Healthy Aging
Aug, 2016
Association of Dietary Fats and Total and Cause-Specific Mortality.
This observational study was based on data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.
The study showed that replacing 5% of calories from saturated fat with an equivalent amount of calories from unsaturated or polyunsaturated fat was associated with a 27% reduction in untimely mortality (death).
July, 2016
Early exclusive breastfeeding is associated with longer telomeres in Latino preschool children.
Telomeres are sequences of DNA at the ends of DNA strands, which protect them from fusing with neighboring strands. They naturally shorten with age, but oxidative stress may accelerate their shortening, possibly contributing to aging.
This observational study in children showed that exclusive breastfeeding at 4–6 weeks of age was associated with a longer telomere length when the children were 4–5 years of age.
This study in older patients showed that a high score on the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was associated with a higher risk of death, a longer hospital stay and lower levels of inflammatory markers.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in joints. Previous observational studies show that low levels of vitamin D are associated with knee osteoarthritis.
This randomized controlled trial showed that supplementing with 800 IU of vitamin D3 daily for 3 years did not slow the progression of osteoarthritis. It also did not reduce pain, stiffness or functional loss, compared to a placebo.
Previous studies have shown that the types of intestinal bacteria in your gut may influence arthritis. For example, some early rheumatic arthritis patients have a gut microbiota dominated by Prevotella copri.
In this study, transplanting fecal bacteria from arthritic humans into mice increased inflammation and arthritis severity, compared to bacteria from healthy humans.
Psoriasis is characterized by patches of red and scaly skin. Previous randomized controlled trials have shown that weight loss may reduce the severity of psoriasis.
This observational follow-up study suggests that long-term weight loss has sustained benefits for psoriasis.
Sugary beverage and food consumption, and leukocyte telomere length maintenance in pregnant women.
Telomeres are sequences of DNA at the ends of DNA strands that protect them from fusing with neighboring strands. They naturally shorten with age, but oxidative stress may accelerate this, possibly contributing to aging.
This observational study in overweight and obese pregnant women showed that drinking less sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with increased telomere length in white blood cells. This didn’t apply to other sugary foods.
Calorie restriction increases longevity in many animals and reduces disease risk. This 2-year, randomized controlled trial tested the health effects of 25% restriction.
Compared to the control, calorie restriction led to greater weight loss and improved general health. It also reduced tension and improved relationships, sexual drive and sleep. It had no negative effects on health-related quality of life.
June, 2016
May, 2016
April, 2016
March, 2016
February, 2016
January, 2016