3H Labs research: Steamed ginger extract supports weight loss
Supplementing with steamed ginger extract may help to reduce body fat and total weight while also improving cholesterol levels.
Published in Nutrients, the 12-week-long randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involved 80 overweight adults with a high body mass index who took either 480mg of steamed ginger extract marketed as Zinoact or a placebo.
Findings showed marked reductions in weight, body fat percentage, and body fat mass in the intervention group as compared to the placebo group.
Fortified milk drink shows promise for preschool brain development
Preschool children who consumed multi-nutrient-fortified milk showed improvements in processing Speed Index and beneficial shifts in gut microbiota, according to a new study from China.
Writing in Nutrients, researchers said that improvements in processing speed in preschoolers were benefits associated with gut ecosystem modulation characterized by Bifidobacterium enrichment.
A total of 120 healthy children aged 3 to 6 years were randomized to take a standard control milk or a fortified milk containing 50mg DHA per 100g, ARA, Bifidobacterium, galacto-oligosaccharides and multiple vitamins and minerals twice daily.
Weizmannia coagulans BC99 presents promising probiotic strategy for chronic constipation
Supplementing probiotics could enhance intestinal motility, regulate gut microbiota and increase short-chain fatty acids production, says a new study from China.
A total of 100 adults with constipation were randomized to take the probiotics Weizmannia coagulans BC99 or a placebo.
Writing in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers highlighted that BC99 supplementation could improve bowel movement frequency, stool characteristics, and psychological well-being through multi-faceted mechanisms.
Low-dose ashwagandha effective for exercise endurance and overall performance: RCT
Thirty milligrams per day of an optimized ashwagandha ingredient may boost cardiorespiratory fitness and delay the onset of fatigue in healthy adults, according to data from a study from India.
New data published in Phytotherapy Research indicated that eight weeks of ashwagandha supplementation led to significant improvements in VO2max and maximal heart rate, compared to the placebo.
Moreover, participants in the ashwagandha group exhibited lower lactic acid levels at exercise, suggesting prolonged aerobic metabolism.
Review explores evidence for folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects
A clearer picture exists of how much folic acid supplementation is needed to avoid neural tube defects (NTDs) during pregnancy.
Writing in Nutrients, researchers from Peking University and PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center in Beijing, China, conducted a systematic review outlining optimal folic acid supplementation practices to reduce NTDs.
Their primary recommendations included initiating supplementation at least three months preconception and that daily doses should include 0.4 mg for low-risk, 1 mg for moderate-risk, and 4 to 5 mg for high-risk women.
