School-based childhood obesity programs may be having an unintended harmful effect on some kids, according to a poll of American parents. Nearly a third of parents of children ages 6 to 14 who were surveyed about obesity prevention  programs in their schools said their kids were engaged in “worrisome behavior”: inappropriate dieting, excessive worry about fats in foods, preoccupation with food content and labels, refusing family meals, and too much physical activity. Eighty-two percent of parents reported at least one obesity intervention program in their child’s schools. Seven percent said their children were made to feel bad at school about what and how much they were eating.

A U.S. study of 559 teenagers found a significant association between high-fructose diets and higher blood pressure, fasting blood glucose levels, insulin resistance and inflammatory factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. Participants in the study were also found to have lower levels of cardiovascular protectors such as HDL cholesterol and the protein adiponectin. According to the researchers, the fructose in high fructose corn syrup is pretty much the same as in table sugar, “but it's believed there's something in the syrup processing that plays a role in the bad byproducts of metabolism."

Investigators who looked at smoking data on 5,338 lung and colorectal cancer patients found that five months after diagnosis, 14 percent of lung cancer patients and nine percent of colorectal patients were still smoking. Thirty-nine percent of lung cancer patients, and 14 percent of colorectal cancer patients, were smoking at the time of diagnosis. The findings suggest that more effort is needed to encourage cancer patients who smoke, especially colorectal cancer patients, to quit smoking after their initial diagnosis and provide counseling and other types of support during the process.

Though it has been the prevailing wisdom for four decades, a U.S. study finds that eating a high-fiber diet does not reduce the risk of diverticulosis – pouch formation – in the large intestine. In fact, consuming a diet high in fiber seems to increase the risk of diverticulosis, which affects a third of adults over age 60 and can be harmful if complications develop. The study was based on data from 2,104 patients aged 30-80 years who underwent outpatient colonoscopy from 1998-2010. "We were surprised to find that a low-fiber diet was not associated with a higher prevalence of asymptomatic diverticulosis," one researcher said.

U.S. scientists who collected and analyzed 395 raw pork samples from 36 stores in Iowa, Minnesota and New Jersey found that seven percent – 26 samples – carried methicillin-resistant Staphulococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. This level is much higher than previously thought. MRSA causes around 185,000 cases of food poisoning each year and can also cause serious, life-threatening infections of the bloodstream, skin, lungs and other organs. MRSA is resistant to a number of antibiotics. The researchers found no significant difference in MRSA contamination between conventional pork products and those raised without antibiotics or antibiotic growth promotants.

Fast weight gain in the first three months of life was found to be associated with an increased risk of asthma symptoms as children grew, Dutch researchers report. The increased risk was noted regardless of whether infants had a low birth weight. The researchers said there was no clear explanation yet of the mechanism underlying the relationship, but accelerated weight growth in early life seems to “adversely affect lung growth and might be associated with adverse changes in the immune system.” They said further research is needed to duplicate their findings and discover why faster growth rates in infancy were linked to asthma risk.

Many public health efforts to promote physical activity among kids neglect to advise on the risks of serious injury and ways to lower that risk, according to U.S. researchers. Popular kids’ activities – walking, bicycling, swimming, sports and playground use – are the leading cause of activity-related injury. But the researchers said that there are many behavioral, environmental and policy approaches -- e.g., encouraging use of bicycle helmets -- that have been shown to make physical activity safer for children. A program to reduce childhood injury in Sweden, for example, cut the child injury death rate in half between 1966 and 2001.

German researchers have confirmed a fact that most people already knew: pictures of delicious food trigger hunger pangs. The study, which was conducted among healthy young men, suggests that the pervasive presence of pictures of appetizing food in the media contributes to weight increase in Western populations. The researchers showed the study participants picture of food, then measured the amount of the neurosecretory protein hormone ghrelin in the blood. They found that the level of ghrelin, which controls both eating behavior and physical processes involved in food metabolism, increased significantly as a result of visual stimulation from food images.

