Harvard Health Content API

Following an overall low-fat diet apparently does not raise or lower blood fats linked to the risk of heart disease. That’s the conclusion of researchers based upon a new study of women. But women who ate less saturated fat and trans fat did have a lower rate of heart disease. Researchers used data from the Women’s Health Initiative, large, long-term study. Women in the low-fat group consumed about 29.3% of their calories from fat. For other women, the fat intake was about 37% of total calories. Researchers kept track of them for an average of eight years. The low-fat diet did not affect blood triglycerides, HDL cholesterol or other levels of blood fats. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. HealthDay News wrote about it March 18.

Blood clots in veins near the surface of the legs may be a bigger problem than doctors thought, new research suggests. These clots are known as superficial venous thrombosis (SVT). They are considered less serious than blood clots in deeper veins. But a new study found that SVT may signal other problems as well. The study analyzed data on 844 older adults who had symptoms of SVT in the legs. Researchers found that nearly one-quarter of them also had a blood clot in the deep veins or the lungs. A clot in the lungs is very dangerous. Researchers also looked at how people with only SVT were doing later. Within three months, about 10% had further problems. These included deep vein thrombosis, a new or larger clot in a superficial vein, or a clot in the lungs. The study appeared in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. HealthDay News wrote about it February 16.

A program developed in Maine aims to treat a syndrome that sometimes precedes schizophrenia. The Associated Press wrote about it July 27. The “prodrome” is a group of early symptoms. They sometimes lead to schizophrenia. For other people, they simply go away. People in the prodrome state may see or hear imaginary things. But they know these things are not real. The Portland Identification and Early Referral program (PIER) includes group meetings. People talk about the stresses of living in the prodrome state. Most take antipsychotic medicine. Families also take part in the meetings. One goal is to prevent withdrawal from social life, which can make things worse. Results of the Portland program have not been published. But the approach now is being tried in four other states.

A survey of more than 3,000 people ages 57 to 85 found that nearly half use prescription and over-the-counter drugs together. About four percent of them are at risk for a drug interaction. The study was published in the December 24/31 issue of JAMA.

Eating different high-fiber foods may give people with type 2 diabetes better control of their blood sugar, a study suggests. The 210 people in the study were divided into two groups. One group ate a lot of whole-grain breads and breakfast cereals, as well as brown rice. The other group ate a “low-glycemic” diet. It included beans, peas, lentils, pasta, quickly boiled rice, oatmeal and pumpernickel and rye breads. Both groups also ate fruits and vegetables. After six months, the low-glycemic group had cut hemoglobin A1c levels by 0.5%. A1c is a measurement of blood sugar. The other group had a smaller drop. The study was in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The New York Times wrote about it December 19.

Some children really are addicted to video games, a new study concludes. Researchers used data on 1,200 children and teens taken from a survey. They compared kids’ answers about their game use to criteria for gambling addiction. Researchers decided about 8.5% were addicted to video games. These kids showed at least 6 of 11 signs of addictive behavior. For example, some said they skipped schoolwork to play games or played to “escape” bad feelings. The study appeared in the journal Psychological Science. Reuters Health news service wrote about it May 5.

A new study adds to the evidence that hormone therapy increases the risk of ovarian cancer. The study included 900,000 Danish women. Their ages ranged from 50 to 79. Women who took hormones after menopause had a 38% higher risk of ovarian cancer. But the overall risk of this cancer is low. The researchers said hormone therapy would lead to 1 extra case per year for every 8,300 women. The form of hormones and how long they were used did not affect the risk. Risk returned to normal two to four years after the women stopped use. The study confirms results of earlier research. It was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Reuters Health and HealthDay news services wrote about it July 15.

Arthritis may keep many diabetics from getting exercise, a study finds. Exercise helps to control blood sugar. In a U.S. government survey, about half of diabetics said they also had arthritis. They were less likely to exercise than other diabetics. People over 65 had the highest rate of both diseases. The study was done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Associated Press wrote about it May 9.

Exercise seems to help prevent milder problems with thinking and memory. And it may bring improvements to people who do have the condition, called mild cognitive impairment. These are the findings of two new research studies. The first study included 1,324 people who did not have dementia. This is a serious problem with thought and memory. But 198 people had mild cognitive impairment, which can lead to dementia. This condition was less common among people who said they had done moderate exercise in middle or later life. The second study included 33 people with mild cognitive impairment. They were randomly assigned to an exercise program. People who followed the more intense program for six months showed improvement in their brain function. The studies appeared in the journal Archives of Neurology. HealthDay News wrote about them January 8.

People who drink more alcohol also are more likely to eat poorly, says a study. Adults who drink more alcohol also eat less fruit. They also take in more calories, compared with people who don’t drink. The study also found that men who drink more alcohol eat fewer whole grains and milk products. The study was done by groups at the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was published in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. United Press International (UPI) wrote about it March 29.