Science shorts: Probiotic intake complements UTI treatment, Indian herb Brahmi improves cognitive functions and more

Boosting antibiotic treatment: Probiotic intake increases cure rate of urinary tract infection​

Consuming lactobacillus boost the effects of antibiotic treatments​ in women with UTIs and other inflammatory problems by improving the vaginal microbiota, a meta-analysis has shown.

Dr Jurgen Schrezenmeir, professor of internal medicine at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, who was involved in the meta-analysis, highlighted the point when speaking at  a summit in China, organised by the Health Products Association.

UTI and other vagina inflammatory conditions are caused by vaginosis, a condition characterised by the lack of lactobacilli. Lactobacilli is needed for maintaining the normal vaginal pH of 3.8 to 4.4. ​

Ayurveda and Alzheimer’s: Bacosides from Brahmi display cognitive benefits– Malaysian review​

The Ayurvedic herb, bacopa monnieri (B monnieri), has shown to protect against Alzheimer’s disease (AD),​ according to a new scientific review.

B monnieri​, also known as brahmi in the Sanskrit language and brain tonic in English, is a commonly used Ayurvedic herb.

Published in scientific Drug Target Insights​, the review, which was conducted by a group of Malaysian researchers from Taylor’s University, evaluated the effects of bacosides – the bioactive component of the plant.

‘Top-tier evidence’: Major Australian meta-review backs EPA for improving mental health​

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and in particular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has shown the strongest evidence for improving cognitive disorders,​ such as depression, according to a meta-review.

The meta-review, led by researchers from Sydney’s NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University, was published in World Psychiatry​.

They evaluated existing studies that studied the relationship between nutrient intake and mental health improvement.

Omega-3 and pre-term births: Why targeted supplementation could be critical – major new Australian trial​

A targeted omega-3 supplementation policy for at-risk pregnant women, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, could be a the most effective strategy to reduce pre-term births, suggests the findings from a trial of more than 5,500 Australian women.

Researchers from South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute have today reported their initial findings from the ORIP Trial.​

The women were randomly divided into two groups, and from around 12 to 34 weeks’ gestation half were given a daily dose of omega-3, or a vegetable oil capsule.

Palm oil and CVD risk: No evidence of increase in disease biomarkers relative to other UFAs​

Palm oil intake does not appear to induce increases​ in cardiovascular disease risk-related biomarkers relative to other unsaturated fatty acids such as olive, canola and soybean oils, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis from China.

The academics sought to assess the effects of palm oil (PO) consumption on plasma lipid profiles and evaluate its effect on CVD risk by analysing 11 studies involving 547 participants.

All of the studies were performed using healthy individuals with normal cholesterol levels without hypercholesterolemia.