Yogurt Consumption Linked with Reduced Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes

Eating a 28 g serving of yogurt every day was associated with an 18% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a meta-analysis of 14 prospective cohorts with 459,790 participants and 35,863 incident type 2 diabetes cases. Other dairy foods and consumption of total dairy were not appreciably associated with diabetes incidence. The BMC Medicinefindings suggest that randomized clinical trials are warranted to examine the causal effects of yogurt consumption on diabetes as well as the potential of probiotics to affect body weight and insulin resistance.

Administration To Unveil Calorie Labeling Rules On Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal (11/25, Tracy, Subscription Publication) reports that the Administration and the FDA are planning on unveiling final rules expanding calorie labeling on Tuesday. The rules will require restaurants with at least 20 locations to display calorie counts on their menus. In addition, the rules will apply to amusement parks, convenience stores, movie theaters, and others. The rules have been repeatedly delayed, and have faced significant opposition from the food industry.

The Washington Post (11/24, Dennis) reports that, according to FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, “Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home,” and as a result “people today expect clear information about the products they consume.” Hamburg expressed hope that the new rules will aid people in making “more informed choices” about the food they eat. The Post adds that “activists who for years have pushed for more transparent and consistent menu labeling,” as a means of managing the nation’s epidemic of obesity, “praised the FDA’s action.”

Bloomberg News (11/25, Edney) reports that, among the critics of the rules were grocery stores, who cited concern that “calculating and posting calories would curtail offerings in their fresh prepared foods sections, because the offerings are constantly changing.” According to Rob Rosado, director of government relations with the Food Marketing Institute, “testing and labeling them all could have cost the industry as much as $1 billion.”

The New York Times (11/25, Tavernise, Strom, Subscription Publication) adds, “Perhaps the most surprising element of the new rules was the inclusion of alcoholic beverages, which had not been part of an earlier proposal.” FDA officials said “Beverages served in food establishments that are on menus and menu boards will be included, but a mixed drink at a bar will not.”

Also reporting on the story are USA Today (11/25, Horovitz), Reuters (11/25, Clarke, Athavaley)The Hill (11/25, Devaney), Politico (11/25, Evich)Yahoo! News (11/25, Jalonick), the Minneapolis Star Tribune (11/25), and in the NPR (11/24) “The Salt” Blog.

Exercise May Improve Physical Function, Lessen Pain in Patients with CKD

A12-week course of exercise done in a supervised setting similar to a cardiac rehab center was effective in improving physical function and quality of life among patients with CKD. Also, the exercise program decreased pain as assessed by patient questionnaires. The CJASNstudyincluded 107 patients with CKD stages 3 or 4, with 59 undergoing the exercise program and 48 receiving usual care. The exercise program consisted of treadmill walking and/or stationary cycling, plus weight training with free weights, done twice weekly at local facilities. Additionally, exercise participants were given pedometers and encouraged to walk 5,000 to 10,000 steps daily.

Majority of LN Patients In Complete Remission and with Preserved Renal Function Have Persistent Hypertension

MedPage Today reported that research published online in Clinical Rheumatology suggests that “more than half of lupus nephritis (LN) patients in complete remission and with preserved renal function still have persistent hypertension.” Investigators found that “independent factors associated with hypertension (P<0.05) were: disease duration (odds ratio 1.06, 95% CI 0.91-1.24); longer duration interval to complete remission (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19); number or relapses (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.01-6.3); and CyA use (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.14-23.9).”

Plasma Lithium Levels Above Advised Range Tied to Transient Kidney Function Reduction

Medwire News reported that according to a study published Nov. 7 in the BMJ Open, “plasma levels of lithium above the advised range are associated with a transient reduction in kidney function.” The study of 699 patients “found a dose-response effect, with plasma lithium levels of 1.01–1.20mmol/L associated with a 3.88 percentage point reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measured within three months of the lithium value, while levels of 1.21–2.00 mmol/L were associated with a 5.40 percentage point reduction.” Such reductions remained “significant after accounting for age and gender.”

More Dialysis May Not Be Better When it Comes to QoL

MedPage Today reported that according to research presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week, “more dialysis may not be better when it comes to quality of life [QoL].” Researchers reported that in the 200-patient “ACTIVE trial, patients aiming for 24 hours per week of dialysis saw no improvements in quality of life compared with those who did a standard number of hours per week.”

Amniotic Membrane Allografts May Be Effective against Difficult-to-Treat Ulcers

Dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (dHACM) allograft is a viable option for treating patients with ulcerations refractory to standard of care therapy, according to a study presented at Desert Foot 2014. Among the 22 diabetic patients in the study, the average wound size at the time of the initial dHACM application was 2.79 cm²; among the 18 non-diabetic study participants, the average wound size was 4.96 cm². The average number of dHACM applications was 3.36 in diabetics and 3.11 in non-diabetics, and the average number of weeks to wound closure was 5.89 in diabetics and 5.94 in non-diabetics.