Top Medical Studies Drawing Major Attention in 2017
As the sun sets on 2017, we take some time to reflect on the remarkable breakthroughs presented in medical research this year, providing a recap of the most popular peer-reviewed studies covered by Medical News Today (MNT).
In January, the world witnessed Donald Trump taking the oath of office as the 45th President of the United States, while the United Kingdom triggered Article 50 to leave the European Union in March. The year was also stung by natural disasters, including hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as earthquakes and landslides in Mexico and Colombia.
Controversially, the fact-twisting notion that saturated fats clog the arteries and lead to coronary heart disease was called into question by an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Another revelation challenged the common belief that clogged arteries come from the diet we consume, with research suggesting that bacteria living in our mouths and guts might be the root cause.
2017 was a year of clarifying assumptions, as previous beliefs and paradigms of health were challenged by science. Some people might be stunned to know that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, often praised as desirable because it might protect against stroke and heart disease, could heighten the risk of premature death. Likewise, the link between salt intake and high blood pressure has been called into question, with a study suggesting that there is no evidence to support the notion that a diet lower in sodium is beneficial for blood pressure.
For the gluten-free enthusiasts, new research has suggested that diets that unnecessarily avoid gluten may have undesirable consequences, such as increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and depriving people of heart-healthy whole grains. Moreover, a gluten-free diet may expose individuals to toxic metals like arsenic and mercury.
Despite more than 60 percent of adults in the U.S. being obese, a significant portion of the country's adults are now meeting the physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity. Recent research has shown that even a small amount of exercise offers benefits for health, such as reducing the risk of inflammation, depression, and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, just 20 minutes of exercise has been found to suppress the body's inflammatory response.
Research published in October revealed that intermittent fasting could tackle obesity by imparting benefits like reducing inflammation, slowing aging, and lowering the risk of age-related diseases. A similar study indicated that a 2-weeks-on, 2-weeks-off approach to dieting could help boost weight loss and maintain a stable weight.
Scientists are continually studying ways to kill off cancer cells, and in 2017, groundbreaking methods entered the spotlight. A research team found that poliovirus could kill cancer cells and inhibit tumor regrowth, while another cancer-killing technique called caspase-independent cell death (CICD) was seen as a more effective cancer treatment than conventional methods. Research also demonstrated that vitamin C is up to 10 times more effective than experimental drugs at preventing the formation of cancer stem cells.
A surprising study published in July found that chemicals similar to resveratrol could rejuvenate old cells, making them appear and function as young cells. Simultaneously, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine studied how stem cells found in the brain might play a part in the speed of aging, finding that replenishing stem cells to mice's hypothalamus reversed the aging process.
Studies have also provided a step closer to reversing multiple sclerosis, with research indicating that clemastine fumarate could improve the functioning of the nervous system and possibly aid in the repair of myelin. In addition, the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute and Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital conducted a clinical trial, revealing that long-term remission in MS could be achieved by resetting the immune system.
Several studies this year have shown that boosting vitamin D intake could reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in children susceptible to the condition, while consuming a diet rich in omega-6 could decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes by 35 percent. Furthermore, research has suggested that yoga can significantly lower symptoms of depression, and 1 hour of exercise each week can protect against depression, regardless of intensity.
As we turn the page to a new year, medical research is sure to open up more routes of intrigue, debate, and discovery. Stay tuned as MNT delivers the latest findings as they are uncovered. Happy New Year!
- A nutritionist might advise that diets that unnecessarily avoid gluten can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and deprive people of heart-healthy whole grains.
- The link between a free diet lower in sodium and beneficial effects on blood pressure has been called into question, with a study suggesting there is no evidence to support this notion.
- Research has shown that even a small amount of exercise can reduce the risk of inflammation, depression, and all-cause mortality.
- In 2017, a study suggested that intermittent fasting could tackle obesity by reducing inflammation, slowing aging, and lowering the risk of age-related diseases.
- Scientists are studying ways to kill off cancer cells, and in 2017, research demonstrated that vitamin C is up to 10 times more effective than experimental drugs at preventing the formation of cancer stem cells.
