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David Ludwig, MD, published a study in 2012 finding that there was a "metabolic advantage" to diets that are very low in carbohydrates and high in protein. But a researcher who called those results "groundbreaking" is now having second thoughts after discovering several weaknesses.
And in a separate study, low-fat high-carb foods proved to be better than the opposite at curbing appetite in obese patients. (British Journal of Nutrition)
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with schizophrenia, but is the association causal? Researchers used a Mendelian randomization analysis to determine that the answer is no, and that vitamin D supplementation therefore might not affect risk of schizophrenia. (Scientific Reports)
Yoni Freedhoff, MD, recommends that you ignore all breakfast studies.
The Philadelphia City Council preliminarily approved a soda tax, which has faced significant opposition from Coca-Cola. Philly Mag asks if the company's staunch opposition to the soda tax will make it the next Philip Morris.
Does calling obesity a "chronic disease" distract from prevention? (Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes)
The 2014 documentary Fed Up, by Katie Couric, was about how the U.S. food industry might be responsible for a lot of sickness. But it's coming under heavy criticism for using deceptive editing techniques.
Obesity is linked to altered gut bugs, but the relationship and possible mechanisms are unknown. A new mouse study finds that increased production of acetate by an altered gut microbiota affects the parasympathetic nervous system, "which, in turn, promotes increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, increased ghrelin secretion, hyperphagia, obesity and related sequelae." (Nature)