6/28/2007 - Overweight males consuming fructose-sweetened drinks have a higher risk of developing fatty deposits in the arteries compared to those drinking products containing glucose, according to a new study.

The findings could put further pressure on the industry to rethink how it formulates its products, particularly as consumers have become increasingly concerned about the effects of additives and ingredients.

 6/19/2007 - Eating a low-carbohydrate diet, like the once fashionable Atkins diet, may adversely affect the numbers of certain types of bacteria in the gut of obese men, Scottish researchers have reported.

The study, published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, again raises concerns about the impact of the prolonged use of very low-carbohydrate weight-loss diets on gut health.

by Kyle Bradley

SAITAMA, Japan—Polyphenols in cocoa powder such as catechins and procyanidins may contribute to a reduction in “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, an elevation in beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and the suppression of oxidized LDL, according to research published in The Journal of Nutrition (137:1436-1441, 2007).

by Kyle Bradley

SAITAMA, Japan—Polyphenols in cocoa powder such as catechins and procyanidins may contribute to a reduction in “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, an elevation in beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and the suppression of oxidized LDL, according to research published in The Journal of Nutrition (137:1436-1441, 2007).

By George Reynolds

6/19/2007 - Food allergies in Australian children have risen 12-fold since 1995 and there is an "urgent need" for further research into the trend, according to a new study.

In recognition of October as Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Celiac Sprue Association invites experts from a broad spectrum of disciplines relating to celiac disease and the required gluten-free diet to share current information. Researchers, healthcare professionals, dietitians, authors, chefs, restaurant owners, and gluten-free food vendors from across the United States participate in this annual educational event.

by Heather Granato

BOSTON—Higher intakes of calcium and vitamin D appear to be related to a lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer, according to researchers from Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School (Arch Intern Med, 167:1050-59, 2007).