Swiss and U.S. researchers have discovered that limiting the effect of a molecule called NcoR that adjusts metabolism much like a dimmer switch adjusts electric flow could provide a way to ramp up metabolism and reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes. According to the researchers, it might be possible to produce drugs that specifically target NCoR activity only in one tissue or another, such as fat or muscle. "With this adipocyte [NCoR] knockout you get systemic insulin sensitivity; the liver and muscle gets better too," the researchers concluded. "At the end of the day, it's doing something good for metabolism."

European researchers who examined the regions in the brain involved in appetite sensation found that they are affected by acute sleep loss. Using magnetic imaging (fMRI), the researchers studied the brains of 12 normal-weight males as they looked at images of foods, then compared the results after a night with normal sleep with those obtained after one night without sleep. They found that a single night of total sleep loss curbed energy expenditure the next morning. In addition, subjects had increased levels of hunger, which indicates that an acute lack of sleep may affect human's food perception. The researchers conclude that poor sleep habits can affect people's risk of becoming overweight in the long run.

An alternative to LASIK eye surgery known as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), which is often recommended for athletes and military personnel who have a higher risk of head trauma, nevertheless has a major downside: a longer period of post-surgical pain. But U.S. researchers have discovered that adding vitamin E to special PRK contact lenses containing anesthetics extended the time of release of the pain-killing drugs. The vitamin E acts as a barrier, keeping the anesthetics on the eye where they are needed for a longer time.

Researchers in the U.S. have disproved the weight-loss tip that suggests smaller plates and portion sizes helps control food intake. For the study, normal weight women and overweight women were randomly assigned to eat lunch on two days. Lunch consisted of spaghetti and tomato sauce, using either a small or large plate. Each subject was asked to self-serve the food onto the assigned plate and told to eat until satisfied. During the second lunch, each subject went through the same procedure but using the alternative size plate. The researchers found that plate size did not have an impact on energy intake because participants, whether normal weight or overweight, ate until they were full regardless of what utensils they used.

A British study has found that activity in the brain’s orexin/hypocretin neuron system – which controls energy balance and wakefulness – is regulated by macronutrient balance rather than simply by the caloric content of the diet. This cellular mechanism allows brain cells to translate different diets into different patterns of activity. The orexin/hypocretin neurons are apparently under a “push-pull” control by sugars and proteins, a finding that is consistent with reports that when compared with sugar-rich meals, protein-rich meals are more effective at promoting wakefulness and arousal.

Researchers who analyzed data collected between 1998 and 2007 among school children found no correlation between overweight or obesity and the availability of junk food in schools. About 60 percent of fifth graders and 86 percent of eighth graders attended schools that sold junk food such as candy, soda, chips, etc. But despite the big increase in the percentage of students who attended schools that sold junk food between fifth and eighth grades, there was no rise in the percentage of students who were overweight or obese. In fact, the U.S. researchers said, despite the increased availability of junk food, the percentage of students who were overweight or obese actually dropped from fifth grade to eighth grade, from 39.1 percent to 35.4 percent.

A U.S. study among nurses finds that long work hours and shift work adversely affect the quantity and quality of sleep, often leading to unhealthy behavior and an increased risk of obesity. In the case of the 2,103 nurses surveyed – more than half of whom were overweight or obese – jobs often required less physical activity, also contributing to obesity. The researchers said their findings also have negative implications for hospitals and patient care outcomes. Possible remedies include: increased availability of healthy food, having sufficient time to eat healthy food, education about sleep hygiene, offering adaptive work schedules, and setting an organizational climate that supports napping in the workplace.

A lack of iron in the diet in the early years of life can affect the brain’s physical structure, according to a study by U.S. researchers who measured levels of a protein (transferrin) that transports iron throughout the body and the brain in adolescents. They found that transferrin levels were related to detectable differences in the brain’s macro-structure and micro-structure when the adolescents reached young adulthood. The researchers hope that their discovery may shed some light on the neural mechanisms by which iron affects, neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration.

U.S. researchers report that variations in the gene CD36 make people’s taste buds more or less sensitive to the taste of fat. The study is the first to identify a receptor on the human tongue that can taste fat, and suggests that some people may be more sensitive to the presence of fat in foods. The researchers suggest that as people consume more fat they become less sensitive to it, requiring more intake for the same satisfaction. A better understanding of how CD36, a protein that facilitates the uptake of fatty acids, works in people could provide a clue to the development of more effective ways to fight against obesity.

