A comprehensive review of nearly 130 studies shows the strongest evidence to date that “forever chemicals” are associated with gestational diabetes, while underscoring uncertainty around other diabetes outcomes and the need for more prospective research. Study: Associations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances with markers of glycaemic control, insulin secretion and sensitivity, and diabetes risk: a … Read more
Airborne hazardous chemicals can be dilute, mobile and hard to trap. Yet, accurately measuring these chemicals is critical in protecting human health and the environment. Now, a new, small, low-cost device, nicknamed ABLE, could make the collection and detection of airborne hazards much more efficient. The device, just four by eight inches across, was devised … Read more
Fiber May Reduce PFAS Levels: Study on Forever Chemicals Impact Key Points study suggests fiber intake may reduce PFAS levels in the body. PFAS, or forever chemicals, are widespread and linked to health issues. Oat-derived beta glucan fiber showed a important impact on reducing long-chain PFAS. More research is needed to confirm the findings and … Read more
Emerging contaminants from rubber tires N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its oxidation product 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ)-are raising new red flags for aquatic ecosystems. A recent study reveals that prolonged exposure to these chemicals at environmentally realistic levels disrupts lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, causes liver injury, and alters behavioral patterns in zebrafish. The research shows that 6PPD primarily accumulates … Read more
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have upended decades-old dogma of how connections between brain cells are rearranged during states of heightened vigilance or attention. The team found that a brain chemical associated with alertness, attention and learning alters brain connectivity and function not by acting directly on neurons, the cells … Read more
Sleeping up to 18 hours a day, young children may unknowingly inhale a cocktail of harmful chemicals from their beds. Canadian researchers call for urgent regulation of mattresses and household items. Study: Young Children’s Exposure to Chemicals of Concern in Their Sleeping Environment: An In-Home Study. Image Credit: LeManna / Shutterstock In a recent article published in … Read more
Obesity is on the rise. Among U.S. adults aged 20 or older, 4 in 10 met the criteria for obesity in the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, up from roughly 3 in 10 two decades earlier. People with obesity have a significantly greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Despite recent health … Read more
Physicians have long observed a mystifying phenomenon: After a bout of infection or an autoimmune disease flare-up, some people experience prolonged mood swings, emotional dysregulation, and changes in behavior. But the precise connection between inflammation, mood, and behavior has remained elusive. Now, two new studies from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published … Read more
A new genetic study reveals that some gut bacteria and blood chemicals aren’t just linked to short stature—they may be causing it, opening doors to microbiota-based interventions for childhood growth issues. Study: Causal relationship between gut microbiota, metabolites, and short stature: a Mendelian randomization study. Image Credit: Tomsickova Tatyana / Shutterstock In a recent study published in … Read more
Scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center have gained greater clarity in the brain regions and neurons that control metabolism, body temperature and energy use. Featured in the February edition of the journal Metabolism, Dr. Heike Münzberg-Gruening and a team of researchers discovered which chemicals influence the signals that control how much energy the body uses. … Read more