Health News

• As if there isn’t enough evidence the current epidemic of Type 2 diabetes is likely to provoke governmental action to reduce it, a new study shows a link between the disease and Alzheimer’s. Doctors have suspected the destruction of the blood vessels that accompanies the onset of diabetes could be a precursor to “vascular dementia” and even Alzheimer’s itself, but new research shows the rise in blood sugar mirrors a drop-off in brain function. The link has enormous social implications since more than 5MM Americans have Alzheimer’s, and cases already are projected to skyrocket in the next two decades as the population ages. Scientists must sort out whether the simultaneous flood diabetes resulting from the increase in obesity will aggravate the problem. While it might sound grizzly to say so, many diabetics will not live to the age when they would develop Alzheimer’s (typically in their 70s) because they are at even greater risk for heart disease, kidney failure and other deadly conditions.

• One medical mystery is why breast cancer rates rise when Asian families immigrate to the West. A new study says that consuming large amounts of soy during childhood (soy contains natural estrogens) may be the reason why Asian women who come to the West as adults have a lower breast cancer rate than those born here, and why the cancer rate rises with succeeding generations. Diet differences have long been suspected as the cause for the greater rates of breast cancer among Asian-Americans than their foreign-born cousins.

• One of the hot new teas with health benefits is yerba mate, originating in South America (where traditionally it is drunk in a gourd). But researchers are concerned its touted anti-oxidant benefits and caffeine “buzz” come with a stiff price: an increased risk of cancer.

• Recent claims that US production facilities of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) are contaminating the product with traces of mercury have been discounted by independent tests ordered by the Corn Refiners Association. Allegations that caustic soda containing traces of mercury used to separate the corn starch from its kernel could pass on the deadly contaminant appear to be groundless at this time. HFCS is under fire for possible links to diabetes and obesity

• Nanotechnology (the use of microscopic containers called ENMs or engineered nano materials) in food packaging and delivery systems has regulators in the EU concerned, especially in light of the huge potential for the industry (various estimates range from €750bn to €2,000bn by 2015). Fears are that ENMs can be inhaled or otherwise interact adversely in humans, though there is also excitement these wafer-thin aluminium containers could deliver targeted nutrients and pharmaceuticals.

• In the rush to switch from ordinary salt to substitutes, dieticians are warning that potassium chloride products may pose a health threat to kidney dialysis patients.

• Booze in the news again: moderate drinking of wine or beer may promote bone density, while drinking hard liquor may have the opposite effect. Stay tuned for new week’s conflicting scientific guidance…

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