A round-up of other health news
Study shows 'pill' may give women longevity
CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS may lead to longer lives for women, according to a 40-year study that showed users were less likely to die of heart disease, cancer or a range of other medical ailments.
The report eases concern from early studies that found women who used the contraceptives may be at higher risk of cancer or dying from strokes, particularly those who smoke, the researchers said.
The study tracked 46,112 women from throughout Britain starting in 1968. Women who took the pill were 12 per cent less likely to die from any cause during the study, according to the report in the British Medical Journal.
The findings varied depending on age, though the length of time on the pill had no significant impact, the researchers said.
The risk of death was slightly higher in women under the age of 45 who were current or recent users, though it abated after 10 years. By age 50, the benefits outweighed the risks.
Overall, there were 52 fewer deaths than expected for every 100,000 women taking the pill each year, the researchers estimated.
“Our results do not suggest a persisting or emerging mortality risk over time among women who have used oral contraceptives,” said researchers led by Philip Hannaford from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. “Many women, especially those who used the first generation of oral contraceptives many years ago, are likely to be reassured by our results.”
The risks may be different with the oral contraceptives that are widely used now, particularly if women start taking them earlier or use them for longer, the researchers said.
Bananas may help in treatment of HIV
BANANAS MAY hold the key to new treatments that protect against the Aids virus. In tests, scientists found that a banana ingredient called BanLec was as potent as two existing anti-HIV drugs.
They believe cheap therapies based on BanLec have the potential to save millions of lives. The ingredient is a lectin, a naturally occurring chemical in plants which fights infection. Researchers in the US found that the lectin found in bananas can inhibit HIV infection by blocking the virus’s entry into the body.
Participants sought for study into eye condition
SIXTY PEOPLE are being sought to participate in a study into the most common cause of blindness among people aged over 50 in Ireland – Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Researchers at the Institute of Vision Research, which is based at the Whitfield Clinic in Waterford, are to investigate if a dietary supplement can prevent the progression of the disease, which affects the central part of the retina responsible for clear central vision.
An estimated 80,000 people in Ireland and over 12 million across Europe are affected by the condition.
The research will examine if the dietary supplement, which contains macular pigment, a yellow pigment occurring naturally at the back of the eye, can reduce the risk of a patient with early AMD developing the later stages of the condition.
The trial requires 60 patients who have been diagnosed with early AMD. Following an eye screening, suitable participants will be enrolled into the trial and provided with a 12-month course of the dietary supplements.
Dr John Nolan, director of the Institute of Vision Research, said the aim of the trial was to identify which dietary supplements work best to increase the patient’s macular pigment level.
“It is our hope that participants in this trial will be potentially protected from developing the late stages of AMD and that their vision will be preserved.”
People interested in participating should contact: Eithne Connolly, Whitfield Clinic, Waterford on 051- 302153 or at eithne@ivr.ie
