Nuts Combat Unhealthy Cholesterol in Combined Studies
A healthy handful of nuts may help protect you against heart disease by improving cholesterol levels, according to a new study. Researchers pooled results from 25 controlled trials in 7 countries totaling 583 participants not on statins. All the trials compared cholesterol levels between groups consuming nuts and control groups, over periods ranging from 3 to 8 weeks. Daily nut consumption (primarily almonds and walnuts) in the test groups averaged 67 grams — about two-thirds of a cup of walnuts. Compared to the control groups, participants adding nuts to their diets saw an average 5.1% decrease in total cholesterol, 7.4% decrease in "bad" LDL cholesterol and 8.3% improvement in ratio of LDL to "good" HDL. Those with high triglyceride levels saw a 10.2% decline. Different types of nuts had similar effects, but the benefits were greatest among those with higher initial LDL levels and lower body mass index and people consuming more total and saturated fat. The study was partly funded by a nut industry trade group. — Archives of Internal Medicine

Are you nuts? Research finds nuts may actually reduce, not raise, diverticulitis danger.

Fortified OJ Works as Well as Pills for Vitamin D Absorption
Can your body really absorb the vitamin D in fortified orange juice, given that the vitamin dissolves in fat (as in fortified milk) but not water? A new study (funded by Coca-Cola, which makes Minute Maid juice) says yes. Researchers recruited more than 100 adults and divided them into six groups receiving various combinations of OJ fortified with 1,000 IU of vitamin D, supplements of vitamin D, and placebo drinks and pills. When blood levels were tested at the start of the study, 64% of participants were deficient in vitamin D. After 11 weeks, all those getting extra vitamin D saw increases in blood levels, and there was no difference between those receiving it in pills or juice. But there's one catch: You can't buy OJ fortified with 1,000 IU of vitamin D, because government regulations limit it to 100 IU per serving. That may change, however, after the federal dietary guidelines are updated later this year. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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Sucralose Doesn't Boost Blood-Sugar or Hunger Hormones
Contrary to previous animal studies, the zero-calorie sweetener sucralose does not appear to boost blood-sugar levels or promote intestinal hormones that cause you to feel hungry, according to new Australian research. Tests in animals had suggested that sucralose might detrimentally modify the rate of glucose absorption in the body and affect levels of a hormone, GLP-1, linked to hunger. If confirmed in humans, that could have meant the sweetener actually promotes weight gain by causing hunger pangs. Researchers tested the theory in 10 healthy young subjects, randomly assigned to receive either sucralose or a placebo solution. But the results showed no difference in blood-glucose or appetite-hormone levels between the groups. "Species differences are likely to account for the lack of effect of sucralose in human subjects," researchers concluded. Sucralose is marketed as Splenda and used in more than 4,000 reduced-calorie products worldwide. — British Journal of Nutrition

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WIC Program Improves Babies' Birth Weights
Do pregnant women participating in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program have healthier babies? A new analysis of the nationwide spread of WIC since the first office opened its doors in 1974 finds that pre-natal WIC nutritional assistance is associated with a significant increase in babies' birth weight — important in its own right and as a predictor of later health. The gradual introduction of WIC, which now numbers 8.7 million participants, allowed researchers to gauge its effects independently of underlying trends in infant health. Overall, WIC availability was linked to a statistically significant average increase in birth weight of 2.7 grams. When the results were adjusted to reflect that only a portion of eligible mothers actually sign up for WIC, the average birth weight improvement jumped to 29 grams, a 10% gain. WIC provides nutritional counseling and vouchers for food and infant formula to low-income pregnant and lactating women and young children. — National Bureau of Economic Research

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Lifestyle and Treatment Gains Linked to Lower Heart Deaths
The world has about 7,500 more Canadians today thanks to heart-healthier lifestyles and improvements in treatment. That's the conclusion of a study that looked at the reasons for a 35% drop in deaths from coronary heart disease in Ontario between 1994 and 2005. During that span, the coronary mortality rate in the province fell from 191 deaths per 100,000 adults to 125. The analysis showed nearly half of that drop could be attributed to lifestyle improvements resulting in lowered risk factors, led by total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. Reductions in smoking and increases in physical activity also contributed to the improvements. Most of the rest of the drop in heart-related deaths came from advances in medical and surgical treatment. The lifestyle changes went along with a general socioeconomic improvement among Ontario's population — which also had a downside, in the form of increasing obesity and diabetes. Those negative changes partly counteracted the mortality gains, researchers reported. — Journal of the American Medical Association

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