Treatment with zinc supplements can cut the severity and duration of acute or persistent diarrhea in children researchers note in the in the February issue of Pediatrics. The findings stem from a pooled analysis of data from 22 relevant studies, including 16 that focused on the benefits of zinc in 15,231 children with acute diarrhea and six that looked at 2968 children with persistent diarrhea. Zinc use cut the average duration of both acute and persistent diarrhea according to the researchers from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Berries are a particularly rich source of polyphenols. They also contain other actively protective substances, such as vitamin C. Previous studies indicate that the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods (e.g., cocoa, green tea, and red wine) improve the function of systems related to cardiovascular health.

Women who drink tea may be protecting themselves from a build-up of artery-clogging plaque lowering their risk for heart disease and stroke, according to findings from a French study. The investigators, all with INSERM, France's national institute for medical research, found that older women who reported drinking at least three cups of tea a day were less likely to have plaque in the carotid arteries in their neck than those drinking less tea. The team analyzed ultrasound measures of carotid artery plaque among 2,613 men and 3,984 women, aged about 73 years old on average, in relation to tea drinking and other dietary habits, and medical and personal history obtained during in-person interviews conducted from 1999 to 2001.

Scientists from the Research Institute of Public Health, Kuopio, Finland state that enterolactone (the major Lignan derived from Flaxseed) reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack, and cancer. Because of this prior research they checked the level of enterolactone in 1889 men aged 42 to 60 and followed them for over 12 years on average. The higher the level of enterolactone in the serum of these men the lower the risk of dying from coronary heart disease or other forms of cardiovascular disease.