Nutrition reviews
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While there is a significant amount of data showing health benefits of increased fish consumption, there are conflicting reports about the cardiovascular risks of mercury in seafood. A recent long-term study attempted to resolve this controversy, providing an opportunity to balance recommendations from the US Environmental Protection Agency for mercury with those from the American Heart Association for fish consumption.
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The role of the food industry in the response to the epidemic of obesity is guided by many factors, including the current state of knowledge of the problem. There have been efforts among food and beverage companies to help increase our knowledge about the factors contributing to overweight and to investigate product and marketing changes that may help reduce the risk of weight gain. The value of their future contributions is dependent on corporate resolve, but also on interactive guidance from government and health institutions on the best strategies to take and the best research to support. This is especially clear given the complex nature of the causes of obesity and approaches for treatment.
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Review
The role of glutamine in intensive care unit patients: mechanisms of action and clinical outcome.
Patients in the intensive care unit are at high risk of glutamine depletion and subsequent complications. Several controlled studies and a meta-analysis have concluded that glutamine supplementation has beneficial effects on the clinical outcome of critically ill and surgical patients. These results may be explained by glutamine's influences on the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, cell protection, and the gut barrier. In addition, glutamine may also improve glucose metabolism by reducing insulin resistance.
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Eating fish or taking n-3 fatty acid supplements can decrease the risk and severity of cardiovascular disease. Such supplements also provide symptomatic relief for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Recent research suggests that asthma, another highly prevalent, chronic inflammatory disease, may also respond to fish oil supplements.