Gluten-free, Mediterranean diets, vitamin D research: What primary care physicians need to know

With March designated as National Nutrition Month, Healio Internal Medicine highlights five of the most informative and noteworthy recent stories in nutrition news, including benefits of the Mediterranean diet, adverse effects of a gluten-free diet and breakthroughs in vitamin D research.

Mediterranean diet may positively impact long-term brain health

Lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet during the course of 3 years was associated with brain atrophy in older adults, according to study findings published in Neurology. Read More.

Review on dietary sugar guidelines sparks debate

Research findings suggest the current guideline recommendations for sugar intake are not based on high-quality evidence and thus, are not trustworthy. As a result, researchers urge public health officials and their public audience to consider such limitations. Read More.

Vitamin D supplements, dairy improve bone density, prevent bone loss in older adults

A combination of consuming vitamin D supplements and specific dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt and cheese, was associated with higher bone density in the spine and was protective of bone loss in the hip among older adults, according to data from The Journal of Nutrition. Read More.

Gluten-free diets may be linked to increased type 2 diabetes risk

Frequent consumption of gluten may be associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2017 Scientific Sessions in Portland, Ore. Read More.

Meta-analysis finds new benefit for vitamin D

Vitamin D supplementation was effective in reducing the risk for acute respiratory infections, such as the common cold and influenza, according to a meta-analysis recently published in BMJ. Read More.