Omega-3 claims look fishy
The claimed health benefits of taking omega-3 fatty acids are starting to unravel. An analysis of studies found little evidence that fish oil supplements cut the risk of heart problems, and even suggests that they could increase the risk of heart attack in men with angina. The study advises that omega-3 dietary guidelines be regularly reviewed.
Genetically better wine
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Pinot noir grapes have bared their genetic secrets to researchers at Italy’s Agricultural Institute of San Michele all’Adige in Trento, who have sequenced the grape’s genome. Researchers at the institute hope to develop better-quality wines, and vines that are more tolerant of disease and climate change.
China bans organ trade
China’s Ministry of Health explicitly banned the sale of human organs on Monday. According to the Xinhua news agency, temporary regulations will forbid any kind of organ dealing before the full ban comes into force in July. All hospitals carrying out organ transplants must now register with regional health departments and get written consent from all donors.
Quake risk closes reactor
A Japanese court ordered the closure of a new nuclear reactor last week because of fears that it would not be able to withstand an earthquake. The Shika power plant sits close to the Ochigata fault line, along which there is a 2 per cent chance of a major quake in the near future. The closure is a victory for local residents who opposed the construction of a new reactor.
Bad news for happy pills
Antidepressants fail to cure at least half of those who take them. So says the largest ever study of depression in the US (The New England Journal of Medicine, vol 354, p 1243). Treatment with a standard antidepressant only helped 30 per cent of the 4000 people studied, though others were helped by a second drug.