Science Weekly - 2nd Aug 2020

From a pizza study that was examining the effects on health markers of eating to full compared to eating to the maximum to thread-based, wearable sweat sensors that detect health markers we had a range of papers published in the world of fitness, nutrition and health.

​Here are the highlights:

• ​​Pizza study shows body copes surprisingly well with one-off calorie indulgence
• ​Food supplements may improve brain health among young children in low income countries
• ​Diets high in protein, particularly plant protein, linked to lower risk of death
• ​Antioxidant-rich powders from blueberry, persimmon waste could be good for gut microbiota
• ​Genes and cardiovascular health both affect dementia risk
• ​Plant-based diets shown to lower blood pressure even with limited meat and dairy
• ​Keep cool in the pool: Novel chip sensor makes swimming pools safer
• ​Aerobic exercise could have the final say on fatty livers
• Sweat science: Engineers detect health markers in thread-based, wearable sweat sensors

Pizza study shows body copes surprisingly well with one-off calorie indulgence

Young men can eat twice as much food as they need to feel 'full', research shows.

Source: University of Bath

Food supplements may improve brain health among young children in low income countries

Findings could have important implications for children's education and national development, say researchers
​Giving nutritional supplements to young children in low income countries for around 6 months could improve their brain (cognitive) health, finds a new trial.

Source: BMJ

Diets high in protein, particularly plant protein, linked to lower risk of death

Findings support recommendations to increase consumption of plant proteins
Diets high in protein, particularly plant protein, are associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, finds an analysis of the latest evidence.

​Source: BMJ

Antioxidant-rich powders from blueberry, persimmon waste could be good for gut microbiota

Feeding the world's growing population in a sustainable way is no easy task. That's why scientists are exploring options for transforming fruit and vegetable byproducts -- such as peels or pulp discarded during processing -- into nutritious food ingredients and supplements. Now, researchers have shown that blueberry and persimmon waste can be made into antioxidant-rich powders that might have beneficial effects on gut microbiota.

Source: American Chemical Society

Genes and cardiovascular health both affect dementia risk

Individuals with genetic risk factors for dementia can still reduce their risk by improving their cardiovascular health.
​A new study finds that genes and cardiovascular health can both raise or lower risk of dementia.

Source: Boston University School of Medicine

Plant-based diets shown to lower blood pressure even with limited meat and dairy

Consuming a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure even if small amounts of meat and dairy are consumed too, according to new research.

Source: University of Warwick

Keep cool in the pool: Novel chip sensor makes swimming pools safer

A new microchip that enables continuous monitoring of pH and chlorine levels in swimming pools will vastly improve water safety as new research shows it can deliver consistent and accurate pool chemistry for reliable pool management.

Source: University of South Australia

Cholesterol-lowering drug improved function of heart's arteries

In a pilot study of people living with HIV or high levels of cholesterol, researchers found that a six-week course of a cholesterol-lowering medication improved the function of the coronary arteries that provide oxygen to the heart.

Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine

Aerobic exercise could have the final say on fatty livers

A new study is the first to demonstrate significant improvements in biopsy-measured liver outcomes in a metabolic associated fat liver disease (MAFLD) cohort following an exercise-only intervention, without clinically significant weight loss.

Source: Trinity College Dublin

Sweat science: Engineers detect health markers in thread-based, wearable sweat sensors

Real-time measurement of electrolytes and metabolites could be used to diagnose and monitor disease or track performance
Engineers have created a first-of-its-kind, flexible electronic sensing patch that can be sewn into clothing to analyze sweat for multiple markers. The patch could be used to to diagnose and monitor acute and chronic health conditions or to monitor athletic performance.

Source: Tufts University