Knowridge Science Report

A daily resistant starch supplement reduced liver fat in adults with fatty liver disease during a four month clinical trial. The findings suggest that a nutrient reaching the large intestine may influence the liver partly through changes in gut bacteria. Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver. In some people it can progress to inflammation and scarring, making treatments that reduce liver fat an important area of research.

A small study once suggested that differences between the two nostrils in detecting peanut butter might offer a clue to Alzheimer’s disease. But the result was preliminary, and a later study failed to reproduce it, so this is not a proven diagnostic test. The idea attracted interest because changes in smell can accompany disorders affecting the brain.

Cholesterol-lowering statins and aspirin were linked to different patterns of muscle loss in a study of current and former smokers. Statin use was associated with less loss of chest muscle, while aspirin use was associated with greater loss. The findings may help researchers understand why people lose muscle as they age, especially those with long-term lung disease. However, the study tracked medication use rather than assigning treatments, so it cannot show that either medicine caused the changes.

Compounds found in chili peppers and mint suppressed inflammatory signals more effectively together than alone in a laboratory study. A chili compound also worked strongly with a compound found in eucalyptus, suggesting that certain plant chemicals can reinforce each other’s effects. The finding may help explain why studying individual food ingredients does not always reveal how mixtures behave.

Erythritol, a sugar substitute used in some low-sugar foods and drinks, altered the behavior of human brain blood vessel cells in laboratory tests. The changes affected processes involved in keeping vessels open and helping the body break down clots. Those processes matter because a blocked vessel can interrupt blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. However, the experiment did not measure strokes in people, so it cannot establish that consuming erythritol causes them.

Salt substitutes were rarely used by US adults, including many people with high blood pressure, according to an analysis of nearly two decades of health survey data. Reported use peaked at 5.4% before falling to 2.5% in the most recent survey period examined. The finding points to a gap between an available way to reduce sodium intake and its use in daily life. Potassium-enriched salt can help lower blood pressure in suitable users, but it is not appropriate for everyone.

Mice lived longer and stayed healthier when their food contained less isoleucine, a building block of protein. Male mice lived an average of 33% longer, while females lived 7% longer, in a study that examined how the makeup of a diet affects aging. The animals also became leaner despite eating more calories. That finding suggests that the types of nutrients in food can influence health in ways that cannot be explained simply by how much energy the food provides.

Regular movement and adequate nutrition help maintain bone health throughout life. Weight-bearing activity, muscle-strengthening exercise and enough calcium, vitamin D and protein all contribute, although they do not guarantee that bone loss can be reversed. Strong bones matter because fractures can limit movement and independence, especially in later life. Bone weakening can develop without obvious symptoms, so the absence of pain does not necessarily show that bones are healthy.

Some people over age 80 who take several medicines for high blood pressure may be able to safely stop one of them, according to a study from the University of Oxford. The findings could help doctors simplify treatment for some older patients who take many medicines every day. High blood pressure becomes more common with age and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other health problems. Many older adults need more than one drug to keep their blood pressure under control.

Eating more potassium-rich foods may help lower blood pressure, according to research from the University of Waterloo. The study suggests that the balance between potassium and sodium in the diet may be especially important for heart health. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects a large share of adults worldwide. It often causes no clear symptoms, but over time it can damage blood vessels and raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure.