Fasting may have a future role in treating diabetes

24th February 2017

US researchers have found that the pancreas may be triggered to regenerate via fasting, which reversed diabetes symptoms in mice. As reported by BBC News,  and published in the journal Cell, scientists from the University of Southern California put mice on a fasting diet.  This is comparable to a specialised human diet of 800 to 1,100 ...

Benefits of multivitamins questioned by Australian Medical Association

17th February 2017

There is a lack of evidence for the benefits of multivitamins except for people with specific deficiencies, according to the President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA). As reported by the Guardian, AMA President Michael Gannon said that while multivitamins may help people with specific nutrient deficiencies or need, in most cases this leads simply to ...

Light therapy promises big change for early treatment of prostate cancer

10th February 2017

Almost half of patients involved in a clinical trial went into complete remission following new treatment for localised prostate cancer called vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP). As reported by Medical News Today, the clinical trial was run by Professor Mark Emberton at University College London and colleagues, and published in The Lancet Oncology.  413 men with early ...

Over half a million people susceptible to heart disease due to faulty genes

3rd February 2017

The British Heart Foundation has outlined that around 620,000 people in the UK have a faulty gene which increases their risk of heart disease. Coronary heart disease has a range of well-established causes (see our information).  However, increased research into genetic susceptibility to developing heart conditions has identified faulty genes that can have a significant impact, ...

Longer life link with spicy food

27th January 2017

A University of Vermont study suggests capsaicin found in chilli peppers may help promote longevity. As featured in the Telegraph, data from 16,000 US men over a period of 19 years were included in the study.  Over that time, 34% of the men died, but when cross-referenced for chilli pepper consumption, the percentage fell to only ...

Huge step forward in prostate cancer testing

20th January 2017

The use of multi-parametric MRI to detect prostate cancer has shown to detect more cancers and reduce the need for unnecessary biopsies. As reported by BBC News and published in the Lancet, a trial of 576 men was shown to dramatically increase the accuracy of cancer detection.  Currently, testing for prostate cancer can involve a blood ...

Brain’s reaction to stress key link to greater risk of heart attack

13th January 2017

US researchers have linked heightened activity in a person’s brain to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. As reported by BBC News, the study focused on almost 300 people and was led by researchers at Harvard Medical School.  A link between stress and a greater risk of cardiovascular disease has long been known, but the way ...

Dementia may be associated with traffic pollution

6th January 2017

Up to 11% of dementia cases in people living close to a major road may be related to traffic. As reported by BBC News, a Canadian study conducted by the University of Ontario followed nearly 2m people between 2001 and 2012.  The study found a correlation between the number of dementia cases and living close to ...

87% of middle-aged men are overweight, drink too much or exercise too little

30th December 2016

A new survey by Public Health England (PHE) shows that around 8 out of 10 people aged 40-60 in England are risking their health by drinking too much, exercising too little, or weighing too much. As reported by BBC News and the Guardian, men are slightly more likely than women – 87% to 79% – to ...

‘Transformative’ treatment for early stage prostate cancer announced

22nd December 2016

A new surgical approach has shown significant results in eliminating prostate tumours, as reported by BBC News. A pan-European trial involving 47 hospitals showed almost half of the 413 men treated had no cancer remaining following the treatment.  The technique involves use of a drug made from deep-sea bacteria, which become toxic when exposed to light. ...