Scientific articles

From the age of 30, muscular mass loss in men and women is 3-8% per decade and increases up to 5-10% from the age of 50; this circumstance is part of the ageing process and is associated to a decrease of basal metabolism, an increase of fat tissue, a loss of the functional capacity and a higher incidence of age-related diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, depression, etc.). Only 3.5% of the North American adult population meets the minimum requirements of physical activity recommended by scientific associations. Strength training at any age is essential to preserve muscule mass and prevent the previously mentioned alterations. However, the authors recommend the intake of protein with or without carbohydrates just before and/or after this training to guarantee the synthesis of muscular mass in doses of 0.5 g of protein and 1 g of carbohydrates per kilo of body weight.

In this study, the authors analyse the effects of the drastic fall in the use of replacement hormone therapy in hysterectomised (without a uterus) women from 50 to 59 years old as a consequence of the alarm raised in 2002 when the first results of the WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) study were published. The conclusions are alarming because at least 18,601 and a maximum of 91,610 hysterectomised women between 50 and 59 years old who participated in the WHI study and stopped using or did not start using replacement hormone therapy died prematurely due to this circumstance. In conclusion, replacement hormone therapy in young post-menopausal women is associated with a decrease in all causes of death and advice from doctors regarding these treatments in this group of women should urgently be reviewed.

his group of women should urgently be reviewed. You can see the original article by clicking on the followinglink

Scientific proof of the anticancer effects of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids. The authors of this study, published in the prestigious magazine Gut, used the databases from the Nurses’ Health Study and from the Professionals Follow-up Study to evaluate the all-cause mortality and as a consequence of the colon cancer in a sample of 1,659 patients diagnosed with colon cancer, according to their intake of Omega-3 before and after the cancer diagnosis.

It was observed that those patients with a higher intake of Omega-3 had lower mortality produced by the colon cancer itself. Patients with daily intakes lower than 100 mg of Omega 3 had a mortality rate due to cancer itself 41% higher to those who took more than 300 mg daily. Moreover, it was seen that patients who after cancer diagnosis increased their Omega-3 intake by at least 150 mg presented a reduction in mortality rate of 70% with respect to those who maintained their intake at the same levels as before the diagnosis.