A large, population-based sample of African-American and white adults found that whole-grain intake was associated with lower heart failure risk, whereas intake of eggs and high-fat dairy were associated with greater HF risk after adjustment for several confounders. Relationships between incident heart failure (death or hospitalisation) and intake of seven food categories (whole grains, fruits/vegetables, fish, nuts, high-fat dairy, eggs, red meat) were investigated in an observational cohort of 14,153 African-American and white adults, age 45 to 64 years, sampled from four United States communities.

Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, November 2008.

Champix (varenicline), a smoking-cessation therapy by Pfizer, was launched in Kingston, recently. Addiction to nicotine is a habit that is very difficult for many smokers to quit. When smokers inhale smoke from a cigarette, nicotine reaches the brain within seconds and binds to nicotinic receptors, activating the reward pathway in brain circuitry. This stimulates the pleasure centre in the brain. The initial effects recede quickly and a cycle of craving and withdrawal takes hold. "Champix is unique because it is specifically designed to partially activate the nicotinic receptor, reduce the severity of the smoker's craving and the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine", said Dr Miguel Vizquez, Medical and Regulatory Affairs Director for Pfizer in the Caribbean".

Patients should be informed that the patient should stop taking Champix and contact a health-care provider immediately if agitation, depressed mood or changes in behaviour are observed, or if the patient develops suicidal ideation or suicidal behaviour. These symptoms, as well as worsening of preexisting psychiatric illness, have been reported in patients attempting to quit smoking with Champix or after stopping the drug.

Source: Pfizer

The National Health Fund has approved a grant of US$62,100 for a study to be conducted by the Scientific Research Council (SRC), to create a glycaemic index (GI) database of commonly eaten Jamaican foods and to develop low GI food products from selected food crops having low GI values. The glycaemic index is a classification of carbohydrate foods based on their potential to raise the blood sugar levels when consumed. Persons with diabetes, in particular, should monitor GI indices of foods in order to control the spikes in blood sugar levels after a meal. Foods with high GIs would spike the blood glucose levels considerably and affect the control of diabetes. Using the GI concept has therefore been accepted as an excellent nutritional management guide for diabetics. The study is currently being done at the University of the West Indies and should be completed in 24 months.

Source: National Health Fund