinese population found a link between low dietary intake of selenium and a higher prevalence of osteoporosis.
Conducted by researchers from Central South University in Hunan China and University of Nottingham in UK, findings of the cross-sectional study were published in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders last month.
This is said to be the first study that analyses the direct link between dietary selenium intake and osteoporosis.
'Naturally good': Natural astaxanthin top form for functionality and antioxidant activity – Review
Natural astaxanthin from algae has been “undisputedly demonstrated” to be the most effective form of the ingredient for a variety of health benefits, according to a new review.
The literature review, published in the journal Functional Foods in Health and Disease, sought to assess head-to-head studies comparing astaxanthin from three different sources in animals and in-vitro.
They were:
- Natural astaxanthin (NAT-AX) that is found in Haematococcus pluvialis, a ubiquitous uni-cellular microalgae, which grows in fresh water throughout the world. When these algae undergo environmental stress, they hyperaccumulate NAT-AX as a survival mechanism.
Consumption of chilli pepper may increase physical activity and reduce fat in older adults – Japan study
Capsinoids from non-pungent chilli peppers have been reported to increase physical activity (PA), reduce body fat mass, and promote metabolism in older Japanese adults.
According to a study conducted in Japan, researchers said this effect was more pronounced in participants with sedentary lifestyles.
The study was published in the journal, Nutrients.