ScienceDaily: Food Additive News

Gustatory tug-of-war key to whether salty foods taste good

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:26:26 EDT

As anyone who's ever mixed up the sugar and salt while baking knows, too much of a good thing can be inedible. What hasn't been clear, though, is how our tongues and brains can tell when the saltiness of our food has crossed the line from yummy to yucky -- or, worse, something dangerous. Now researchers report that in fruit flies, at least, that process is controlled by competing input from two different types of taste-sensing cells: one that attracts flies to salty foods, and one that repels them.

Understanding the heart's rhythm

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

Scientists have discovered a previously unidentified potassium channel in cardiac cells that regulate the human heartbeat. This could be a significant step towards developing "biological pacemakers" to replace today's mechanical pacemakers, the researcher says.

Salt gets under your skin

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:53:53 EDT

It's time to expand the models for blood pressure regulation, according to clinical pharmacologist. Scientists have identified a new cast of cells and molecules that function in the skin to control sodium balance and blood pressure.

Artificial sweeteners may do more than sweeten: It can affect how the body reacts to glucose

Wed, 29 May 2013 19:07:07 EDT

Researchers have found that a popular artificial sweetener can modify how the body handles sugar. They analyzed the sweetener sucralose in 17 severely obese people and found it can influence how the body reacts to glucose.

Studies support population-based efforts to lower excessive dietary sodium intakes

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:27:27 EDT

Recent studies that examine links between sodium consumption and health outcomes support recommendations to lower sodium intake from the very high levels some Americans consume now, but evidence from these studies does not support reduction in sodium intake to below 2,300 mg per day, says a new report.

Salt levels in food still dangerously high

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:40:40 EDT

The dangerously high salt levels in processed food and fast food remain unchanged, despite numerous calls from health agencies for the food industry to voluntarily reduce sodium. Excess sodium in the diet is a major cause of high blood pressure and prematurely kills up to 150,000 people in the US each year. The government must regulate sodium, the study says.

Reducing salt and increasing potassium will have major global health benefits

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:44:44 EDT

Cutting down on salt and, at the same time, increasing levels of potassium in our diet will have major health and cost benefits across the world, according to new studies.

America: Time to shake the salt habit?

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:17:17 EDT

Medical researchers have written a review paper summarizing data linking excessive sodium intake to increased rates of hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Is it time for national policy?

Most pre-packaged meals, snacks for toddlers contain too much salt

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:55:55 EDT

Most pre-packaged meals and snacks for toddlers contain high amounts of sodium. Some toddler meals had as much as 630 mg of sodium per serving.

Eating too much salt led to 2.3 million heart-related deaths worldwide in 2010

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:55:55 EDT

Excessive sodium (salt) consumption caused 2.3 million heart-related deaths in the world in 2010. Nearly 1 million of these deaths occurred in people 69 years and younger.

Adults worldwide eat almost double daily recommended amount of sodium

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:09:09 EDT

Adults worldwide consume almost double the daily recommended amount of sodium (salt). The study is among the first to provide information about sodium intake by country, age and gender.

Women's iron intake may help to protect against PMS

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:14:14 EST

In one of the first studies to evaluate whether dietary mineral intake is associated with PMS development, medical researchers assessed mineral intake in approximately 3,000 women in a case-control study.

Scientists bake a better loaf of bread

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:25:25 EST

Researchers have found a way to replace artificial preservatives in bread, making it tastier.

Scientists discover how animals taste, and avoid, high salt concentrations

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:18:18 EST

Researchers have discovered how the tongue detects high concentrations of salt, the first step in a salt-avoiding behavior common to most mammals. The findings could serve as a springboard for the development of taste modulators to help control the appetite for a high-salt diet and reduce the ill effects of too much sodium.

Reducing sodium in U.S. may save hundreds of thousands of lives over 10 years

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:07:07 EST

Less sodium in the U.S. diet could save 280,000 to 500,000 lives over 10 years, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.

New insights into the mechanics of muscle fatigue

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:18:18 EST

A new study examines the consequences of muscle activity with surprising results, indicating that the extracellular accumulation of potassium that occurs in working muscles is considerably higher than previously thought.

Simulated Mars mission reveals body's sodium rhythms

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:24:24 EST

Researchers report that -- in contrast to the prevailing dogma -- sodium levels fluctuate rhythmically with 7-day and monthly cycles. The findings, which demonstrate that sodium is stored in the body, have implications for blood pressure control, hypertension and salt-associated cardiovascular risk.

