Food & Drink
Eating fish regularly could half the risk of rheumatoid arthritis
Eating one portion of oily fish – or four of lean fish – every week could half the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, says new research from Sweden.
Published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, a questionnaire (about diet, height, weight and education) was sent to thousands of women between 1987 and 1990 who were born between 1914 and 1948. Then in 1997 another questionnaire was sent to 56,030 women still alive, this time adding questions about smoking, exercise and supplements.
Of the women who developed rheumatoid arthritis, 27% ate less than one serving of oily fish or four servings of lean fish a week. Women who ate more than this had a 52% lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Continue reading
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk of hip fractures
Postmenopausal women who eat large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce their risk of hip fracture, says a team from the Ohio State University.
Researchers analysed hip fracture records and red blood cell samples from the Women’s Health Initiative, which followed postmenopausal women for 15 years. A total of 648 women were tracked, half of whom had broken a hip. Continue reading
Calcium and vitamin D supplements benefit postmenopausal women using hormone therapy
Calcium and vitamin D supplements may co-operate with hormone therapy to protect the bones in postmenopausal women, says a US study published in Menopause.
Scientists looked at data from nearly 30,000 postmenopausal women of whom 8,000 took calcium and vitamin D every day and 8,000 took dummy supplements. Some women used oestrogen and progestogen hormone therapy, some only oestrogen and others took placebos that looked like hormones. Continue reading
Reduced consumption of alcohol associated with early arthritis
People who develop early arthritis (of any type) tend to drink less alcohol than control populations, reports a paper published in Rheumatology.
A total of 992 people who had had rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, reactive arthritis, spondylarthritis or psoriatic arthritis for two years or less were compared with 5,868 people without arthritis. Continue reading
Calcium lowers mortality rates in women says new study
Women taking up to 1,000mg calcium per day (through supplements or dietary sources) had 22% lower mortality rates over a 10 year period says a study of 9,033 Canadians.
The research team analysed data that monitored the health of 9,033 Canadians between 1995 and 2007. During that period, 1,160 participants died.
“Our study found daily use of calcium supplements was associated with a lower risk of death among women,” says lead author Dr David Goltzman. “The benefit was seen for women who took doses of up to 1,000mg per day, regardless of whether the supplement contained vitamin D.” Continue reading
