Science shorts: Tinnitus, PCOS, and sports performance in the spotlight

Higher intake of iron and zinc linked to lower tinnitus risk – Australia study​  

Older adults who consumed more zinc and iron in their diet had lower risk of incident tinnitus, but further studies are needed to confirm the association, said researchers from Australia.

Incident tinnitus refers to noise-induced hearing loss caused by a single incident, such as an explosion or close-range gunshot.

The study, published in Nutrients, ​assessed the link between essential nutrients and the 10-year incidence of tinnitus among Australians aged 50 and above.

Astaxanthin reduces inflammation and cellular stress in PCOS women – RCT​  ​

Researchers found that astaxanthin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation and cell stress in women with PCOS.

Writing in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine​, the researchers reported a reduction in serum levels of TNF-α, IL-18, IL-6 and CRP following eight weeks of astaxanthin supplementation.

The study involved 56 PCOS patients aged 18 to 40, with the intervention group taking 12mg of astaxanthin daily.

Vitamin D can improve metabolic health of PCOS women – RCT​​  ​

Vitamin D supplementation improved body mass index (BMI) and other health markers for women suffering from PCOS, indicating its potential for managing PCOS-related metabolic dysfunctions, according to a study from China.

The 12-week study recruited 60 women who were randomised to take 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily or received only basic treatment which included dietary change and 30-minute aerobic exercise.

Writing in the Journal of Ovarian Research, ​the researchers said that BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin concentrations, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the intervention group as compared to the control group.

Omega-3 aids muscle recovery among overweight males after intense exercise – RCT​​

Omega-3 can reduce muscle soreness and inflammation among untrained overweight males after intense exercise, said researchers.

This is according to a BASF-funded study that was conducted in Thailand. Findings published in Journal of Sports Science & Medicine​.

During the study, 24 males were randomised to receive either four grams of fish oil containing 2,000mg of EPA and 800mg of DHA, or soybean oil capsules.

Personalisation potential: Caffeine's benefits greater in athletes with specific genetic profiles – study​  ​

Caffeine supplementation may bring greater exercise benefits to individuals who are carriers of a specific genetic variant, said a new study which suggested the potential for developing personalised sports nutrition.

The study, published in Nutrients, ​was conducted on 30 men who had undergone at least a year of resistance training.

It was found that TT genotype carriers in the intervention group exhibited significantly heightened growth hormone levels, compared to those with the TC/CC genotype.