12/23/24 - #288

Author

Health Horizon. Herald Staff
December 23, 2024

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Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Low Omega-6, Omega-3 Rich Diet, and Fish Oil May Slow Prostate Cancer Growth, UCLA Study Finds: Men on Active Surveillance Who Followed a Low Omega-6, High Omega-3 Diet With Fish Oil Supplements Had Significantly Lower Levels of Cancer Cell Proliferation After One Year

  • Prescription Fills for Weight Loss Drugs Zepbound and Wegovy More Than Doubled in 2024, GoodRx Says

  • Comprehensive Review Finds ADHD Medications Are Effective at Reducing the Symptoms of ADHD in Adults but Don't Improve the Quality of Life

  • Fast Food Consumption is Associated With Depression. Each Additional Fast-food Meal Per Week Was Associated With a 4% Higher Likelihood of Depression. This Association Was Largely Independent of Obesity, Although Obesity Did Mediate the Link, Particularly in Individuals With Severe Obesity

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Low Omega-6, Omega-3 Rich Diet, and Fish Oil May Slow Prostate Cancer Growth, UCLA Study Finds: Men on Active Surveillance Who Followed a Low Omega-6, High Omega-3 Diet With Fish Oil Supplements Had Significantly Lower Levels of Cancer Cell Proliferation After One Year

A UCLA study offers hope for men with early-stage prostate cancer who are watching their cancer closely instead of treating it right away. A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that cutting omega-6 fats and eating more omega-3 fats, plus taking fish oil, can slow cancer cell growth.

The study involved 100 men who were keeping an eye on their prostate cancer. They were divided into two groups: one kept their regular diet, and the other changed to a diet low in omega-6 and high in omega-3, with added fish oil, for a year. Dietitians helped them choose healthier foods.

The results were encouraging. The men who changed their diet saw a 15% drop in a marker that measures cancer cell growth. In men who didn't change their diet, the marker increased by 24%.

Dr. William Aronson, who led the study, said that these diet changes could slow the cancer. They might delay the need for more intense treatments like surgery or radiation.

Although these findings are promising, more research is needed to be sure. The researchers hope to do larger studies. They want to confirm that diet changes can better manage prostate cancer over the long term.

WEIGHT LOSS

Prescription Fills for Weight Loss Drugs Zepbound and Wegovy More Than Doubled in 2024, GoodRx Says

In 2024, many more people used two new weight loss drugs, Zepbound and Wegovy. They are expensive and not fully covered by insurance. This shows how much people want these new treatments.

GoodRx, a company that helps people save money on drugs, found that prescriptions for Zepbound went up by 300% and for Wegovy by over 100%. Zepbound was introduced by Eli Lilly in 2023, and Wegovy was approved by Novo Nordisk in 2021.

These drugs are special because they work like natural hormones in our stomach that help control hunger and blood sugar. But they cost about $1,000 a month if you don’t have insurance, which makes them hard for many to afford.

GoodRx’s data showed that very few people have insurance that covers the full cost of these drugs without restrictions. Many have to pay a lot on their own, with the average person spending over $2,500 a year on Zepbound.

GoodRx also said that Americans could have saved over $200 million by using discounts and savings programs. These can lower the monthly cost by about $250.

The report shows a rising demand for weight loss drugs. It also highlights the high cost of these treatments. This has led to talks on how to make them more accessible.

HEALTH

Comprehensive Review Finds ADHD Medications Are Effective at Reducing the Symptoms of ADHD in Adults but Don't Improve the Quality of Life

A recent study looked into ADHD medicines for adults and found some important information. A big health magazine shared research on ADHD. It tested over 14,000 people to see how well treatments like medicines and brain stimulation worked.

The main results showed that ADHD medicines, especially stimulants and atomoxetine, are good at reducing ADHD symptoms. This was found after 12 weeks of testing. However, these medicines didn't really help improve the overall life quality for adults with ADHD.

The study found fewer people chose to continue using atomoxetine than a placebo. This was likely due to side effects or not feeling better.

The study suggests that just taking medicine might not be enough. Doctors and patients should consider other ways to treat ADHD. These might include talking therapies or non-medicine options. Sometimes, using a mix of different treatments might give better results.

This new information is really helpful for doctors and people with ADHD to think about how to best manage ADHD in adults. It shows that while medicines can help with some things, they don't fix everything, and looking at the whole picture is important. This study will help guide future advice and treatment plans for adults with ADHD.

Fast Food Consumption is Associated With Depression. Each Additional Fast-food Meal Per Week Was Associated With a 4% Higher Likelihood of Depression. This Association Was Largely Independent of Obesity, Although Obesity Did Mediate the Link, Particularly in Individuals With Severe Obesity

A recent study found that eating more fast food can increase your chances of feeling depressed. A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that eating one more fast-food meal each week increases your risk of depression by 4%. This connection remains strong, even when considering obesity. It does have some effect, especially in very overweight people.

Fast food is quick and convenient, including things like burgers, fries, and pizza. It's often cheaper than other meals, but it's also high in bad fats, sugar, and salt, which can lead to weight gain.

The study looked at data from 17,460 people in the NHANES. They found that those who ate more than two fast-food meals a week were 24% more likely to suffer from depression than those who ate less.

Obesity was thought to be a big part of why fast food might affect mood, but the study showed it wasn't the main reason. However, for people with moderate to severe obesity, eating a lot of fast food seemed to make things worse.

These findings are important because they show that what we eat directly affects our mental health. Health experts suggest focusing not just on losing weight but also on eating better. Eating healthier can help improve our moods and keep us feeling good.

✢ 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.