07/24/24 - #180

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • 'Get It From Your Food': Doctor Warns About Daily Multivitamin Use

  • Obesity and Overweight Are Significantly Associated With Men Semen Quality Reductions

  • American Diets Briefly Became Healthier and More Diverse During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Persistently Unhealthy Sleep, Either Not Enough or Too Much, is Associated With a Significantly Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in a Racially and Economically Diverse Adult Population, an International Team of Researchers Has Reported

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

'Get It From Your Food': Doctor Warns About Daily Multivitamin Use

Taking a daily multivitamin might not help you live longer. A big study looked at nearly 400,000 people for over 20 years and found that vitamins didn’t lower the risk of dying. The findings were published in a medical journal called JAMA Network Open.

Dr. Tom Pitts, a brain doctor, talked about the study on NewsNation's "Morning in America." He said that taking vitamins every day doesn't make you live longer and might even be bad for your health. Dr. Pitts explained that if you eat well, you don’t need extra vitamins. Taking too many can cause problems. For example, too much Vitamin E can be harmful, and too much Vitamin B6 can cause nerve pain.

Dr. Pitts also mentioned that sometimes you need extra vitamins, like Vitamin D, which is hard to get from food alone. But mostly, he believes you should get your vitamins from what you eat.

He noted that vitamins are important if you have a health condition that needs them. For example, older women who need more calcium should take supplements.

Dr. Pitts advises, “Get your vitamins from food. Taking extra supplements might shorten your life.” But remember, if you have a specific vitamin shortage, supplements can help as a medical treatment.

WEIGHT LOSS

Obesity and Overweight Are Significantly Associated With Men Semen Quality Reductions

Recent research shows a strong link. It's between being overweight or obese and lower semen quality in men. A study reported in the International Journal of Obesity in 2024 examined data from over 71,000 men. It found that men with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or more have poorer semen quality compared to men with a normal BMI.

Obese men, with a BMI of 30 or higher, experienced a decrease of 0.24 ml in semen volume and a drop in sperm count by nearly 20 million. These men also had sperm that moved less effectively and fewer normal-shaped sperm. Overweight men also saw some declines, but these were not as severe as in obese men.

The study highlighted that the heavier a man is, the worse his semen quality becomes. Men with class II or III obesity, which means a BMI over 35, showed the biggest reductions in semen quality.

The findings stress the importance of keeping a healthy weight for overall health and reproductive health. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial, especially for men who want to start or add to their family. This research adds to the evidence that lifestyle choices, like managing weight, are key to male fertility. Men looking to improve their reproductive health should consider their weight. It's as important as other health factors.

HEALTH

American Diets Briefly Became Healthier and More Diverse During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and schools were closed. Americans started eating healthier and trying new foods at home. A study from Penn State looked at what 41,000 households across the U.S. were buying from stores. They found that people were eating better. Their diets improved by about 8.5%. They were choosing a wider variety of foods, which increased by about 2.6%.

The study shows that when people couldn't eat out, they made different choices at home. They used more types of ingredients and picked healthier options. This change helps us understand how American eating habits might shift if eating out were less common.

Edward Jaenicke, a professor and study co-author, mentioned that these improvements could happen again if people choose to eat out less in the future. This could lead to better health for everyone.

However, these healthier habits didn't last long. As places began to open again, old eating patterns returned. The study gives us a peek into how big changes in our daily life, like the pandemic, can temporarily change the way we eat. This information could help make policies that encourage healthier and more varied diets in the future.

This brief look into pandemic eating habits shows that with fewer options to eat out, people can and do make healthier choices.

Persistently Unhealthy Sleep, Either Not Enough or Too Much, is Associated With a Significantly Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in a Racially and Economically Diverse Adult Population, an International Team of Researchers Has Reported

Recent research shows a clear link between poor sleep and a higher chance of getting Type 2 diabetes. The study involved a large group of adults. They were from different races and economic backgrounds in the southeastern United States. It was published on June 27 in the journal Diabetologia.

The team included Dr. Kelsie Full from Vanderbilt University, Dr. Qian Xiao from the University of Texas, Dr. Loren Lipworth, and Dr. Martin Rutter from the UK. They studied the sleep habits of about 36,000 people. They focused on those who are often not well-represented in research: low-income and Black individuals.

They found that people who regularly sleep less than seven hours or more than nine hours a night are more likely to develop diabetes. This risk is especially high for those whose sleep amount changes a lot. The study also suggests that poor sleep could signal other problems. These problems raise diabetes risk. They include ongoing stress or unhealthy environments.

The researchers highlight the need for regular sleep to prevent diabetes. This is especially true for people at higher risk due to their race or finances. They call for more studies. These studies would help understand how stress affects sleep. And how better sleep might help reduce health problems in these communities.

This research shows that keeping a steady sleep schedule could be a key way to lower the risk of diabetes. This is especially true for people in disadvantaged groups.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.