Reader’s Digest Health Report: March 2018
Updated: Oct. 04, 2018
We’ve rounded up the three most fascinating medical discoveries from around the world in this month’s health report.
Important Diabetes Type Frequently Misdiagnosed
About five to 10 per cent of all diaÂbetes in Western countries is type 3c, which develops when the body has trouble producing insulin because of pancreas damage due to conditions such as cystic fibrosis or pancreatic cancer. By contrast, in the common type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to use insulin properly. A British health report showed that the majority of type-3c diabetes patients are diagnosed with type 2 instead. This matters because type 3c generally means worse glycemic control and a more urgent need for insulin in order to avoid complications (e.g., damage to the kidneys).
Plus: Fibre Is Good for Us, But Scientists Haven’t Known Why Until Now
Veggie Nutrients Better Absorbed With Oil
In an experiment published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants ate salad with varying amounts of soybean oil, a common ingredient in commercial salad dressings. More oil resulted in higher blood levels of several essential nutrients, including vitamin A and lutein. These nutrients came from the vegetables, but the fat in the oil helped the body absorb them better. There’s no need to drown salad in dressing, the lead author said, but a couple of tablespoons’ worth of oil per day could help you get the most out of a healthy diet.
Release more fat with these key—sometimes counterintuitive—salad ingredients.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Raises Risk of COPD
By comparing more than 24,000 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with controls, a team from Arthritis Research Canada and the University of British Columbia discovered that RA increases the likelihood of getting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 47 per cent. That’s because inflammation plays a role in COPD development. The scientists recommended that RA patients miniÂmize their inflammation with treatment (e.g., NSAIDs, biologics) and watch for lung symptoms, such as wheezing, so that COPD can be caught in the early stages if it does arise.
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