American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Recap

Here are some exciting research highlights from February's issue:

• habitual intake of caffeinated beverages provided protection against risk of heart disease mortality among elderly participants aged >65 (except in those severely hypertensive or with cerebrovascular disease)
  
  
• a carbohydrate-based high-glycemic index meal resulted in a significant shortening of sleep onset if consumed four hours before bedtime
  
  
• several colorectal cancer biomarkers can be altered favorably with synbiotic intervention (in this study, the prebiotic inulin and probiotics lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium were used)
  
  
• high intakes of vitamin A (retinol) and provitamin A carotenoids (beta carotene) may reduce the risk of gastric cancer
  
  
• a diet rich in vegetables may reduce the occurrence of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
  
  
• intake of allergenic foods and foods rich in omega-6 fatty acids during pregnancy may increase and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may decrease the risk of allergic diseases in offspring at 2 years of age.