The organization said yesterday that nanoparticles, tiny compounds believed by some to offer advantages in formulation, especially in health foods, are made by "potentially toxic technology that poses a serious new threat to human health".It claims to be the first organisation in the world to take action against nanotechnology although development of the technology is highly controversial. Most consumers say they do not want nanotechnology to be used in food applications, according to survey results published last month by German risk assessor BfR. In food too, nanotechnology is being seen by many as a key source of innovation. More than 600 nanofood products are already available on the global market, according to recent data from the Helmut Kaiser Consultancy (HKC). Moreover, HKC predicts a change of 40 to 60 per cent in the food industry by 2015 as a result of nanotechnology.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Omega-3 Alzheimer's benefits identified
- Increased intake of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may boost the production of a protein known to destroy the plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, reports a new study.
Cells from mice, rats, and humans were used by the researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to show that the DHA-induced production of the protein LR11 may cut the build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits, reported to result in brain cell damage and the onset of Alzheimer's.
"Because reduced LR11 is known to increase beta-amyloid production and may be a significant genetic cause of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), our results indicate that DHA increases in LR11 levels may play an important role in preventing LOAD," wrote the researchers, led by Greg Cole in the Journal of Neuroscience.
"Because reduced LR11 is known to increase beta-amyloid production and may be a significant genetic cause of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), our results indicate that DHA increases in LR11 levels may play an important role in preventing LOAD," wrote the researchers, led by Greg Cole in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Soy isoflavones linked to easier breathing
Four weeks of supplementation with genistein, an isoflavone from soy, may suppress the inflammatory process and ease breathing and explain previous reports linking the isoflavone to reduced asthma severity, suggests a new pilot study.
The production of inflammatory compounds by white blood cells (eosinophil LTC4) involved in asthma was reduced by 33 per cent, reports the study with 13 asthmatic subjects published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy.
The study adds to a small but growing body of data supporting the role of isoflavones in respiratory health. Indeed, epidemiologic studies have linked high dietary genistein consumption with improved airflow in the lungs of asthmatics.
"[However,] the molecular mechanisms by which consumption of genistein might attenuate asthma and allergy have not been elucidated," stated lead author Ravi Kalhan from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.These findings form the rationale for future clinical investigation of dietary supplementation with soy isoflavones, or novel inhibitors of the pathway we have identified, as a strategy to ameliorate asthma and other eosinophil- or leukotriene-mediated diseases," concluded Kalhan.
Isoflavones from soy have been shown to provide a number of health benefits, including the promotion of heart health and the maintenance of bone health in post-menopausal women.
They have also been studied for their role in cancer prevention and slowing down the ageing process in peri-menopausal women, and have proved to be a popular alternative to HRT for those wishing to control menopause symptoms without resorting to drugs.
The study adds to a small but growing body of data supporting the role of isoflavones in respiratory health. Indeed, epidemiologic studies have linked high dietary genistein consumption with improved airflow in the lungs of asthmatics.
"[However,] the molecular mechanisms by which consumption of genistein might attenuate asthma and allergy have not been elucidated," stated lead author Ravi Kalhan from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.These findings form the rationale for future clinical investigation of dietary supplementation with soy isoflavones, or novel inhibitors of the pathway we have identified, as a strategy to ameliorate asthma and other eosinophil- or leukotriene-mediated diseases," concluded Kalhan.
Isoflavones from soy have been shown to provide a number of health benefits, including the promotion of heart health and the maintenance of bone health in post-menopausal women.
They have also been studied for their role in cancer prevention and slowing down the ageing process in peri-menopausal women, and have proved to be a popular alternative to HRT for those wishing to control menopause symptoms without resorting to drugs.
FDA expected to declare cloned meat and milk safe
"Animal cloning is a new technology with potentially severe risks for food safety. Defects in clones are common, and cloning scientists warn that even small imbalances in clones could lead to hidden food safety problems in clones' milk or meat. There are few studies on the risks of food from clones, and no long-term food safety studies have been done," the group states on its website.
Despite new noises indicating an imminent safety green light, it could be between three and five years before meat and milk from cloned animals reaches the shelves and consumers' mouths, according to the Wall Street Journal. This is because of the costs involved in producing a cloned animal - reported to be between $15,000 and $20,000 per animal.
Results of a consumer survey in July 2007 showed that 50 percent of American consumers have an unfavorable view of cloning, while 28 percent remain neutral. The national survey, commissioned by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), reported that only 22 percent of the 1,000 people interviewed viewed animal cloning in a favorable light.
However, the survey did find that if FDA determined that foods from cloned animals are safe, 46 percent of consumers would view the technology favorably, with 49 percent saying they would likely purchase such products if safety determinations were offered.
Despite new noises indicating an imminent safety green light, it could be between three and five years before meat and milk from cloned animals reaches the shelves and consumers' mouths, according to the Wall Street Journal. This is because of the costs involved in producing a cloned animal - reported to be between $15,000 and $20,000 per animal.
Results of a consumer survey in July 2007 showed that 50 percent of American consumers have an unfavorable view of cloning, while 28 percent remain neutral. The national survey, commissioned by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), reported that only 22 percent of the 1,000 people interviewed viewed animal cloning in a favorable light.
However, the survey did find that if FDA determined that foods from cloned animals are safe, 46 percent of consumers would view the technology favorably, with 49 percent saying they would likely purchase such products if safety determinations were offered.
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