Omega-3 Pills Fail to Make a Difference in Cognitive Decline
Maybe the theory that fish-oil pills can help protect your brain is, well, a little fishy. A new review of the evidence for a protective benefit from the omega-3 fatty acids in fish found no significant difference between fish-oil supplements and placebo. The analysis, for the prestigious Cochrane Review, looked at 3 high-quality clinical trials totaling 3,536 participants. Some previous observational studies have suggested that omega-3s might protect against cognitive decline, and that possibility makes sense, since fatty acids play an important role in brain health. But the review of clinical trials saw only tiny, statistically insignificant differences in performance on tests of memory, executive function and mental processing speed. One trial also used a test called the mini-mental status evaluation (MMSE), in which participants given omega-3s scored only 0.07 points apart from those on placebo. The trials used dosages of the omega-3s found in fish oil ranging from 400-700 mg and lasted from 6 to 40 months. — Cochrane Review

Hospital Meals Flunk Salt Test
A stay in the hospital could be bad for your blood pressure — and not just because of the anxiety associated with hospitalization. A University of Toronto study finds hospital food is high in sodium, which is linked to hypertension risk. Researchers analyzed more than 2,300 daily menus at 3 acute-care hospitals in Ontario. When patients weren’t picking their own meals, 86% of daily menus topped the recommended maximum sodium intake of 2,300 mg and 100% exceeded the 1,500 maximum for higher-risk individuals. Average daily sodium was 2,896 mg. Patients did marginally better when they got to pick the day’s meals, with 79% exceeding 2,300 mg and 97% over 1,500 mg. At least patients specifically on salt-restricted diets mostly got meals within recommended maximums. Diabetics, though, averaged 3,406 mg of daily sodium in menus selected by the hospital. Researchers concluded, “Our findings highlight the need for sodium-focused food procurement and menu-planning policies to lower sodium levels in hospital patient menus.” — Archives of Internal Medicine

Antioxidant-Rich Foods May Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk
Foods rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E and selenium may help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer — a poorly understand cancer that’s often diagnosed too late for effective treatment, making prevention especially important. British researchers report that people consuming more dietary vitamins C and E and selenium (but not zinc) were at 67% lower risk for pancreatic cancer than those in the lowest one-quarter of intake. The fact that higher risk was seen only in the lowest intake group suggests a “threshold effect,” scientists commented, beyond which extra antioxidants offered no further protection. If a causal connection is confirmed, however, 1 in 12 such cancers could be prevented by getting more than the lowest level of dietary antioxidants. Researchers compared 49 participants in the large EPIC-Norfolk study who developed pancreatic cancer with 3,970 healthy controls. In contrast to previous negative findings with antioxidant supplements, scientists added, “food sources of these nutrients may have different effects.” — Gut

Consumers Turning to “Foods with Benefits”
Even before the expected food-price hikes from this summer’s drought, consumers are looking to get more bang from their grocery buck, according to a new survey. The Food Marketing Institute’s annual “Shopping for Health” survey of 1,471 representative adults reports that health concerns and the economy are causing Americans to cook at home more often. Consumers are also buying more “plus” foods that promise nutritional benefits, with 32% picking foods with claims such as added whole grains, fiber or protein. The number targeting more protein specifically was up 10 points, and more than half said they’d switched to whole-grain bread. More of those surveyed also said they were shopping for “minus” claims, with 32% buying more low-sodium foods than a year ago. “More and more shoppers are making the shift to foods with benefits,” said an FMI spokesperson. “They are steering away from empty calories and asking, ‘What’s in my food and how is it good for me?’”

Evidence Lacking for Sports-Boosting Product Claims
If you’re among those watching your grocery bills with a newly sharp eye these days, you might want to think twice about those pricey (and calorie-filled) sports drinks in your cart. A new review of health claims for 104 sports drinks, supplements aimed at athletes, and other products purporting to boost performance or recovery reports slim scientific support for those promises. More than half of the 431 claims made on manufacturers’ websites had no specific scientific research supporting the claims. Among those that did cite supporting studies, 84% of the studies were deemed to have a high risk of bias and 42% were not randomized. Overall, only 3 studies referenced were found to be “high quality and at low risk of bias.” — BMJ