Researchers from Trinity College Dublin and St. James’s Hospital report that human hair can be used to measure vitamin D. This is important, as traditional blood analysis captures only a moment in time, while hair can reflect vitamin D status over several months capturing the large seasonal differences in vitamin D status. Study co-author Dr.…

In this study, researchers analyzed indoor air, indoor dust, and foam from furniture in 190 homes and found that children living in homes where the sofa in the main living area contained flame-retardant called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in its foam had a six-fold higher concentration of PBDEs in their blood. Furthermore, children from homes…

New research indicates that changes in resting heart rate over several years may signal an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes. In this study, researchers monitored the resting heart rate of 12,155 adults six years apart and found that participants who experienced a ten beat increase in resting heart rate had a 90% increased risk…

The American Heart Association estimates that the average American has about a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure in his/her lifetime. However, one can reduce their hypertension risk by not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and managing stress. Circulation, January 2019

Past studies have shown that kids who are overweight have an elevated risk for obesity in adulthood. In this study, researchers analyzed data concerning 502 three-year-old children and identified the following risk factors for obesity in early childhood: obesity in mother pre-pregnancy; high birth weight; formula feeding during the first year of life, high frequency…

According to a new study, women with poor vitamin D status during their second trimester may have up to a 74% increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus. Gynecological Endocrinology, January 2019

An analysis of data from eleven studies that involved over 7,000 colorectal cancer patients identified an association between higher vitamin D serum levels and a better prognosis. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, December 2018

According to a review of data concerning more than 25,000 women, there’s an association between persistent vasomotor symptoms (which includes symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats) lasting ten or more years and an elevated risk for breast cancer. Menopause, December 2018

Telomeres are the molecular structures found on the ends of chromosomes that help keep them from deteriorating or sticking to neighboring chromosomes. In recent years, researchers have identified an association between reduced telomere length and many age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. A new study that included nearly 1,000 Brazilian adults…

Though more research is necessary to understand the underling mechanisms at play, a five-year study has found that individuals living in neighborhoods with more green space appear to be less affected by stress, which may reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American Heart Association, December 2018