Overweight and obese individuals who stuck to a “low glycemic load” diet of grains, legumes and other slowly-digested, high-fiber foods experienced a significant reduction in a biomarker of inflammation called C-reactive protein, a U.S. study has found. The biomarker is associated with chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hardening of the arteries. For the 28-day study, 80 healthy males, half of whom were obese or overweight, ate either a high glycemic load diet (carbohydrates that are typically low-fiber, highly processed carbs) or a low glycemic load diet (carbohydrates higher in fiber). Among participants who followed the low glycemic load diet, the inflammation biomarker was reduced by 22 percent.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil could play a role in treating peripheral nerve cell damage, according to British researchers. Peripheral nerves transmit signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. The nerves have the ability to regenerate when damaged, but full recovery only occurs when injuries are minor. The study found that a high level of omega-3 fatty acids helped mice recover from sciatic nerve injury more quickly and more fully. And their muscles were less likely to waste following nerve damage.

A protein-based hormone in muscle cells that serves as a chemical messenger could be a very promising candidate for developing novel treatments for diabetes, obesity and perhaps even cancer, U.S. scientists report. The protein apparently triggers some of the key health benefits of exercise. Dubbed “irisin,” it directly affects adipose (fat) tissue that stores excess calories and contributes to obesity. A rise in irisin levels through repeated bouts of prolonged exercise – but not during short-term muscle activity – switches on genes that convert white fat into good “brown” fat, which burns off more calories than exercise itself.

A Chinese study finds that two types of compounds in coffee significantly inhibit a substance that has been determined to be a cause of type 2 diabetes. The misfolding of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) causes type 2 diabetes, and the new research shows that drinking four or more cups of coffee daily cuts the risk of type 2 diabetes in half, mainly because of the blocking activity of two components: caffeic acid (CA) and chlorogenic acid (CGA). “CA shows the highest potency in delaying the conformational transition of the hIAPP molecule with the most prolonged lag time.” Another component of coffee extracts –  caffeine – shows the lowest potency in blocking hIAPP.

Indian scientists who analyzed decades of research on the benefits of dietary fiber (or roughage) report that consuming adequate quantities can improve  gastrointestinal health, reduce susceptibility to diseases such as diverticular disease, heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes. Consuming more dietary fiber has also been associated with increased satiety and weight loss. Dietary fiber – i.e., the non-digestible parts of the fruit and vegetable products we eat – can be obtained from fruit, vegetables, whole-grain foods, such as muesli and porridge, beans and pulses, as readily available foods rich in dietary fiber.

U.S. researchers have developed an inexpensive technique for reducing food poisoning, one of the world’s most serious public health issues. The method, which involves applying a low-voltage alternating current to foods, completely deactivates E. coli bacteria most often found on the surface of contaminated meat. The technique offers a quick and easy way to decontaminate at-risk – but otherwise safe beef – without recourse to microbicidal chemicals or other more complicated treatment processes. The research team said that the level of contamination used in their testing far exceeded the contamination that would be seen in commercial carcasses after slaughter.

Europeans reportedly are alarmingly deficient in vitamin D, a nutrient that is essential to the immune system, calcium absorption and other biological processes, researchers in Spain have found. Scientists believe the ideal plasma level of vitamin D is at least 30 ng/ml, but the level in as many as 50 to 70 percent of Europeans is much lower than that, putting them at risk of many diseases and disorders. In menopausal women, a vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, loss of motor coordination and bone fractures. The researchers suggest that vitamin D supplementation would help reduce the risk, especially among postmenopausal women.

Physical activity during work and leisure time significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks in both developed and developing countries, according to a study of more than 29,000 people in 52 countries. The research linked ownership of a car and a television to an increased risk of heart attacks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The data "extend the importance of physical activity and confirm a consistent protective effect of physical activity across all country income levels in addition to the known benefits of modifying traditional risk factors such as smoking,” researchers concluded.