High hormone levels put young black males at risk for cardiovascular disease

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:32:32 EST

Increased levels of the hormone aldosterone in young black males correlate with an unhealthy chain of events that starts with retaining too much salt and results in an enlarged heart muscle, researchers say. The findings indicate physicians may want to reach for aldosterone inhibitors early in their effort to control blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risk in young black males.

New studies reinforce American Heart Association's stand on limiting sodium

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:28:28 EDT

New studies reinforce the American Heart Association's recommendation to limit daily sodium (salt) intake to less than 1,500 milligrams. Suggestions by some groups that healthy people can consume more sodium are based on incorrect analyses of observational studies and misinterpretations of clinical research. Because most dietary sodium comes from processed and prepared foods, the American Heart Association urges health organizations, the food industry and policy makers to provide people with heart-healthy, low-sodium alternatives.

Reason discovered for the toxicity of indoor mould

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 07:46:46 EDT

A team of researchers from Finland has discovered how indoor mold makes people sick. The only remedy is to heal the living environment, they say.

Hyponatremia linked to increased risk of death, complications following surgery

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:15:15 EDT

An observational study of nearly one million patients who underwent surgery suggests that preoperative hyponatremia (an electrolyte disorder in which sodium levels in the blood are low) was associated with an increased risk of complications and death within 30 days of surgery.

Skin and immune system influence salt storage and regulate blood pressure

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 08:16:16 EDT

High blood pressure is responsible for many cardiovascular diseases. High salt intake has long been considered a risk factor, but not every type of high blood pressure is associated with high salt intake. New findings now show that the skin and the immune system play an important role in the regulation of the sodium balance and hypertension, as he reported at a symposium in Berlin.

Stress prompts some to retain as much salt as eating fries, study finds

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:50:50 EDT

When stressed, about 30 percent of blacks hold onto too much sodium, the equivalent of eating a small order of fast food French fries or a small bag of potato chips, according to new research.

New insights into salt transport in the kidney

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:29:29 EDT

Sodium chloride, better known as salt, is vital for the organism, and the kidneys play a crucial role in the regulation of sodium balance. However, the underlying mechanisms of sodium balance are not yet completely understood. Researchers in Germany have now deciphered the function of a gene in the kidney and have thus gained new insights into this complex regulation process.

Coconut water is an excellent sports drink -- for light exercise

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:39:39 EDT

Coconut water (Coconut liquid endosperm) is widely consumed in many countries as a refreshing beverage but its unique chemical composition of electrolytes and nutrients can make it a good natural substitute of sports drink.

Diets high in salt could deplete calcium in the body

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:16:16 EDT

The scientific community has always wanted to know why people who eat high-salt diets are prone to developing medical problems such as kidney stones and osteoporosis. Medical researchers may have solved this puzzle through their work with animal lab models.

Sodium buildup in brain linked to disability in multiple sclerosis

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:48:48 EDT

A buildup of sodium in the brain detected by MRI may be a biomarker for the degeneration of nerve cells that occurs in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Taking the fate of stem cells in hand: Immature nerve cells generated

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:56:56 EDT

Biologists have deliberately transformed stem cells from the spinal cord of mice into immature nerve cells. This was achieved by changing the cellular environment, known as the extracellular matrix, using the substance sodium chlorate. Via sugar side chains, the extracellular matrix determines which cell type a stem cell can generate.

Antibacterials in personal-care products linked to allergy risk in children

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:29:29 EDT

Exposure to common antibacterial chemicals and preservatives found in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal-care products may make children more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies, according to new research.

Too much salt may damage blood vessels and lead to high blood pressure

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:17:17 EDT

Eating a high-salt diet for several years is associated with markers of blood vessel damage. People who have markers of blood vessel damage and eat a high-salt diet are more likely to develop high blood pressure; Therefore, the impact of a high-salt diet is greater on this group of people.

New clues to how brain cancer cells migrate and invade

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:30:30 EDT

Researchers have discovered that a protein that transports sodium, potassium and chloride may hold clues to how glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest type of brain cancer, moves and invades nearby healthy brain tissue.

Simple way to remove mud from drinking water

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:43:43 EDT

It's easy to purify clear water: just put it in transparent bottles for a few hours in the sun. Muddy water -- like that found in the developing world -- is another issue. Now researchers have devised a simple way to get the mud out.

