Researchers from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center report for the first time a link between blood levels of Folic Acid and a decrease in the risk of developing asthma and higher levels of folate may reduce the risk of having asthma by 16% suggests new research from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. “Our findings are a clear indication that folic acid may indeed help regulate immune response to allergens, and may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms,” said lead researcher Elizabeth Matsui. The researchers reviewed the medical records of over 8,000 people aged between 2 and 85.

Almost 15,000 people took part in the study, which reported that increased blood levels of vitamin B6s active form, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), were significantly associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. The study follows similar findings from Scotland-based researchers published last year. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital (Edinburgh) and the University of Aberdeen reported that increased intakes of vitamin B6 from dietary and supplements may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by over 20%.

Dutch and Australian researchers from Queensland Institute of Medical Research, the University of Queensland, and Maastricht University report that the mineral Selenium was associated with big reductions in the risk of both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Dr. Jolieke van der Pols and her co-workers examined 485 adults randomly sampled and the researchers noted an association between selenium levels and protection from both forms of cancer.

Daily supplements of a hydrolysed collagen may improve skin hydration by 28% and reduce the wrinkles by 30% according to two new studies from Rousselot. Researches in France and Japan performed two double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical studies. The French study involved 47 European women aged between 35 and 55, while the Japanese study involved 33 Asian women aged between 40 and 59.

Daily supplements of a multi-species probiotic (healthy bacteria for the intestines) food may reduce the risk of eczema by 58 per cent, according to a new study from The Netherlands. The eczema-reducing properties were sustained until the age of two, according to results of a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial with mothers and subsequently their babies with a family history of allergic disease. The study used a mixture containing one billion colony forming units (CFU) of each Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis (previously classified as Bifidobacterium infantis), and Lactococcus lactis.