An analysis of data from 94,000 Canadians aged 18 to 69 years has found that many people, especially those with low income or low education, are less likely to eat healthy levels of fruits and vegetables each day. A geographic exception to the finding was people from Quebec, who have a long tradition of farming and eating fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Men, singles, smokers, people in their 40s and households with no children all were less likely to eat fruits. And women tended to snack on fruit and vegetables more frequently (5.4 times a day) than men (4.5 times).

Lifestyle intervention among people at high risk of diabetes could cut the rate of progression to the debilitating disease by as much as 50 percent, according to a U.S. study. Researchers reviewed published literature and studies that tested adaptations of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) trial, in which participants received exercise shoes, meal replacement shakes, one-on-one coaching by exercise physiologists, nutritionists, and nurses, and gym memberships. The researchers found that one year after enrollment the average participant had lost about four percent of baseline body weight, an amount that may offer diabetes protection. Costs associated with diabetes prevention could also be lowered without sacrificing effectiveness. The key to success in weight loss? Motivating higher session attendance.

Researchers at the University of Texas have found that significant numbers of young women do not realize that they have gained several pounds over six months. Nearly one-third of women in the study did not recognize weight gain of 4.5 pounds, and nearly one-quarter of women did not recognize gains of 8.8 pounds during a six month interval. Black women and DMPA users (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, commonly known as the birth control shot) were more likely to recognize weight gain than their counterparts. Failure to recognize recent significant weight gain puts women at risk for cardiovascular disease and other obesity-related conditions. Researchers said self-perception of weight gain appears to be significantly influenced by race, ethnicity and contraceptive methods.

U.S. researchers estimate that a penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks would reduce consumption by 15 percent and reduce the occurrence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to the study, over a ten-year period (2010-2020), the penny-per-ounce tax could reduce new cases of diabetes by 2.6 percent, and prevent as many as 95,000 coronary heart events, 8,000 strokes, and 26,000 premature deaths. The health benefits represent more than $17 billion over a decade in medical costs avoided for adults ages 25 to 64, in addition to generating approximately $13 billion in annual tax revenue.

Potential new preventative treatments for type 2 diabetes may begin as early as pre-birth, according to British research. Poor nutrition in the womb can put a person at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other age-related diseases because they are less able to store fats correctly as adults. Storing fats in the right areas of the body is important because otherwise they can accumulate in places like the liver and muscle where they are more likely to lead to disease. The process is controlled by a molecule called miR-483-3p produced at higher levels in individuals who had experienced a poor diet in their mother's wombs than those who were better nourished.

Different levels of exercise can significantly boost – or retard – a person’s chances of catching a cold or other respiratory infection, British research has found. Though moderate exercise does reduce the risk of catching colds, prolonged, strenuous exercise can make a person more susceptible. Stressful endurance activities such as marathons can dampen the activity of immune cells called Natural Killer (NK) cells, which are important weapons in the fight against viral infections. In fact, in the weeks following a marathon, studies have reported a 2-6 fold increase in the risk of developing an upper respiratory infection.

Vitamin D deficiencies, which have been associated with a wide variety of diseases and disorders, have now been linked to depression, a U.S. study finds. Researchers examined data from 12,600 participants from late 2006 to late 2010. Higher vitamin D levels were associated with a significantly decreased risk of current depression, particularly among people with a prior history of depression. Low vitamin D levels were associated with depressive symptoms, particularly those with a history of depression. The study did not address whether increasing vitamin D levels reduced depressive symptoms. But the researchers say their findings suggest that screening for depression in people with low vitamin D levels “might be useful.”

An ancient Chinese herbal anti-hangover medicine isolated from the plant Hovenia seems to counteract alcohol intoxication and withdrawal symptoms, according to research from UCLA, and may someday provide a useful treatment for alcoholism. The compound known as dihydromyricetin blocks the action of alcohol on the brain and neurons and reduces voluntary alcohol consumption without any major side effects. The research, conducted in rats, will be extended to clinical trials in the near future, researchers say. They hope that the compound will provide a molecular target and cellular mechanism to counteract alcohol intoxication and dependence, leading to new therapeutic treatments.

