ach month, several new nutrition studies are reported in the news and in scientific journals. However, many of those studies are not worth reporting to the lay public for a variety of reasons: either the study subjects were not human (rats and humans are very different species), or the study is too small (12 people is not a representative sample of the population). I always try to bring you the most relevant information in my Research Updates section by highlighting results from large studies that follow populations of humans over long periods of time, like the Nurses' Health Study. Below are results from three recent well-designed studies.

Rheumatoid Arthritis/Heart Disease Link is Strong. Nurses' Health Study researchers recently discovered that women with rheumatoid arthritis were twice as likely to have a heart attack as women without the inflammatory disease. Women who have had the disease for ten or more years had triple the risk of having a heart attack. Both conditions have common aspects of inflammation: in arthritis, the joints and internal organs become inflamed, and in heart disease, cells inside arterial plaques develop inflammation. Not much can be done to prevent rheumatoid arthritis but women who have it should eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and keep their cholesterol levels and body weight in healthy ranges to aggressively protect themselves from heart disease.

Low Vitamin K Associated with Low Bone Mineral Density (BMD). Results from the Framingham Heart Study indicate that women who had the lowest intake of vitamin K (below the current RDA) from both their diets and vitamin supplements also had the lowest BMD. In turn, the women with the highest vitamin K intakes also had the highest BMD. Vitamin K plays a role in the production of bone proteins that bind calcium. Without adequate amounts of this nutrient, bones are weak (low BMD), and the risk of fractures and osteoporosis is greater. Aside from consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, this study indicates that consuming adequate amounts of vitamin K can contribute to stronger bones in women. Good food sources of vitamin K include leafy green vegetables, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and milk.

Breakfast May Help Prevent Obesity and Diabetes. We already know that people who eat cereal for breakfast weigh an average of 8 pounds less than people who either eat something other than cereal or skip breakfast altogether. A new study followed young adults for 8 years and found that the white men and women and black men who ate breakfast daily were 35-50% less likely to develop obesity and insulin resistance (a forerunner to type 2 diabetes) than those who ate breakfast 0-2 times per week. It was unclear why black women did not realize similar benefits. Researchers speculate that eating breakfast helps control appetite and prevent overeating later in the day. However, only those who ate whole-grain cereals had the reduced risks; those who ate refined cereals had no protection. People who ate eggs and bacon actually increased their risks of obesity and diabetes. Breakfast really could be the most important meal of the day-if you do it everyday and eat whole-grain cereals with at least 5 grams of fiber.

Nutrition research is essential for the prevention and treatment of disease and for the maintenance of optimal public health. Just remember that before study results are put into practice, several studies need to be done to confirm the results of a single study. Nonetheless, studies like those reported here can be useful for increasing your awareness of disease risk factors and health-promoting foods and practices.