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- Ketogenic diet, by replacing glucose with ketones as an energy source, lessens alcohol cravings among people with alcohol use disorders.
- Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease-related death by up to 23 percent, especially in people with high triglyceride levels.
- Women see a 24 percent drop in premature death risk with just 140 minutes of weekly activity – half the time men need for similar benefits.
- Aging undermines the brain's capacity for maintaining working memory, with subtle declines in neuron activity and connectivity in the prefrontal cortex.
Nearly half a million women in the US die from cardiovascular disease every year, making early identification of those at risk crucial. Traditional identification methods, which focus on age, blood pressure, smoking status, cholesterol levels, and family history, address short-term risks, but longer-term predictions may improve outcomes. A recent study found that measuring specific blood markers can predict cardiovascular events over a 30-year period in women.
The study involved nearly 28,000 healthy US women. Researchers measured three key biomarkers: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. Then, they tracked the women’s health for 30 years to observe their first major cardiovascular event, including heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes.
They found that women with the highest levels of hs-CRP were 70% more likely to experience a cardiovascular event than those with the lowest levels. Similarly, those with the highest LDL and Lp(a) levels were 36% and 33% more likely, respectively, to have a heart attack or stroke. Each biomarker contributed independently to overall cardiovascular risk, with the strongest predictive power coming from a combination of all three markers.
These findings suggest that long-term cardiovascular risk prediction in women can be improved by measuring these biomarkers early in life. This proactive approach could lead to earlier interventions, potentially reducing heart disease risk over several decades.
If drinking a nice, cold soda sounds appealing, you’re not alone. Roughly half of all adults and nearly two-thirds of kids in the US consume at least one soft drink daily—mostly sodas. These drinks typically contain considerable amounts of sugar, raising concerns about their effects on dental and metabolic health. However, a recent study has uncovered a more alarming issue: Microplastic contamination is pervasive in these popular beverages.
Researchers analyzed the microplastic content in a popular soda brand purchased in various US locations: Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC. The sodas were in aluminum, glass, or plastic containers.
They found that the average concentration of microplastic particles in 100 milliliters of soda was 166, with some samples reaching a staggering 482 particles—meaning that a typical 16.9-ounce (~500-milliliter) bottle of soda could contain more than 2,400 microplastic particles. Interestingly, the sodas in glass containers had the highest concentrations of particles. The study investigators speculated that the primary contributors to the sodas' microplastic contamination were local water sources (near the packaging plants).
These findings suggest that microplastic contamination in sodas is ubiquitous and adds to the growing body of evidence about microplastics in food and beverages. Learn more about microplastics in our overview article.
Plastic pollution is a growing environmental concern, with tiny plastic particles infiltrating various ecosystems, including the human body. The gut is crucial in this process, serving as the main gateway for microplastics and nanoplastics to enter the body. A recent study found that human colorectal cancer cells can absorb microplastic particles, raising concerns about their potential effects on health.
Researchers exposed four human colorectal cancer cell lines to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics of various sizes (0.25, 1, and 10 micrometers) and concentrations. They tracked the particles' uptake into cells and monitored their behavior during cell division.
They found that all the cancer cells absorbed micro- and nanoplastics, with the highest uptake observed in HCT116 cells—a type of cells commonly used to study various aspects of tumor biology. Notably, the cells didn’t eliminate the absorbed particles. Instead, they passed them on during cell division, sharing them between the original and new cells. Even short-term exposure to the smallest particles (0.25 micrometers) increased the cells' movement, which could facilitate metastasis.
These findings suggest that micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in cells and pass into progeny cells during cell division. Once inside the cells, they promote cell migration, potentially enhancing the spread of cancer. Some harmful effects of microplastics may be due to compounds commonly used in plastic manufacturing, such as bisphenol A, phthalates, and heavy metals. Learn more about microplastics in our overview article.
