Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 90% of the Benefit of Vitamin D for Reducing Death From Cancer is Due to Direct Action on the Cancer. The Other 10% is Due to Prevention of Comorbidities Like Depression and Obesity

• Drastically Cutting Back on Caloric Intake to Lose Weight Ahead of Competition is Commonplace Among Athletes. However, This Type of 'Dieting' Doesn’t Just Diminish Performances, It Can Also Compromise Their Immune Systems, Finds the New Study of Female Athletes

• Findings Reveal That While ADHD and ASD Share Some Brain Activity Patterns, the Unique Differences in Brain Function for Each Disorder Are Much More Significant | This Should Be Considered Distinct Conditions, as Their Brain Activity Patterns Are More Different Than Similar

• Western Diets Pose a Greater Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Colorectal Cancer, While Mediterranean Diet is Effective in Managing Conditions Such as Cardiovascular Disease, IBD, and Type 2 Diabetes

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

90% of the Benefit of Vitamin D for Reducing Death From Cancer is Due to Direct Action on the Cancer. The Other 10% is Due to Prevention of Comorbidities Like Depression and Obesity

A recent study by the University of California looked at 1,549 people with colon cancer from 2012 to 2019. The researchers found that vitamin D has a big role in helping patients survive cancer.

Most of vitamin D's power (90%) comes from its direct fight against cancer. It slows down the cancer's growth. The other 10% helps with other health problems that can come with cancer, like depression and obesity.

Depression and obesity are common in people with colon cancer and can make their overall health worse. The study showed that vitamin D helps lessen these problems, which indirectly helps patients live longer.

For people dealing with colon cancer, these findings are very hopeful. Making sure to have enough vitamin D could be an important part of their cancer treatment plan. It helps directly by fighting the cancer and also by making other health problems better.

Patients should always talk to their doctors about how much vitamin D they need. It's important because every person's health needs are different.

This research points out how valuable vitamin D could be for cancer patients and suggests that more studies should be done on how it can be used to improve their chances of getting better.

Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

WEIGHT LOSS

Drastically Cutting Back on Caloric Intake to Lose Weight Ahead of Competition is Commonplace Among Athletes. However, This Type of 'Dieting' Doesn’t Just Diminish Performances, It Can Also Compromise Their Immune Systems, Finds the New Study of Female Athletes

A recent study at the University of Copenhagen found that athletes who drastically cut calories to lose weight for competitions are hurting their performance and health, especially women. This practice is common in sports like swimming, cycling, and rowing.

Professor Ylva Hellsten explained, "Many female athletes try to lose a lot of weight quickly, thinking it will help them perform better. But, it actually makes things worse."

The study looked at twelve female triathletes. It compared their performances when they ate a normal amount of food to when they ate much less. When the athletes ate less for two weeks while training hard, their performance dropped significantly—by up to 18% in intense tests. Three days of good food did not help their performance. It showed that the harm of not eating enough is hard to fix quickly.

The researchers also found that not eating enough can weaken the athletes' immune systems. This makes them more likely to get sick because their bodies are under a lot of stress.

Men might handle cutting calories a bit better than women. But, the drop in estrogen levels makes it worse for women. The study aims to change views on sports dieting. It will show that being lighter isn't always better. This is important for coaches and athletes to understand, so they don't risk their health just to weigh less.

Source: science.ku.dk

HEALTH

Findings Reveal That While ADHD and ASD Share Some Brain Activity Patterns, the Unique Differences in Brain Function for Each Disorder Are Much More Significant | This Should Be Considered Distinct Conditions, as Their Brain Activity Patterns Are More Different Than Similar

ADHD and ASD are common brain conditions. But, they are quite different. A new study looked at brain scans from over 3,000 people with ADHD and 2,600 with ASD to understand these differences better.

This research used a method called a meta-analysis. It combines the results of many studies to make findings stronger and clearer. The scientists looked at 243 brain scan studies and found some similar brain activity patterns in people with ADHD and ASD. However, the differences were more significant.

For example, certain parts of the brain that handle social interactions and emotions were more active in people with ASD. On the other hand, areas that manage attention and the ability to control actions were different in those with ADHD.

This study shows that ADHD and ASD, while similar, are different. Their brain activities support this. They should be treated as separate conditions. Knowing these differences helps doctors and scientists to improve treatments for each disorder.

Future research should include people with both conditions doing the same tasks during brain scans. This could give even clearer information on how the brains of people with ADHD and ASD work differently. This is key to developing effective treatments for these conditions.

Source: psypost.org

Western Diets Pose a Greater Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Colorectal Cancer, While Mediterranean Diet is Effective in Managing Conditions Such as Cardiovascular Disease, IBD, and Type 2 Diabetes

Recent research from APC Microbiome Ireland at University College Cork shows that Western diets, which are high in fats and sugars, can increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer. The Mediterranean diet, high in fruits and vegetables, can help. It can manage heart disease, IBD, and type 2 diabetes.

A study in Nature Reviews Microbiology looked at six diets. It tested their effects on our gut microbiome, the tiny organisms in our intestines.

Professor Catherine Stanton, who led the research, explained that our diet affects the health and balance of our gut microbiome. A healthy microbiome helps produce important molecules during metabolism. One is short-chain fatty acids, which are good for us.

The findings are vital for the food industry and healthcare. They can help improve diet recommendations and create diets to boost public health.

Professor Paul Ross, co-director of UCC Futures Microbiome and Health, said this study is a big step. It helps us understand how our diet affects gut health and how this can be used in medicine. The study highlights the need for a healthy diet. It calls for more research to understand these complex links.

This review urges a better understanding of how diets affect health. It aims to create personalized nutrition plans for all.

Source: teagasc.ie

✢ 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.