April 25, 2012 Clippings

Breast milk has anti-cancer agents

The role of breast milk in protection against various forms of cancer has been known, but what makes it do so has remained a mystery.

Now, a new study has found high levels of cancer-fighting TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in human milk, which might be one source of breast milk's anticancer activity.

Researchers took samples of colostrum, the first milk available to newborns, and of mature breast milk from new mothers. Researchers then obtained samples of blood from healthy women, and various ready-to-feed infant formulas.

The colostrum, mature breast milk, blood and formula were then all tested to measure their level of TRAIL.

The researchers found that colostrum and breast milk contained 400- and 100-fold, respectively, higher levels of TRAIL than blood. No TRAIL was detected in the formula.

"The important role of breastfeeding in the prevention of certain childhood cancers, such as lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and neuroblastoma, has been previously demonstrated," the researchers wrote.

"However, endogenous soluble TRAIL represents a strong candidate to explain the overall biological effect of breastfeeding against cancer," they stated.

Mothers chosen to participate in the study were eligible because they exhibited no signs of eclampsia, infection, or fever, and delivered healthy newborns at term.

"To our knowledge, this is the first time that TRAIL has been measured in colostrum and human breast milk. This study has revealed much higher TRAIL concentrations in colostrum and breast milk compared to the levels of circulating serum TRAIL," the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the Journal of Human Lactation published by SAGE.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

25.04.2012

Families that eat together are healthiest

Researchers have shed light on the growing scientific evidence that fewer family meals may translate to increased obesity risk and poor nutritional status, particularly among children.

Over 40 per cent of the typical American food budget is spent on eating out, with family meals often being relegated to holidays and special occasions.

Aside from negative effects on the family budget, eating out has been shown to be generally associated with poor food choices and bad health.

But getting this message out to busy parents in a way that will convince them to spend more time at the dining room table with their children is problematic at best.

To both summarize what is known about this timely topic and create a model that might be used to educate parents and other caregivers as to the importance of family mealtimes, researchers at Rutgers recently evaluated results from 68 previously published scientific reports considering the association between family mealtime and children's health.

They specifically looked at how frequency or atmosphere of family meals was related to consumption of both healthy foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) and those considered less desirable (e.g., soft drinks).

The researchers also evaluated if scientific evidence actually supports the idea that more frequent family meals can lead to decreased obesity.

Their review of the literature revealed numerous benefits to children associated with having frequent family meals, including increased intake of fruits, vegetables, fiber, calcium-rich foods, and vitamins.

In addition, the more a family ate together the less children consumed dietary components thought to be harmful to health.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

25.04.2012

Nothing is impossible; the word itself says "I'm possible"