Increased intakes of magnesium may reduce a man’s risk of colon cancer by over 50 % says a new observational study from Japan. Intakes of the mineral of at least 327 milligrams per day were found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 52 % compared to intakes less than 238 milligrams per day, but no benefits were observed in women according to this epidemiological study by researchers from Japan’s National Cancer Center in Tokyo.      Earlier dietary surveys show that a large portion of adults do not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men).

     Dysglycemia is any disorder of blood sugar metabolism including impaired glucose tolerance, prediabetes, and diabetes. Researchers from the University of Montpellier led by Dr. Tasnime Akbaraly report a protective effect for the mineral selenium against disordered blood glucose.

     The results of a meta-analysis of existing studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals an association between protection from colorectal cancer and higher blood levels of active Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate or PLP); this is the principle active coenzyme form of vitamin B6.      “Although vitamin B6 is found in a wide variety of foods, many older people do not obtain an adequate intake of this nutrient,” write Susanna C. Larsson, PhD and coauthors.

     Supplements of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil capsules may improve lung function of athletes during and after exercise, suggests a new study from Germany and Iran with wrestlers. Amateur Iranian wrestlers experienced improvements in numerous measures of lung capacity, including lung volume [forced vital capacity (FVC)] and airflows [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)], and found significant improvements following 12 weeks of supplementation and training.      “These results also have far-reaching implications for coaches, trainers, and exercise physiologists who work and design training programs for amateur and professional wrestlers,” wrote the researchers from the Urmia University in Iran and the University of Tuebingen in Germany.

     Insufficient blood levels of vitamin D may be associated with the accumulation of fat in muscle tissue, leading to lower muscle strength, says a new study. The study included 90 young women aged 16 to 22. It found that almost 60 % of them were vitamin D insufficient, and that muscle fat levels were higher in the Vitamin D insufficient women, compared with women with normal vitamin D levels.