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All Friday Fun Fact Marvelous Monday Messy Media News You Can Use Tuesday Talk
All Friday Fun Fact Marvelous Monday Messy Media News You Can Use Tuesday Talk
Media headline:What the media says:The article promotes several medical uses of ginkgo biloba with a focus on its increasingly popular weight loss application. It reports that specific chemicals present in the plant have been associated with weight loss or related phenomena (e.g., increased blood flow), but not ginkgo itself. The article further touts other health benefits of ginkgo, such as improved cognitive function and specifically memory. It is suggested that these secondary benefits of ginkgo may also lead to weight loss because it will help you better remember to track calories. What the literature actually says:No study has yet investigated the effects of ginkgo biloba on weight loss in humans. However, several groundwork studies have found evidence that ginkgo affects fat storage in poultry chickens and rats. These studies are not evidence of safety or ability of gingko to produce its desired effect (i.e., weight loss) in humans. In fact, these data call for further studies before recommendations can be made to the public in regard to weight loss. Additionally, specific guidelines for how much ginkgo one should take are offered. It must also be noted that clinical trials in humans found ginkgo to be ineffective in preventing dementia, which further calls into question the supplement’s overall use. You can find helpful links to studies here, here, and here. Why the media is messy:
Bottom line:Gingko is a popular supplement but there are limited studies of its effects in humans, especially in regard to weight loss. Individuals who want to lose weight should not take gingko but seek alter their behavior in other ways, such as consultation with a general practitioner or nutritionist about safe exercises and healthy eating habits. AuthorsRachel Davies, Pamela Noble, Rachel Flammia, & Jessica L. Bourdon What was studied and why:Tobacco use is a huge health concern amongst young college students, which can eventually lead to addiction and cancer. This study focused on patterns of tobacco usage among freshmen and their predictors, which were cultural/environmental influences and social/interpersonal factors. Reference: Cooke, M. E., Nasim, A., Cho, S. B., Kendler, K. S., Clark, S. L., & Dick, D. M. (2016). Predicting tobacco use across the first year of college. American Journal of Health and Behavior, 40, 484-495. How it was studied:In order to initiate the study, a sample of 4,073 college students in their first year were surveyed on their tobacco usage frequency over the course of their Fall and Spring semesters. This included anything from cigarettes to cigars, smokeless tobacco, and hookah. Then, students’ frequency of tobacco use was analyzed for distinct usage levels and changes between levels over time. What was found:Three levels of of tobacco use frequency were found: no usage, experimenting, and frequent usage. The level of a student’s usage was stable across the first year of college. In other words, those that did not use tobacco in the Fall continued to refrain from using it in the Spring. This stabilization held true for both the “experimenting” and “frequent usage” levels as well. If there was any change in usage, it was most commonly found with users who were experimenting in the Fall. Some of these students changed to the “no usage” level in the Spring. Moreover, a number of other factors, including demographic, environmental, and intrapersonal, were shown to affect usage in the Fall, as well as changes in usage from Fall to Spring. The bottom line:Students are likely to use multiple alternative tobacco products along with cigarettes during their Freshman year. Their frequency of use of these products is fairly stable across the first year, and the largest predictor of picking up a cigarette in the first place was the larger exposure gained at first year of college. The data demonstrates the importance of the college experience on young adult tobacco use. For more information:AuthorsAndres Somoza, Ashritha Chitimalla, Elizabeth Kazarian, & Jessica L. Bourdon What was studied and why:Understanding the genetic factors that influence our behavior and mental health is important. Lately, researchers have classified our behavior and mental health into five broad systems to make studying specific disorders easier and more organized. These are: negative, positive, cognitive, social, and arousal systems. This review focused on negative systems, which include how we react to fear, anxiety, chronic threat, and reactions to reward. The purpose was to see if there are trends in genetic findings, such as if multiple scientists found the same genes associated with a system. Reference: Savage, J. E., Sawyers, C., Roberson-Nay, R., & Hettema, J. M. (2016). The genetics of anxiety-related negative valence system traits. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B, 9999, 1-22. How it was studied:A literature review was conducted to examine all genetic studies related to each negative system (fear, anxiety, chronic threat, reactions to reward). Specifically, the review focused on the genetics of our behavior, physiology, and neurology related to these negative systems. For example, studies were reviewed that ranged from the genes associated with behavioral changes that occur when we become afraid to the emotional changes that occur when we are anxious. What was found:Despite trends in the literature about the genetic structure of negative systems, there are few consistent findings. However, the review concluded that most aspects of negative systems are influenced by many genetic variants of small effect. There are no single genes responsible for a negative system behavior, physiological response, or neurological pathway. For more information:To learn how about these ways of dividing up behavior and mental health, visit the National Institute of Mental Health. AuthorsJessica L. Bourdon & Elizabeth C. Long |