News Bites: Vitamin D and Cancer; Diabetes Apps; Omega-6
Vitamin D and Cancer
A randomized trial recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found no evidence that vitamin D supplementation improved relapse-free survival among cancer patients with gastrointestinal cancers (such as cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or colon). Observational studies have suggested that higher blood levels of vitamin D are associated with lower cancer incidence and death, particularly for gastrointestinal cancers, but results from clinical trials of vitamin D and calcium supplementation for cancer prevention have been disappointing. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Japan randomized 417 patients who had undergone surgery for a gastrointestinal cancer to either vitamin D supplements (2,000 International Units per day) or a placebo. After five years, the relapse-free survival between the two groups was not significantly different. A subgroup analysis suggested that patients who started with low vitamin D levels (20 to 40 micrograms per milliliter) may have seen some benefit, but future studies are needed to confirm this secondary finding.
Not All Diabetes Apps Are Created Equal
A recent study from Singapore suggests that many mobile applications (apps) designed to support diabetes self-management do not offer key features that could help with blood sugar control. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), looked at the functionality claims of 371 apps. While all of the apps allowed people to record blood sugar levels, only 37 percent let people set goals; only 28 percent offered reminders to measure blood sugar; and only 29 percent allowed for recording of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels (a measure of longer-term blood sugar control). Although nearly 59 percent of apps alerted users when their glucose levels were dangerously low or high, the majority of apps did not provide real-time decision support or situation-specific education such as suggestions of what to do to get blood sugar levels back to normal, and consecutive glucose levels in the danger zones did not lead to stronger alerts. The authors consider these “missed opportunities to improve care and health outcomes.” Encouragingly, a 2016 meta-analysis found that using an app to assist in self-management of diabetes is associated with lower HbA1c levels. While this new study does not prove that apps with or without certain features directly impact health outcomes, it does raise awareness for consumers that some apps may be more useful than others.
Omega-6 is Good for the Heart
An analysis published recently in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, adds another piece to the puzzle of omega-6 fatty acids and heart disease. The analysis pooled the results from 30 observational studies from 13 countries that looked at circulating and tissue levels of the major dietary omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid, and the presence of cardiovascular disease. Higher levels of linoleic acid in the body were significantly associated with lower risks of total cardiovascular disease, death from a cardiovascular event, and ischemic stroke, but not with coronary heart disease. Omega-6 fatty acids can be found in plant oils such as soybean and corn oil.
Strong Tasters May Eat Less
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, executive editor of the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, and colleagues from Spain found that participants with a more acute sense of taste were less likely to be overweight or obese. Nearly 400 older individuals with metabolic syndrome were asked to rate the intensity of five concentrations of bitter, salty, sweet, sour, and umami (savory) flavors. Reported taste perception was inversely associated with body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference. “If you think you may not be a strong taster, be more mindful of what you’re eating because you may not get the signals as clearly to stop eating when you have had enough,” says Lichtenstein. “While this study does not prove cause and effect, it suggests that ramping up flavor using herbs and spices may help you eat less.”
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