Remifemin In The Wall Street Journal
A story in the online version of the Wall Street Journal highlights black cohosh as an herbal remedy to reduce hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms. The story mentions Remifemin by name and offers a quote from Enzymatic Therapy. Source: WSJ

True Colors
A study conducted by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK found that some food colorings may cause hyperactivity in some children. The researchers randomized 153 three-year-olds and 144 children aged 8 and 9 to three groups: juice containing one of two food coloring formulas or placebo. The older children showed a "significantly adverse effect" from both dye mixes,  while the adverse reaction of 3-year-olds was rated significant for one. Source: The Washington Post

Probiotics Cut Neonatal Gut Infections
A series of probiotic studies on mice have presented positive results in protecting newborns from intestinal infections and reducing inflammatory bowel disease. The Canadian company, Instituit Rosell, will present the work at the 4 ^th Probiotics, Prebiotics & New Foods Congress this month. Source: NutraIngredients USA

Vitamin D Halves Cancer Incidence
As many as 50 percent of breast and colon cancer cases could be prevented by increasing intake of vitamin D. Researchers at the University of California at San Diego compiled data from observational studies showing an inverse link between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and cancer. The findings confirm what industry and researchers have long been advocating: that the public does not consume enough vitamin D and as such the ingredient needs to be made more available to consumers through public awareness and increased upper limits. Source: NutraIngredients USA

Girls' Suicide Rates Rise Dramatically
The suicide rate among preteen and young teen girls spiked 76 percent, a disturbing sign that federal health officials say they can't fully explain. The report, based on the latest numbers available, was released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and suggests a troubling reversal in recent trends. Suicide rates had fallen by 28.5 percent since 1990 among young people. The biggest increase - about 76 percent - was in the suicide rate for 10- to 14-year-old girls. There were 94 suicides in that age group in 2004 - compared to 56 in 2003. The rate is still low, fewer than one per 100,000 population.Source: CBS HealthWatch

Better Bedside Manners
Every patient wants to find a doctor who listens. But wouldn't it be easier if all doctors were just better listeners? A new paper in the Sept. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that it might not be so hard to make it happen: in the first comprehensive study of clinical-skills exams given to doctors, researchers from McGill University in Montreal show that poor scores in the communication portion of the test are highly predictive of which new doctors are likely to clash with patients in the future. Source: TIME

Tamoxifen Non-Compliance Ups Death Rates
Women who fail to take the breast cancer drug tamoxifen as prescribed may be placing themselves at substantially increased risk of dying, a study of more than 2,000 women shows. University of Dundee in Scotland researchers found that women who filled 70% or fewer of their tamoxifen prescriptions had a significantly -- 16% -- increased risk of death [compared with women who filled all their prescriptions. Source: WebMD

Home Mold Linked to Depression
People who live in damp, moldy homes may be prone to depression. The possible link was uncovered in an analysis of mold and health conditions in several European studies. The study results are published in the October issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Source: Forbes

Good Eggs
Timing matters when it comes to surgical removal of the ovaries. Mayo Clinic research found that women who have their ovaries removed before menopause are at an increased risk of developing memory problems or dementia and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, according to two studies published August 29 in the online edition of Neurology. Source: Bloomberg

Brain Fitness
Prevention Online has a Web feature on preserving brain function with nutritional supplements and Happy Neuron interactive games developed to make your brain sweat.Source: Prevention.com

Salmonella Spinach Recalled
A California produce company recalled bagged fresh spinach Wednesday after it tested positive for salmonella. There were no immediate reports of illness linked to the tainted spinach, distributed by Metz Fresh of King City, Calif. The recall comes nearly a year after an outbreak of another pathogen, E. coli, in fresh spinach killed three people and sickened another 200. The recalled spinach was distributed throughout the 48 states and Canada and sold in both retail and food service packages. Source: CBS HealthWatch

The Hibernation Diet
Molecular biologists at the University of Texas Houston Medical School have submitted a patent application to induce a state of hibernation in humans. The UT research team discovered that the chemical 5-adenosine monophosphate, or 5-AMP, can change mammalian metabolism from primarily glucose burning to fat burning, a condition found in hibernating bears. Source: The New Scientist

Oral Health a Matter of Life and Death for Seniors
Citing a California nursing home death linked to an untreated oral infection, the statewide organization representing dental hygienists today called for greater focus on the oral health of seniors residing in nursing and convalescent homes. Source: Medical News Today

Sleep Gives Way to Work and Play
US workers squeeze more hours into their workday and still find time to play by cutting back on sleep, a new study found. Researchers at the University  of Pennsylvania School of Medicine studied 47,731 adults and found that time spent at work is the single biggest determinant of how much sleep they get on a typical day . The study, published in the journal Sleep, said traffic and commuting time came in second.Source: ScienceDaily  

Newly Registered Nurses Turnover Too Often
A study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Nursing may help reduce rapidly increasing turnover rates of hospital nurses. As a shortage of 340,000 RNs is projected by 2020, the researchers hoped to identify factors promoting retention of newly-licensed RNs as well as factors that lead to the high turnover rates among them. Source: Science Daily

New Screening Adds to Debate on Prostate Screenings
A study from Europe suggests it doesn't hurt to wait a few years between prostate cancer screenings -- but the research won't end debate over the value of PSA tests. Millions of U Smen have their blood tested every year for PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, although routine screenings are controversial.Source: The Wall Street Journal  

