Reducing refined carbohydrates may help maintain weight loss better

Study challenges the notion that a calorie is just a calorie — Reducing refined carbohydrates may help maintain weight loss better than reducing fat – Diets that reduce the surge in blood sugar after a meal–either low-glycemic index or very-low carbohydrate?may be preferable to a low-fat diet for those trying to achieve lasting weight loss. low-glycemic index diet had similar metabolic benefits to the very low-carb diet without negative effects of stress and inflammation as seen by participants consuming the very low-carb diet.

Safety changes in labeling for cholesterol lowering drugs statins

FDA Announces Safety Changes in Labeling for Some Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs – Important safety changes to the labeling for some widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins are being announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products, when used with diet and exercise, help to lower a person’s “bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol).

People with early Alzheimer’s disease may have lower BMI

People with early Alzheimer’s disease may be more likely to have lower BMI – People in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI). A new study examined 506 people with advanced brain imaging techniques and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid to look for biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, which can be present years before the first symptoms begin.

Overweight or obese kids at greater risk of high blood pressure

Overweight or obese kids at almost 3 times greater risk of high blood pressure — Increased fat in children raises their blood pressure risk – American Heart Association – Overweight or obese children are at three times greater risk for high blood pressure than children of normal weight, according to researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine.

Alarm clock gene responsible for wake up every morning

‘Alarm clock’ gene explains wake-up function of biological clock — Finding promising insight into sleeplessness, aging and chronic illness, such as diabetes and cancer – Ever wondered why you wake up in the morning – even when the alarm clock isn’t making jarring noises? Wonder no more. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified a new component of the biological clock, a gene responsible for starting the clock from its restful state every morning.

29 new genetic variants linked to multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis research doubles number of genes associated with the disease — Critical insight provided into the disease mechanisms behind multiple sclerosis – Scientists have identified 29 new genetic variants linked to multiple sclerosis, providing key insights into the biology of a very debilitating neurological disease. Many of the genes implicated in the study are relevant to the immune system, shedding light onto the immunological pathways that underlie the development of multiple sclerosis.

Increasing muscle mass may lower diabetes risk

Increased muscle mass may lower risk of pre-diabetes — Study shows building muscle can lower person’s risk of insulin resistance – The greater an individual’s total muscle mass, the lower the person’s risk of having insulin resistance, the major precursor of type 2 diabetes, revealed by researchers in a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

Lower calorie foods purchased in restaurants contain more calories than listed

Nutrition researchers examine restaurants’ calorie counts — New study suggests lower calorie foods purchased in restaurants contain more calories than listed – Disclosing the calories in restaurant foods to customers holds promise as a strategy to lower the nation’s obesity rate. However, a new study of food items from national chain restaurants found that while stated calories on restaurant menus and websites were accurate on average, 19% of individual samples differed from laboratory measurements by more than 100 calories and lower calorie foods tended to contain more than listed.

Daily intake of Red wine resveratrol good for people with sedentary lifestyles

Red wine: Exercise in a bottle? — New research in the FASEB Journal suggests that a daily intake of resveratrol prevents the ill effects of simulated weightlessness on muscle and bone metabolism – Resveratrol may be able to prevent the deleterious consequences of sedentary behaviors in humans. Researchers revealed that a daily intake of resveratrol prevents the ill effects of simulated weightlessness on muscle and bone metabolism.

New safety recommendations for high dose 80 mg simvastatin

FDA announces new safety recommendations for high-dose simvastatin — Increased risk of muscle injury cited – Patients taking simvastatin 80 mg daily had an increased risk of muscle injury. The risk of muscle injury is highest during the first year of treatment with the 80 mg dose of simvastatin, and is frequently associated with a genetic predisposition for simvastatin-related muscle injury or myopathy.