Phase two of The International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), a European study, reported in the June issue of Thorax that children who adhered to a Meditteranean diet high in fish, fruits, and vegetables had a lower risk of asthma in childhood.
However, these findings which are consistent with previous studies do not establish a causal relationship between children’s food choices and the risk of having asthma.
The researchers explained that because of the presence of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids in the Mediterranean diet especially in fish, these substances have anti-inflammatory properties that counter-balance the effects of pro-allergic activities of the T-helper cells. Also, the high intake of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, is found to lower the risk of asthma in adults.
References:
Categories: Materia medica, News, Study
Arsenic in water, even at low levels, can increase mortality of any cause as reported by researchers from the University of Chicago Medical Center. They based this finding from a prospective study done in Bangladesh from 2002 to 2009.
Concentrations of more than 10 micrograms were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality. Short-term reductions of the amount after long-term exposures doesn’t seem to alter the risk.
Arsenic (chemical symbol As) is a metal first discovered by Albertus Magnus in 1250 A.D. It is a highly toxic chemical that can even cause skin, lung, bladder cancers; cardiovascular disease; and also lowering immune system function.
The World Health Organization (WHO) gave a maximum acceptable level of 0.01 mg/L of arsenic in drinking water.
Medpage Today: Arsenic in Water Increases Mortality
The Lancet: Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water, and All-Cause and Chronic Disease Mortalities in Bangladesh (HEALS).
Categories: Materia medica, Medical fact, Study
