Women of childbearing age don't take folic acid
Although all women of childbearing age are recommended to take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to prevent possible birth defects should they become pregnant, findings from two new studies indicate that most eligible women, especially those between 18 and 24 years of age, do not. more...

Soy may thwart belly-fat gain after menopause
A daily serving of soy may help postmenopausal women avoid gaining fat around the middle, preliminary research suggests. more...

Vitamin D may help prevent falls in older women
Vitamin D2 supplements plus calcium may lower the risk of falls among older women who have a high risk of falling, according to a year-long clinical study conducted in Perth, Australia. more...

Antioxidant vitamins may reduce cataract risk
People who eat lots of yellow or dark leafy vegetables, as well as foods rich in vitamin E, may be reducing their risk of developing cataracts, according to new research published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. more...

Multiple micronutrients cut early infant deaths
Maternal supplementation with multiple micronutrients rather than with just iron and folic acid can reduce early infant deaths, particularly in women who are undernourished or anemic, new research shows. more...

Low vitamin E tied to physical decline in elderly
Older adults with low levels of vitamin E are likely to see a steeper deterioration in physical function over a 3-year period than those with higher vitamin E levels, a study shows. more...

High vitamin C level linked to decreased stroke risk
A person's level of vitamin C may predict his or her likelihood of having a stroke, according to a long-term study of some 20,000 middle-aged and older residents of Norfolk, United Kingdom. more...

Folate 1 year before conception cuts early birth risk
Women who take folic acid supplements for at least 1 year before they become pregnant can dramatically reduce their risk of delivering prematurely, according to a new study. more...

Vitamin D deficiency tied to higher blood pressure
Low blood concentrations of vitamin D may be associated with higher blood pressure in whites, indicating a risk of developing hypertension, or high blood that requires medical treatment, researchers report. However, this relationship was not noted among blacks. more...

Folate in 2nd trimester helps prevent preeclampsia
Taking multivitamins that contain folate, also referred to as folic acid, early in the second trimester of pregnancy may help reduce the risk of preeclampsia, the results of a study conducted in Canada indicate. more...

Healthy habits key to longer life for men
Elderly men can improve their chances of having an even longer and healthier life by quitting smoking, controlling their weight, getting their blood pressure and blood glucose under control and exercising regularly, a study shows. more...

Zinc helps with diarrhea in children: study
Treatment with zinc supplements can cut the severity and duration of acute or persistent diarrhea in children, a study shows. Further research, however, is needed to determine exactly how zinc produces its anti-diarrheal effects, the researchers note in the in the February issue of Pediatrics. more...

Probiotics help distance runners stay healthy
Endurance runners' strenuous training can erode their immunity and make them more vulnerable to catching colds, but a daily dose of 'good' bacteria could bring their immune systems back up to speed, Australian researchers have shown. more...

Magnesium intake may cut risk of gallstones
A diet rich in magnesium appears to reduce the risk developing painful gallstones, according to findings from a US study. more...

Broccoli sprouts help block bladder cancer, in rats
An extract from broccoli sprouts can prevent the development of bladder cancer by delivering a high dose of cancer-fighting chemicals to the organ, a new study in rats demonstrates. more...

Breakfast keeps teens lean
Teenagers who regularly eat breakfast tend to weigh less, exercise more and eat a more healthful diet than their breakfast-skipping peers, U.S. researchers said on Monday. more...

Metabolic syndrome: a risk factor for depression?
A cluster of heart disease and diabetes risk factors known as the metabolic syndrome may be a 'predisposing factor for the development of depression,' Finnish researchers report. more...

Feelin' groovy: Even a 10-minute workout can help
Exercising as little as 10 to 30 minutes a day can make overweight or obese older women get more done and feel better about their lives, U.S. researchers said on Thursday. more...

Most heart disease patients not active enough
The majority of Americans with coronary heart disease do not engage in physical activity at recommended levels, study findings suggest. more...

Angina more common in women than men
Although men have higher rates of fatal heart attacks than women, women are about 20 percent more likely than men to suffer from chronic heart-related chest pain -- angina -- a new analysis shows. more...

Higher fiber intake tied to better lung function
Getting an adequate amount of fiber each day may help middle-aged people breathe easier, and appears to benefit non-smokers and smokers alike. more...

Big waist in middle-age tied to dementia risk
People who have a large belly in their 40s may face greater odds of dementia later in life, researchers reported Wednesday. more...

Prenatal omega-3 may aid babies' brain development
Expectant mothers who eat enough omega-3 fats late in pregnancy may give their babies a brain-power boost, a new study suggests. more...

It's never too late to get active, expert says
For life-long couch potatoes in their 60s, 70s and beyond, the prospect of starting an exercise program can be daunting -- but it doesn't have to be, a researcher told the American College of Sports Medicine's 12th annual Health and Fitness Summit in Long Beach, California. more...

Mom's fish intake may boost child's brain power
Preschoolers whose mothers regularly ate low-mercury fish during pregnancy may have sharper minds than their peers, a study suggests. more...

