Research Archive

Cold sores? Reach for lysine — quick!

At the Southern California University of Health Sciences, researchers found that a topical ointment containing the essential amino acid lysine effectively reduced the duration of cold sores. In previous studies, lysine was shown to decrease the risk of cold sore...

Salsa Secret: Spice identified as strong antibiotic

Researchers have identified a compound in cilantro, a key flavour component of salsa and a variety of other dishes, that kills harmful Salmonella bacteria. It shows promise as a safe, natural food additive that could help prevent foodborne illness, according to a...

Reducing the Risk: Folic acid lowers risk of ovarian cancer

Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that has been shown to play an important role in DNA synthesis and repair. Previous studies have shown that a low intake of folic acid may be associated with an increased risk of breast and colorectal cancer, especially among...

Recipe for Heart Health? Exercise, fish oils supplement a great combo

When fat (lipid) levels rise in the blood for an extended time, a condition called post prandial lipemia, it can cause a temporary risk for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that a session of...

Promise for Prostate Cancer: Mineral found to have protective effect

According to Dutch researchers at the Universiteit Maastricht, the antioxidant mineral selenium appears to have a protective effect against prostate cancer. Selenium is a trace mineral that pays important roles in detoxification and antioxidant defence mechanisms in...

Orange Power: Citrus compound lowers bad cholesterol

A compound found in the peels of citrus fruit has the potential to lower cholesterol more effectively than some prescription drugs, and without side effects, according to a study by US and Canadian researchers. The joint study identified a class of compounds isolated...

Oats and Celiac Disease: Study suggests patients should avoid them

Most patients with celiac disease can eliminate their symptoms, but at a price: lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. This means no wheat, rye, barley, and, until recently, no oats. Then some recent studies suggested that oats did not cause the intestinal...

More Fish for Better Behaviour? Study links low omega-3s and hostility

Researchers report that adolescents who have a higher intake of fish oils tend to be less hostile than those who have a low intake. And since hostility has been shown to predict both the development and manifestation of coronary disease, fish oil may also reduce heart...

Mineral Medicine: Zinc helps kids recover from pneumonia

The addition of zinc to standard antimicrobial treatment may accelerate recovery from pneumonia, say researchers in this week's issue of the Lancet. Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children less than five years old. Zinc is reported to...

Mind Mineral? Iron status as baby may influence mental abilities later

Teens who suffered iron deficiency as infants are likely to score lower on cognitive and motor tests, even if that iron deficiency was identified and treated in infancy, a new University of Michigan study shows. Researcher Betsy Lozoff, who has studied iron deficiency...