New evidence of harmfulness of second-hand smoke: Cancer causing agent present in gaseous phase of cigarette smoke

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:21:21 EDT

Scientists have shown that a key protein involved in cell function and regulation is stopped by a substance present in cigarette smoke. The authors found a cancer-causing agent called reactive oxygen species present in the gaseous phase of cigarette smoke that has the ability to inhibit normal cell function. Exposure to secondhand smoke impaired the function of the sodium pump, necessary for healthy cell regulation.

Nano rescues skin: Shrimp shell nanotech for wound healing and anti-aging face cream

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:44:44 EDT

Nanoparticles containing chitosan have been shown to have effective antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli. The materials could be used as a protective wound-healing material to avoid opportunistic infection as well as working to facilitate wound healing.

Link between sodium, calcium and heartbeat illuminated

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:56:56 EST

Researchers have revealed, for the first time, one of the molecular mechanisms that regulates the beating of heart cells by controlling the movement of sodium in out of the cells -- and what calcium has to do with it.

Early dietary experience shapes salt preference of infants and preschoolers

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:40:40 EST

Researchers report that 6-month-old infants who have been introduced to starchy table foods, which often contain added salt, have a heightened preference for salty taste. They also were more likely to consume plain salt at preschool age. The findings highlight the potentially significant role of early dietary experience in shaping salty taste preferences of infants and young children.

Genetic defect disturbs salt handling and pushes up blood pressure levels: Gene responsible for hypertension identified

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:05:05 EST

Hypertension is an endemic condition with far-reaching consequences. For instance, high blood pressure is the main cause of heart attacks and strokes. Other organs are also damaged by the chronic condition. Hypertension is attributed to a high salt intake and a genetic predisposition. Scientists have now discovered that even a normal salt intake can cause hypertension in people suffering from a sodium dysregulation. Researchers have managed to identify the responsible gene.

Study calls sodium intake guidelines into question

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:29:29 EST

For years, doctors have warned that too much salt is bad for your heart. Now a new study suggests that both high and low levels of salt intake may put people with heart disease or diabetes at increased risk of cardiovascular complications.

Study evaluates association between urinary salt excretion and risk of cardiovascular events or death

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:28:28 EST

For persons with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, urinary sodium excretion (a surrogate for salt intake) at higher levels or at lower levels compared to mid-range values was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events (for higher levels) or cardiovascular death and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (for lower levels), according to a new study. Also, higher estimated urinary potassium excretion was associated with a reduced risk of stroke.

A new technique makes it possible to reduce by half the amount of salt in already desalted cod

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:29:29 EST

Researchers have achieved a 50% reduction in the amount of salt in already desalted cod, thus obtaining a final product that preserves all its sensory properties and is particularly suitable for persons with hypertension.

New breeds of broccoli remain packed with health benefits

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:52:52 EDT

Scientists have demonstrated that mineral levels in new varieties of broccoli have not declined since 1975, and that the broccoli contains the same levels of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and other minerals that have made the vegetable a healthy staple of American diets for decades.

Additives meant to protect vitamin C actually cause more harm, study suggests

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:54:54 EDT

Anti-caking agents in powdered products may hasten degradation of vitamin C instead of doing what they are supposed to do: protect the nutrient from moisture.

Kidney damage and high blood pressure: Faulty filtration allows detrimental enzymes to wreak havoc on fluid balance, research suggests

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:46:46 EDT

Scientists have now begun to understand kidney damage on a cellular level and how the activity of certain molecules in damaged kidneys contributes to salt and water retention in nephrotic syndrome. Several new insights in this area of research are presented at an upcoming meeting.

Cellular intricacies of cystic fibrosis

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:48:48 EDT

When researchers discovered the primary genetic defect that causes cystic fibrosis (CF) back in 1989, they opened up a new realm of research into treatment and a cure for the disease. Since then, scientists have been able to clone the defective gene and study its effects in animals. Now researchers have developed a technique for observing the defects at work in human tissue donated by patients with CF.

Older adults with too much salt in diet and too little exercise at greater risk of cognitive decline, study finds

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:17:17 EDT

Older adults who lead sedentary lifestyles and consume a lot of sodium in their diet may be putting themselves at risk for more than just heart disease. A new study has found evidence that high-salt diets coupled with low physical activity can be detrimental to cognitive health in older adults.

Gazpacho ingredients lose vitamin C during preparation

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:29:29 EDT

In summer, more dishes like gazpacho –- a cold soup containing raw vegetables, bread, olive oil and vinegar –- are consumed. A new study has revealed that ingredients’ vitamin C content as well as other organic acids is lower in the resulting mixture, meaning that it should be eaten immediately after preparation.

