Sugar intake not linked with liver disease
A new study has claimed that
sugar intake is not directly associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,
as it was earlier believed.
Rather, high-calorie diets promote the progression of this serious form of liver disease.
Researchers conducted a double-blind study of healthy, but centrally overweight men to compare the effects of high intakes of two types of sugar, glucose and fructose, in two conditions — weight-maintaining (moderate-calorie diet) and weight-gaining (high-calorie diet).
In the weight-maintaining period, men on neither diet developed any significant changes to the liver.
However, in the weight-gaining period, both diets produced equivalent features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, including steatosis (fatty liver) and elevated serum transaminase and triglycerides.
These findings indicate that fructose and glucose have comparable effects on one's liver, and calorie intake is the factor responsible for the progression of liver disease.
"Based on the results of our study, recommending a low-fructose or low-glycemic diet to prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is unjustified," Professor Ian A. Macdonald, study author and faculty of medicine and health sciences, University of Nottingham, UK, said.
"The best advice to give a patient is to maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise. Our study serves as a warning that even short changes in lifestyle can have profound impacts on your liver," he said.
The study is published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
12.11.2013
Time spent on screens can
affect eyesight
The British spend an average of
11 hours a day looking at screens, reveals a new survey, stressing on its
detrimental effects on theeyesight - reduced blink rate and
tear evaporation.
People are spending an increasing number of hours staring into their computer, mobile, TV, tablet and e-reader screens, indicates the survey, conducted on over 2,000 British people by Spectrum Thea eye care specialists, reportsfemalefirst.co.uk.
People are spending an increasing number of hours staring into their computer, mobile, TV, tablet and e-reader screens, indicates the survey, conducted on over 2,000 British people by Spectrum Thea eye care specialists, reportsfemalefirst.co.uk.
The respondents were aged between 16 and 24.
Over half of the respondents, 54.4 per cent of people polled to be precise, agreed that they had suffered from symptoms associated with conditions like Dry Eye and Blepharitis.
They said that in a week they only spend 12 hours 58 minutes in qualitytime with their families, 10 hours and 16 minutes looking at their partner and a meagre 5 hours 44 minutes walking around outdoors.
According to the research, an increased concentration on reading, playing computer games and watching videos can reduce a person's blink rate by a third. This reduced blinking can lead to a higher rate of tear evaporation, which can result in dry eye syndrome and further complications.
"The sheer amount that people are now spending looking at screens is worryingly high," said Sarah Farrant, dry eye specialist and partner at Earlam and Christopher Optometrists, Taunton.
"While many people may not think the symptoms associated with these common eye complaints are serious, if left untreated, these conditions can become chronic and, in some cases, can lead to permanent damage to your eyes," Farrant added.
12.11.2013
The secret of
getting ahead is getting started
Mark
Twain
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