Fitness, body weight impact type 2 diabetes risk
Lower cardiorespiratory fitness and higher body weight are independently associated with the development of type 2 diabetes in women, new research suggests. more...

Micronutrients, education key to ending hunger
Governments could take a big step towards ending world hunger by spending just $1.2 billion a year in developing nations on dietary supplements and education about the food needs of babies, a study showed on Friday. more...

Cardio-metabolic risk can occur at normal BMIs
Patients with a normal body mass index (BMI) can still have a high body fat content, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, a Mayo Clinic team announced here during the American College of Cardiology's 57th Annual Scientific Session. more...

Tai chi shows promise for managing diabetes
The ancient art of tai chi may help in controlling or lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, two small studies suggest. more...

Soy compound linked to lower breast cancer risk
Women with high blood levels of an estrogen-like compound found in soy seem to have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, a new study suggests. more...

Trans-fats linked to breast cancer risk in study
Trans-fats, which are being phased out of food because they clog arteries, may raise the risk of getting breast cancer, European researchers reported on Friday. more...

Diet, exercise changes cut diabetes risk factors
Quite small changes in lifestyle can help reduce abdominal obesity and development of the metabolic syndrome, reports Dr. Pirjo Ilanne-Parikka, of the Finnish Diabetes Association in Tampere. more...

School nutrition policy can prevent obesity
Philadelphia schools that cut out soda, revamped snack selections and took other measures to prevent childhood obesity were able to halve the odds of students becoming overweight by sixth grade, a study has found. more...

Vitamin D found to guard against artery disease
Vitamin D may protect against an artery disease in which fatty deposits restrict blood flow to the limbs, researchers said on Wednesday. more...

Saffron may ease PMS symptoms
Saffron, a spice known for flavoring Mediterranean cuisine, might also offer an antidote to premenstrual syndrome, a small study suggests. more...

Multivitamins are top diet supplement for teens
A new study indicates that multivitamins and vitamin C top the list of dietary supplements used by US adolescents, which is 'reassuring' given the relative lack of health risks associated with them, researchers say. more...

Aerobic exercise may shield aging brain
Keeping the heart fit with aerobic exercise may also boost older adults' brainpower, a research review suggests. more...

Aerobic exercise helps turn back biological clock
Maintaining aerobic fitness through middle age and beyond could delay the aging process by more than a decade and prolong independent living, according to a new review of research on aerobic fitness and dependency in old age. more...

'Low glycemic' diet helpful in diabetic youth
In children and adolescents with type 1, or insulin-dependent, diabetes, consumption of a low glycemic index diet may improve blood sugar control, according to results of a National Institutes of Health-sponsored study. more...

Heart risks of obesity reduced with exercise
Women who are overweight or obese can reduce their risk of heart disease by exercising more, results of a new study indicate. more...

Chinese club moss may help Alzheimer's
An extract from Chinese club moss shows promise as a treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease, researchers report after analyzing combined data from multiple trials conducted in China. more...

Juice may beat fruit for preventing heart disease
Grapes, apples and their juices can prevent the development of atherosclerosis in hamsters eating a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, French researchers have found. more...

Listening to music found to lower blood pressure
Listening to half an hour of music each day may significantly lower your blood pressure, according to research reported at the American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans this week. more...

Vitamin D may lower breast cancer risk
Breast cancer patients with lower levels of vitamin D were far more likely to die and far more likely to have their cancer spread than women with normal levels, Canadian researchers reported on Thursday. more...

Green tea may shield brain from sleep apnea effects
Compounds found in green tea may help ward off the neurological damage that can come with the breathing disorder sleep apnea, a new animal study hints. more...

Workplace programmes can improve health - study
Workplace programmes targeting physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits are effective in mitigating the impact of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, according to a study published on Monday. more...

Chronic diseases top causes of deaths globally: WHO
Chronic conditions such as heart disease and stroke, often associated with a Western lifestyle, have become the chief causes of death globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday. more...

Fruit, veggies may lower head and neck cancer risk
People who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables may have a lower risk of developing cancers of the head and neck. more...

Lifestyle change may keep diabetes at bay
Chinese adults with 'pre-diabetes' who adopted a healthy diet and exercised for 6 years were much less likely to progress to full blown diabetes over the next 14 years as their pre-diabetic counterparts who made no healthy lifestyle changes. more...

Low vitamin D tied to back pain in older women
Older women who aren't getting enough vitamin D appear to be at risk for suffering from back pain, new research shows. more...

Omega-3 may ease depression during pregnancy
For pregnant women diagnosed with major depressive disorder, treatment with omega-3 fatty acid supplements may reduce depressive symptoms, according to the findings of a small clinical trial. more...

Mediterranean diet may also help stop diabetes
A Mediterranean diet rich in fruits and vegetables -- already known to protect against heart disease -- also appears to help ward off diabetes, Spanish researchers said on Friday. more...