Seventy percent of 8-month-olds consume too much salt, UK study shows

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EDT

Seventy per cent of eight-month-old babies have a salt intake higher than the recommended UK maximum level, due to being fed salty and processed foods like yeast extract, gravy, baked beans and tinned spaghetti. High levels of salt can damage developing kidneys, give children a taste for salty foods and establish poor eating practices that continue into adulthood and can result in health problems later in life.

Study investigates association between intake of sodium and potassium and deaths among U.S. adults

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:16:16 EDT

A high sodium intake, especially when combined with a low potassium intake, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, according to a new study.

A mother's salt intake could be key to prenatal kidney development

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:41:41 EDT

New animal study has drawn an association between pregnant mothers' sodium intake and their newborn's kidney development.

A breath of fresh air for detecting vitamin B12 deficiency

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:44:44 EDT

Researchers have developed a new test to detect the levels of vitamin B12 using your breath, allowing for a cheaper, faster, and simpler diagnosis that could help to avoid the potentially fatal symptoms of B12 deficiency.

Neuroscientists' discovery could bring relief to epilepsy sufferers; Computational model of epileptic seizures at molecular level

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:13:13 EDT

Researchers have made a discovery that could help drug manufacturers develop new antiepileptic drugs and explore novel strategies for treating seizures associated with epilepsy. The researchers used a computational model of the cortical network to show that during seizure there is a slow and progressive buildup of intracellular sodium in neurons, and that it is this accumulation of intracellular sodium that leads to the termination of the seizure.

Food coloring and ADHD: No known link, but wider safety issues remain, researcher says

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:19:19 EDT

When University of Maryland psychologist Andrea Chronis-Tuscano testified at an FDA hearing, it changed her mind about the risks of artificial food coloring for children, and drove her to reconsider what she feeds her kids. Chronis-Tuscano walked into the meeting certain that NO convincing scientific evidence supports the idea that these additives cause ADHD. While testimony from other experts did NOT shake that assessment, it did raise concerns about the overall safety for children.

Molecular mechanism for some anti-arrhythmia drugs discovered

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:50:50 EDT

Researchers -- using an innovative, atom-by-atom substitution method -- have uncovered the mechanism by which a particular class of drugs controls irregular heartbeats.

Study evaluates relationship of urinary sodium with health outcomes

Tue, 03 May 2011 16:13:13 EDT

In a study conducted to examine the health outcomes related to salt intake, as gauged by the amount of sodium excreted in the urine, lower sodium excretion was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, while higher sodium excretion did not correspond with increased risk of hypertension or cardiovascular disease complications.

Popular diabetes drugs' cardiovascular side effects explained

Tue, 03 May 2011 13:27:27 EDT

Drugs known as thiazolidinediones, or TZDs for short, are widely used in diabetes treatment, but they come with a downside. The drugs have effects on the kidneys that lead to fluid retention as the volume of plasma in the bloodstream expands. Now researchers report that those negative consequences arise in more than one way. The findings may lead to the development of improved diabetes therapies.

Before you start bone-building meds, try dietary calcium and supplements, experts urge

Mon, 02 May 2011 11:06:06 EDT

Has a bone density scan placed you at risk for osteoporosis, leading your doctor to prescribe a widely advertised bone-building medication? Not so fast! A new study finds that an effective first course of action is increasing dietary calcium and vitamin D or taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Self-powered, blood-activated sensor detects pancreatitis quickly and cheaply

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:38:38 EDT

A new low cost test for acute pancreatitis that gets results much faster than existing tests has been developed by scientists. The sensor, which could be produced for as little as a dollar, is built with a 12-cent LED light, aluminum foil, gelatin, milk protein and a few other cheap, easily obtainable materials.

Elevated levels of sodium blunt response to stress, study shows

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:50:50 EDT

All those salty snacks available at the local tavern might be doing more than increasing your thirst: They could also play a role in suppressing social anxiety. New research shows that elevated levels of sodium blunt the body's natural responses to stress by inhibiting stress hormones that would otherwise be activated in stressful situations.

Physical activity decreases salt's effect on blood pressure, study finds

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:38:38 EDT

The less physically active you are, the more your blood pressure rises in response to a high-salt diet, new research finds. Following a low-salt diet may be particularly important in lowering blood pressure among sedentary people.

Sugar-sweetened drinks associated with higher blood pressure

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:30:30 EST

Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages such as fruit drinks are associated with higher blood pressure levels, according to a new study. Adults with higher sodium intake had a stronger association between sugar-sweetened beverages and high blood pressure.