9th July 2010 - Mainstream media reports on EFSA & Health Food Claims.
BBC news this week wrote an article entitled 'EU health food claims law begins to bite', explaining the ongoing process with European regulations demanding that all health foods have a wealth of scientific evidence backing up any health claims. The article was fairly balanced, pointing out the fact that British health food products which endure and survive the whole process can be celebrated and well-trusted afterwards. However other views are also expressed, such as that of Jenny Baille from Power Health, who pointed out some of the disadvantages; "People will probably start buying in from unregulated countries especially via the internet and we could well end up with customers less protected than they were right at the start of this process."
18th June 2010 - Probiotics may help Weight Loss.
A new Japanese study assigned fermented milk with or without a Lactobacillus probiotic to 87 overweight people, for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of this double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, the probiotic group showed a 4.6% decrease in abdominal fat, A 1.4% decrease in body weight, and a 1.5% decrease in BMI. Other preliminary studies have suggested a link between probiotics and weight loss; this is a fascinating new area of research for microbiologists.
Source: Kadooka, Y. et al; 'Regulation of abdominal adiposity by probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055) in adults with obese tendencies in a randmomized controlled trial.' European Journal of Clinical Nutrition., June 2010, Vol. 64, No. 6, Pp. 636-643.
16 April 2010 - Effects of prebiotic inulin on metabolic rate
A double blind cross-over study enrolled 22 healthy young male volunteers to consume either inulin-enriched or control pasta for a certain period time. The prebiotic-enriched pasta was found to improve lipidic and glicidic metabolism, as well as insulin resistance in healthy young subjects.
Source: Russo et al, Metabolic effects of a diet with inulin-enriched pasta in healthy young volunteers. Curr Pharm Des. 2010;16(7):825-31
13 April 2010 - Why are allergies increasing?
Asthma, hayfever, eczema and hives are all becoming more prevalent in developed countries. Today, 30% of the Western population suffer from allergies, compared to just 10% in 1980. Dr Guy Delespesse, a professor at the University of Montreal, says this phenomenon is down to excessive hygiene. Dr Delespesse explains that bacteria in the digestive system are key to good digestion, and also serve to 'educate the immune system.' - This process is key in the development of a child's immunity. Although our preoccupations with hygiene do protect individuals from pathogens, it also limits our exposure to beneficial microorganisms, or probiotics. Hence the microflora is not as rich and diversified as it used to be. Dr Delespesse on probiotics; 'Consuming probiotics during pregnancy could help reduce allergies in the child... They are not a miracle remedy, yet they are one of many elements that improve our diet and our health."
Source: University of Montreal News
31 March 2010 - Benefits of probiotics in allergic disorders?
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria are more commonly found in the intestinal microflora of nonallergenic children. Research is still growing in the domain of probiotics and allergies, yet the current evidence looks promising. Which probiotic strains and what dosages are factors which remain to be determined.
Source: Ozdemir O, Any benefits of probiotics in allergic disorders? Allergy Asthma Proc. 2010 Mar'31(2):103-11
20 January 2010 - An apple a day keeps the doctor away!
