Vaccine that lowers cholesterol offers hope of immunizing against cardiovascular disease

Posted: 19 Jun 2017 03:00 AM PDT

A vaccine to immunise people against high levels of cholesterol and the narrowing of the arteries caused by build-up of fatty material (atherosclerosis) may be possible following successful results in mice. Now, a phase I trial in patients has started to see if the findings translate to humans. The study, which is published today in the European Heart Journal [1], is the first to show that it is possible to immunise genetically modified mice with a molecule that causes the body to produce antibodies

High doses of vitamin C to improve cancer treatment passes human safety trial

Posted: 31 Mar 2017 03:00 AM PDT

Clinical trials found that it is safe to regularly infuse brain and lung cancer patients with 800 - 1000 times the daily recommended amount of vitamin C as a potential strategy to improve outcomes of standard cancer treatments. In a work presented in Cancer Cell, University of Iowa researchers also show pathways by which altered iron metabolism in cancer cells, and not normal cells, lead to increased sensitivity to cancer cell death caused by high dose vitamin C.

Vitamin D protects against colds and flu, finds major global study

Posted: 20 Feb 2017 03:00 AM PST

Vitamin D supplements protect against acute respiratory infections including colds and flu, according to a study led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). The study provides the most robust evidence yet that vitamin D has benefits beyond bone and muscle health, and could have major implications for public health policy, including the fortification of foods with vitamin D to tackle high levels of deficiency in the UK.