A"good" fat found in abundance in olive oil may provide one of the keys to appetite control and weight loss.
Oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat, suppresses hunger pangs and so can help prevent snacking between meals, according to researchers at the University of California, Irvine.
In a study involving lab mice, the researchers found that when oleic acid reaches the small intestine it is converted into a hormone called oleoylethanolamide, or OEA. This hormone, in turn, sends hunger-dampening signals to the brain. That means you can go longer without eating.
The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, could open up new strategies for helping people lose weight, said Daniele Piomelli, who led the research effort.
Dr. Piomelli noted that previous studies have found that protein also plays a pivotal role in appetite control. And, in particular, a high-protein meal tends to be very filling and quickly sates the desire for food.
"If we can mix appropriate amounts of protein and fat [containing high levels of oleic acid] the net result could be very advantageous," Dr. Piomelli said in an interview. "You would consume less in a single meal ... and prolong the interval between eating."
He also suggested that new medications could be developed to mimic the appetite-suppressing effects of oleic acid.
Avocados, soybeans, canola oil and a variety of other foods also contain oleic acid. But olive oil, which is one of the cornerstones of the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, is especially rich in the stuff, Dr. Piomelli said.
NEW AND IMPROVED?
Newer is not necessarily better when it comes to schizophrenia medications.
Researchers recently tested three drugs on a group of children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia. Two of the drugs, olanzapine (brand name Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal), come from a newer class of medications known as atypical anti-psychotics. The third drug, molindone (Moban), is an older anti-psychotic.
The results, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, surprised the researchers. The newer and more expensive drugs were no more effective at treating young people with schizophrenia than the older medication was. About 46 per cent of those prescribed risperidone, and 34 per cent on olanzapine reported an improvement. That compared with a 50-per-cent improvement rate for patients taking molindone.
What's more, the newer drugs had a higher risk of causing certain side effects, including weight gain. Some study participants put on as much as 15 pounds in eight weeks.
Linmarie Sikich, who led the study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said older medications are seldom used today because of the commonly held belief that the newer drugs are much better. "When we started the study, a lot of people really thought we were verging on the edge of unethical to treat kids with one of the older drugs."
Dr. Sikich conceded that the older drugs are far from perfect and also carry the risk of serious side effects, including muscle stiffness, involuntary movements and feelings of restlessness.
But she said the study shows that the older medications should be tried more often, possibly as a first line of treatment.
BAD AIR, PAINFUL APPENDIX
A surprising new study has uncovered a possible link between air pollution and elevated rates of appendicitis.
The researchers reviewed the cases of 5,000 Calgary residents who were admitted to hospital for appendicitis between 1999 and 2006. These data were matched up with daily air pollution records.
The study found that hospital admissions for the painful condition rose by 15 per cent on the summer days that had the highest concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone in the atmosphere, said the lead researcher, Gilaad Kaplan of the University of Calgary.
"I would call it a modest effect, meaning that it doesn't explain every case of appendicitis we see, but it may explain a subset of them," said Dr. Kaplan, who presented his findings in Orlando, Fla., this week at a scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology.
Previous studies have found that air pollution poses a health risk to patients with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions. But how could foul air inflame the appendix - an organ without apparent purpose that has mystified doctors for years?
"We really don't have a good grasp of the root causes of appendicitis," said Dr. Kaplan. He speculated that air pollution might somehow weaken the immune system, leaving a person vulnerable to infection.
BREAST MILK DRUG RISK
Health Canada has issued a warning about the risks posed to breastfed babies whose mothers are using medications that contain codeine.
Codeine is converted into morphine by the body. Some mothers' bodies perform this biological function faster than others, producing a rapid spike in the amount of morphine in their breast milk. That means their babies could suffer a lethal morphine overdose.
Although such cases are rare, Health Canada says mothers should talk to their doctors before taking pain and cough medications containing codeine.