News
More zinc may mean less diabetes in women
10 February 2009
Increased intakes of zinc may decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes by 28%, according to a US study.
10 April 2015
A European-wide study by Food4Me project just released as a white paper provides evidence that personalized nutrition advice is more effective to improve dietary behavior compared to conventional over-simplified, population-based advice.
The Food4Me study is led by Prof Mike Gidney and Dr Marianne Walsh of University College Dublin, Ireland. The results of study are compiled and communicated by the European Food Information Council (EUFIC). Participants in the study that received personalized nutrition advice ate significantly healthier diets, increased their B vitamin folate intake and consumed significantly less energy, red meat, salt, and saturated fat than those randomized to the control group; regardless of whether personalization was based on their diet alone, their phenotype or their genotype.
1,500 participants in seven European countries took part in this internet-based study over six months. There were four groups: a control group, a group based on current best dietary advice, a group that in addition took account of medical conditions and a final group that in addition took account of individual genetics make up.
However, the public remains skeptical, so any service provider would need to provide credible clinical/scientific expertise and ensure that any IT system used for storing personal data is very secure and maintains user anonymity and privacy.
The paper provides an estimate that personalized nutrition advice could cost between 40 to 400 euros per person. In this case, a take up of just 10% of the European population would have a potential market value of 6 to 18 billion euros.
10 February 2009
Increased intakes of zinc may decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes by 28%, according to a US study.
1 May 2013
It is believed that around a third of all cancer cases could be attributed to dietary and lifestyle factors. The link between nutrition and cancer risk is very complex, and it is difficult to establish the influence of individual dietary factors. The results of reviews have indicated that cancer-preventive diets above all consist of large quantities of plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains and pulses. With a low energy density, these foods supply the body with plenty of fiber, as well as varying amounts of essential micronutrients such as vitamins, carotenoids, minerals and trace elements, which are thought to potentially influence the specific mechanisms by which cancers develop. Several of these micronutrients are involved in the maintenance of genetic information (Deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA) and may therefore be able to prevent the formation of tumor cells.
3 December 2012
A new UK study suggests that a rare genetic variant causing reduced levels of vitamin D may be directly linked to multiple sclerosis.