Researchers in Canada and the U.S. who studied 45 overweight and obese women found that women who spent 15 minutes writing about why certain values were most important to them actually lost more weight over four months than women who did not. All of the women ranked their values – e.g., creativity, music, friends, family, etc. – in order of importance. But half of the group wrote about why those values were important, while the other half did not. Those who had written about an important value lost an average of 3.41 pounds, while women in the control group gained an average of 2.76 pounds. The researchers suggested that reminding yourself of what’s important in life may help prevent unhealthy habits, such as snacking.

A German study of the effect of consuming omega 3 fatty acid supplements during pregnancy on the fat mass of newborns has found no evidence of any association. The study was launched to see whether pregnant mothers could “program” their children to avoid obesity by eating healthy fats. For the study, expectant mothers increased their intake of omega 3 fatty acids with fish oil capsules and fish-based meals during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The diet did not have any discernable impact on the fat mass of the offspring. At 12 months, the babies were as rotund or slim as the children in the control group. The researchers advised that "many of the claims associated with food supplements should be treated with caution."

U.S. researchers have found that too much vitamin D – which is necessary for healthy bones and heart protection – may adversely affect cardiovascular health and could actually cause harm. Increasing levels of vitamin D in the blood are linked with lower levels of a marker for cardiovascular inflammation: c-reactive protein, or CRP. But increases in vitamin D beyond normal levels were associated with increases for the inflammation marker, which is linked to stiffening of the blood vessels and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. “At some point,” the researchers concluded, “[vitamin D] can be too much of a good thing.” The findings were based on an analysis of data from more than 15,000 nutrition and health survey participants.

British researchers have developed an algorithm-based online calculator that will help physicians assess a mix of patient symptoms and risk factors to identify women most likely to have ovarian cancer. Having that information would allow physicians to refer patients for further investigation and treatment much earlier than before. A study of the effectiveness of the algorithm showed that it was successful in predicting almost two-thirds of ovarian cancers in the ten percent of women who were most at risk of having the disease over a two-year period. The calculator assesses risk factors such as age, family history, previous diagnosis of other forms of cancer, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal distension, rectal bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding and anemia to predict which patients were most at risk.

A U.S. study has found that the body mass index (BMI) percentile method of calculating body weight of adolescents is best for clinical and research purposes. Researchers decided to study the problem because there are no clear guidelines on calculating weight among children and adolescents with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. For the study, they calculated expected body weights using the BMI method along with two other commonly used measures: the McClaren and Moore methods. BMI was the most useful method for children and adolescents of all ages, heights and weights, and could account more accurately for very short and very tall patients as well.

Researchers in Sweden who analyzed questionnaire data from patients who had undergone esophageal cancer surgery found that the quality of life of 16 percent of patients deteriorated significantly over five years.  Only ten percent of patients survive esophageal cancer five years after diagnosis, and only 30 percent survive five years after the operation. The study found that most patients who survive for at least five years after surgery recover an average quality of life. But quality of life deteriorates significantly for one in six to a level much lower than the average population in the five years after surgery. This suggests, researchers said, that hospitals need to do a better job of identifying this patient group.

A Swedish study of about 4,000 obese people – half of whom had had bariatric (weight loss) surgery – found that the surgery was associated with a reduced long-term incidence of cardiovascular deaths and events such as heart attack and stroke. After adjustment for several  variables, bariatric surgery was associated with fewer fatal cardiovascular events and a lower incidence of total cardiovascular events. The surgery was also associated both with fewer fatal stroke events and total stroke events. However, the researchers found no significant relationship between weight change and cardiovascular events in either group, perhaps because of “inadequate statistical power to detect this relationship.” Surgery patients underwent gastric bypass (13.2 percent), banding (18.7 percent), or vertical banded gastroplasty (68.1 percent).

A U.S. study reported that people whose diet is rich in certain vitamins, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, not only had higher scores on mental thinking tests, they were less likely to experience the brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D are mainly found in fish, while the B vitamins and antioxidants C and E are found mainly in fruits and vegetables. The researchers also noted that people with diets rich in trans fats are more at risk for brain shrinkage and have lower scores on thinking and memory tests. Trans fats are primarily found in fast, fried and frozen foods, and in baked goods and margarines. The study involved 104 people (average age 87) with very few risk factors for memory and thinking problems.

