COUGH MEDICINE INGREDIENTS NOT HELPFUL
Two active ingredients in over-the-counter cough medicines for children are no better than non-medicated syrup for nighttime cough. Of the 100 children with upper respiratory infections included in the study, 33 patients received dextromethorphan, 33 received diphenhydramine and 34 received placebo, says a study published in Pediatrics. "Our study showed that the two ingredients used in most over-the-counter medications were no better than a placebo, non-medicated syrup in providing nighttime relief for children with cough and sleep difficulty as a result of upper respiratory infection," says Dr. Ian Paul of Pennsylvania State Children's Hospital.
MILK LOWERS COLORECTAL RISK
Two 8-ounce glasses of milk per day -- 500 g/day of calcium -- is associated with a 12 percent decrease in colorectal cancer risk, a Boston study finds. Among all the food sources of calcium the researchers examined, only milk consumption was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, say the researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The study also finds higher total calcium intake -- 1000 mg/day or more -- could result in 15 percent fewer cases of colorectal cancer in women and 10 percent fewer cases in men.
SOY NO HELP FOR COGNITIVE FUNCTION
A Dutch study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds soy protein does not improve cognitive function, bone mineral density or cholesterol. Researchers at the University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands, examined postmenopausal women age 60 or older who took soy protein supplements with isoflavones -- substances that guard against heart disease and cancer -- for one year. "The sudden decline in estrogen levels after menopause coincides with acceleration of several aging processes," the journal says. "On average, bone mineral density decreases and cognitive function declines, whereas total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increase."
TANNING BEDS MAY BE RELAXING
North Carolina researchers say frequent tanning bed users may be lured by ultraviolet light, which can produce a relaxing effect. Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center examined 14 participants who had twice weekly tanning sessions. Unknown to the study subjects, only half were exposed to ultraviolet light. UV light occurs naturally in sunlight and produces the tanning and burning effects of the sun, while artificial UV light is used in tanning beds and sunlamps. "A more relaxed and less tense mood was reported after UV exposure compared to after non-UV exposure," says study leader Dr. Steven Feldman. "We believe these relaxing and reinforcing effects contribute to tanning behavior and may help explain why people choose to tan despite the risks." The findings are published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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(EDITORS: Fore more information on COUGH, contact Valerie Gliem at (814) 865-9481 or [email protected]. For COLORECTAL, Sarah L. Zielinski at (301) 841-1287 or [email protected]. For SOY, Kristen Woodward at (206) 667-5095. For TANNING, Karen Richardson (336) 716-4453 or [email protected].)
