Research Archive

Probiotics improve eczema in kids

Eczema is a form of allergic dermatitis that causes the skin — usually on the face, elbows and back of knees — to thicken and become inflamed, scaly and itchy. This reaction may be due to synthetic materials, scented perfumes or soaps. Atopic dermatitis is a...

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...

Menopause Memory Trial: Herbs to be put to the test

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are investigating whether hormone therapy and two herbal products can lessen memory and other cognitive problems experienced by menopausal women. "Decline in mental skills and difficulty remembering things, finding...

Memory Test: Ginkgo trial will look at benefit for early dementia

UK Researchers at the Imperial College London and St Mary's Hospital are set to explore the effectiveness of gingko as a treatment for early dementia. The study of 250 patients aged over 55 will seek to find out whether GPs can help patients by prescribing the...

Making Cancer Treatment Better: Vitamin E found to reduce mouth sores

Most patients who undergo radiation therapy for head and neck cancers suffer from painful mucositis (mouth sores) which may lead to interruptions in radiation therapy and reduced tumour control. In a recent study, scientists looked at the effect of vitamin E on...

Lycopene: Antioxidant linked to lower heart disease in women

According to a study in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women with the highest plasma levels of the antioxidant lycopene had a 34% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared to women with lower plasma levels of the nutrient. The study...

Long Flight? Pycnogenol found to reduce deep vein thrombosis

Pycnogenol, a patented extract of French maritime pine bark, appears to protect against deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and conditions associated with long-haul flights, say researchers. DVT is caused by a blood clot that partially or completely blocks blood flow in a...