A U.S. study among 25 healthy people who consumed either low, normal or high protein diets found that those on the low-protein diet gained less weight than those on the normal or high protein diets. In fact, researchers said, calories alone, not protein, appeared to contribute to an increase in body fat. Protein contributed to changes in energy expenditure and lean body mass, but not increases in fat. All participants in the study, both men and women, gained weight. But the rate of weight gain in the low protein diet group was significantly less than in the other two groups: 6.97 lbs. vs. 13.3 lbs for the normal protein diet group and 14.4 lbs in the high protein diet group.

Women who are effectively managing celiac disease – mainly by not eating foods containing gluten – still have a higher risk of depression and disordered eating than the general population, a study by Penn State University researchers finds. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes abdominal pain, constipation, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting when gluten, a protein composite found in wheat and other grains, is consumed. For the study, researchers, surveyed 177 American women over age 18 diagnosed with celiac disease, about their physical and psychological symptoms. They found that even those managing their illness very well reported higher rates of stress, depression and a range of issues related to body dissatisfaction, weight and shape when compared to the general population.

A U.S. study that tested a compound derived from an omega-3 fatty acid in fish and fish oil found that it targeted and killed the stem cells of myelogenous leukemia in mice. The researchers, who have applied for a patent for the compound, known as delta-12-prostaglandin J3, or D12-PGJ3, say their next step is to test its efficacy in human trials. Prior research on fatty acids has shown the health benefits for the cardiovascular system and brain development, particularly in infants. The new research shows that some metabolites of omega-3, specifically EPA or eicosapentaenoic acid, can selectively kill leukemia-causing stem cells. "The important thing is that the mice were completely cured of leukemia with no relapse," the researchers said.

Australian researchers report that most of the 60 brands of beer they tested, including some marketed as “low-gluten”, contain enough of a gluten known as hordein to cause symptoms associated with celiac disease. Eight of the beers labeled “gluten free” did not contain gluten, but two “gluten free” brands contained as much gluten as regular beer. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by exposure to gluten, a protein found in foods and beverages made from barley, wheat and rye. Symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc.  The only treatment is to follow a gluten free diet. Hordein is the gluten component found in barley-based beers.

Obese women can experience healthy and successful pregnancies as long as they cope with the special challenges they face, a U.S. researcher reports. For example, forty percent of obese pregnant women are deficient in iron, 24 percent in folic acid, and four percent in vitamin B12. These deficiencies can cause cardiac problems and spinal defects in newborns. It is a myth that obese women need to gain 15 pounds during pregnancy. The fact is that excessive weight gain during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications, including preterm birth, failed labor induction, etc. Other topics reviewed by the author include obese women and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth and respiratory complications, and the likelihood of breastfeeding.

Researchers from Canada and the U.S. argue in a recent medical journal editorial that a couple of key issues have been overlooked in the interpretation of clinical trials that found that vitamin B therapy did not result in any cardiovascular benefits. In fact, vitamin B12 is harmful – it actually increased the risk of heart attack and stroke – in the presence of renal (kidney) failure, but is beneficial in people with good renal function. Studies lumped the two groups together, skewing the results. In addition, the researchers argued, most of the trials did not use a high enough dose of vitamin B12. The conclusion? Vitamin B therapy still has a role in reducing the risk of stroke.

Swedish researchers studying the impact of the Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables and fish found that it significantly increases lifespan. Using the unique "H70 study" to compare 70-year-olds who eat a Mediterranean diet with others who have eaten more meat and animal products, researchers found that those who eat a Mediterranean diet have a 20 percent higher chance of living longer. "This means in practice that older people who eat a Mediterranean diet live an estimated 2 - 3 years longer than those who don't," the researchers concluded.

Infants six months old who have eaten starchy table foods containing salt learn to prefer salty foods more than infants not exposed to the foods. For the U.S. study, salt preference of 61 infants was tested using plain or slightly salty water at both two and six months. Twenty-six infants already eating starchy foods preferred the salt solutions to water. The 35 babies not yet introduced to starchy foods were indifferent to, or rejected, the salty water. Exposed infants consumed 55 percent more salt during a food preference test than did babies not yet introduced to starchy foods. "Our findings suggest that early dietary experience influences the preference for salty taste," the researchers concluded.