Rabies Survivor Enters College
Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine reports on Jeanna Giese, the medical marvel who has been studied and chronicled for nearly three years as a one-of-a-kind case: She survived rabies without vaccination. The teen from Fond du Lac recovered remarkably well and should continue to improve. Since Giese's case, the so-called "Wisconsin protocol" has been tried on 10 people worldwide , however,  without success. Source: USA Today

Husband Do Less Housework
It may not come as a shock to most women, but a new study shows that men, especially married men, do less housework than women. Researchers surveyed 17,000 men and women in 27 countries, including the US. The survey shows that men did an average of about nine and a half hours of housework per week compared with an average of more than 21 hours per week among women. But even more noteworthy, researchers say, is that married men did significantly less housework than men who lived with their girlfriends but were not married. Source: WebMD

 
Today's Industry News ~

NAC Related to PAH?
An antioxidant commonly used in dietary and body-building supplements could lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). According to research conducted at the University of Virginia Health System, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can form a red blood cell-derived molecule that makes blood vessels think they are not getting enough oxygen. This can lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the arteries carrying blood to the lungs. The findings are published in this month's issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Source: NutraIngredients USA

Coca-Cola to Build US Recycling Plant
Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) is forming a new company, Coca-Cola Recycling, to operate and co-ordinate the world's largest bottle recycling plant as part of an ambitious plan to recycle all of its plastic packaging in the US. The new plant, to be built in South Carolina, is part of the company's concerted drive to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment worldwide . Source: Food Production Daily

Consumer Case of Popcorn Lung Spurs Formula Change
With rumors of the additive diacetyl's harmful effects growing almost by the hour, ConAgra and Pop Weaver announced they have removed the additive from their microwave popcorn. A US doctor reported Tuesday that a case of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) case was found in a man who developed the disease after eating several bags of microwave popcorn every day for years. Also known as Popcorn Lung, BOS is surfacing in more and more people, presenting companies with a possible legal nightmare that could cost millions of dollars in compensation. Source: Food Production Daily

Public Confused About Food-Borne Pathogens
While 90 per cent of Americans are concerned about food safety, they are also confused as to what exactly poses a threat to human health. According to research carried out by market researchers TNS, consumer information and warnings are not working as well as was originally intended. Source: Food Production Daily

FDA Warns of Improperly Labeled Sugar-Free Products
Manufacturers that use 'sugar free' claims on their product labels must ensure that they also include the appropriate calorie information. The US Food and Drug Administration issued a guidance letter this week to manufacturers urging them to review their product labels as a result of finding an increased number of improperly-labeled sugar-free products. Source: Food Production Daily
 

Ten Health Care Trends Not to be Ignored
According to HealthFocus International, the biggest health and wellness issue right now is stress, and one of the reasons every one seems to be interested in antioxidants. As baby boomers start to feel their age, new ways to treat back pain and improve mental acuity will also emerge. Source: Forbes Health:

Israeli Enzymotec Enters US Boomer Memory Market Enzymotec announced their marketing strategy that reflects the ingredient manufacturer's push into the US cognitive health market. According to the company there is currently a strong market for the cognitive category, especially among baby boomer and older consumers. In the US  boomers have significant buying power and are determined to prevent or slow memory deterioration as they age. Source: NutraIngredients USA

Buckwheat Protein Lowered Lipid Levels
Proteins from tartary buckwheat and common buckwheat helped reduce cholesterol levels in rats on a high cholesterol diet by at least 25 per cent, report Japanese researchers. The research, published in the Journal of Food Science, reports that supplementation of a high cholesterol diet with buckwheat protein reduced serum cholesterol levels by 32 and 25 per cent. Source: NutraIngredients USA

Organic No Richer than Regular
Scientists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Scientists analyzed the vitamin and selenium content of milk from organically-reared cows and compared it to that of milk from conventionally-reared cows. They found no differences. Source: NutraIngredients USA

Omega-3 Encapsulation In Chitosan Gets Study Boost
Chitosan plus maltodextrin could offer an interesting alternative for the encapsulation of omega-3 rich fish oils, suggests a new study that uses a novel ultrasonic technique to generate impressive results. Source: NutraIngredients USA

Aurora Faces Organic Revocation
Aurora Organic Dairy revealed it had signed an agreement with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service in response to a notice of proposed revocation served on its operations earlier this year. The agreement was made after the company was found to have breeched some of the standards outlined under the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations. The agreement requires Aurora to address the concerns during a year-long probationary period. Source: NutraIngredients USA

AHPA Launches Industry Alerts
The American Herbal Products Association is launching AHPA Alerts, an e-mail news service that delivers information of relevance to the herbal products industry on legal and regulatory actions, newly-published scientific studies, and articles from the popular media, all on a near-immediate basis. Source: NPI Center

IADSA Provides Russian Workshop
The International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations is sponsoring a one-day workshop on Russia's nutritional market for foreign companies. The September 13 workshop to be held in Washington DC aims to help companies to understand the process for entering Russia's substantial dietary supplement market. Source: NPI Center:

NPI Awarded Organic Certification
Nature's Products Inc announced that it has been awarded Organic Certification by Quality Assurance International, in accordance with the National Organic Plan and is now eligible to include the USDA Organic Seal of Certification on its products. Source: NPI Center