CAM

High serum omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content protects against brain abnormalities
According to a new study, high long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content in blood may lower the risk of small brain infarcts and other brain abnormalities in the elderly. The study was published in Journal of the American Heart Association. MedicalXpress

Cinnamon may help ease common cause of infertility, study says
A small study by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center in New York City found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome who took inexpensive daily cinnamon supplements experienced nearly twice the menstrual cycles over a six-month period as women with the syndrome given an inactive placebo. Two of the women in the treated group reported spontaneous pregnancies during the trial. MedicalXpress

Diet, Genes, and Microbes: Complexities of Colon Cancer Prevention
Recently a central role for the microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract in colon cancer development is being probed, and it is hypothesized that the microbes may integrate diet and host genetics in the etiology of the disease. This review provides background on dietary, genetic, and microbial impacts on colon cancer and describes an ongoing project using rodent models to assess the ability of digestion-resistant starch in the integration of these factors with the goal of furthering colon cancer prevention. Birt DF, Phillips GJ. Toxicol Pathol. 2013 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24129759

The Association Between Dietary Flavonoid and Lignan Intakes and Incident Type 2 Diabetes in European Populations: The EPIC-InterAct Study
Prospective findings in this large European cohort demonstrate inverse associations between flavonoids, particularly flavanols and flavonols, and incident type 2 diabetes. This suggests a potential protective role of eating a diet rich in flavonoids, a dietary pattern based on plant-based foods, in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Zamora-Ros R et al. Diabetes Care. 2013 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24130345

Effects of an isocaloric healthy Nordic diet on ambulatory blood pressure in metabolic syndrome: a randomized SYSDIET sub-study
Consumption of Nordic varieties of health-enhancing foods for 12 weeks decreased diastolic ambulatory BP and mean arterial pressure in subjects with features of MetS during weight-stable condition, suggesting beneficial effects of a healthy Nordic dietary pattern on ambulatory BP. Brader L, Uusitupa M, Dragsted LO, Hermansen K. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Oct 16. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24129358