Pediatricians routinely prescribe antibiotics to their youngest patients for many common infections. One danger of course is antibiotic resistance but now a new study suggests some may also be more likely to grow fat. An analysis published in the Journal of American Medical Association Pediatrics looked at about 65,000 children at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, […]
Articles
Human Microbiome Project
The Human Microbiome Project sponsored by the National Institutes of Health is an ambitious undertaking which demonstrates the good that government can accomplish on a large scale. Here is the way it works: Phase I: 2007 to 2012– data gathered to identify human microbes Phase II: 2013 through 2015–data assembled identifying interactions between microbes and […]
Probiotic Talking Points
Some of the probiotic glitterati were at Harvard Medical School for a two-day symposium last week. The lineup of topics stretched across the ages from neonatal to childhood, adulthood, and into the elderly stage. Next time I’ll share before the event—free and first-come,first-serve ticketing, not to mention free lunch; their generous style is part of […]
Probiotics and Sepsis
Cancer treatments including radiation and chemical often lead to diarrhea, a contributor to the debilitating side effects. Because probiotics are well-known to intervene and often alleviate diarrhea, clinicians ask whether probiotic supplements should be advised. There is a glitch. Immunity in cancer patients is fragile. So will adding a live organism to the mix be […]
Fake Sugars: Not So Sweet After All?
True or false? If a diet soda takes the place of a regular one, calories are cut out of the diet. By replacing sugar with an artificial sweetener like saccharin, aspartame, or sucralose, our blood sugars levels should benefit. These bits of accepted wisdom are surprisingly false. While people often choose these products to lose […]
Probiotics May Keep Children in Preschool
Children pick up more than toys and social skills at preschool. They are three times more likely than children who stay home to contract a respiratory infection. Antibiotics are routinely given but not always helpful. Could probiotics prevent some of the runny noses and aching coughs? Researchers in Slovakia and the United Kingdom asked if […]