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Jul 26, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- LESS BENEFITS OF VEGETABLES WITH NO FAT
Eating salad vegetables with some added fat promotes the absorption of lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotenes, an Iowa State University finds. Study author Wendy White had participants eat salads of spinach, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes and carrots, topped with Italian dressings containing 0, 6 or 28 grams of canola oil. Hourly blood samples were collected for 11 hours following each meal, and tested with highly sensitive detection equipment at Ohio State University. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, finds that essentially no beta carotene absorption was observed when salads with fat-free dressing were eaten. A significantly greater absorption of lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene was recorded when salads were eaten with full-fat dressings than with reduced-fat dressings.
SOME ADOLESCENTS WANT TO GET PREGNANT
Although most U.S. adolescent pregnancies are accidental, University of Alabama researchers find that a substantial number of girls want to get pregnant. Study leader Susan L. Davies questioned 455 low-income, African-American adolescent girls in Birmingham, Ala., aged 14-18 between 1996 and 1999 and found 24 percent expressed some desire to become pregnant in the near future -- and exhibited risky sexual behaviors. The study, published in Health Education & Behavior, suggests this population be targeted to understand the realities of motherhood and the risk of HIV and STDs with unprotected sex.
BRITISH VACATIONERS HAVE RISKY SEX
A study of British vacationers finds about 25 percent had sex with a new partner while away, and two thirds did not use condoms. However, a separate study of vacationers in Tenerife in the Canary Islands showed that 50 percent age 25 or younger had sex with a new partner on vacation, compared to 22 percent of those over age 25. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, also finds that travelers to developing countries as well as the former Soviet block countries are additionally at risk for infections, such as syphilis. Between 2000 and 2002, 69 percent of men in the United Kingdom who acquired HIV from heterosexual sex were infected while abroad.
MEN GET LESS FROM GROUP THERAPY
Men are not really good at sharing their feelings and a Canadian study finds that women respond better to short-term group therapy. Women generally had better outcomes in short-term group therapy relative to men and that men were less committed to their therapy groups, finds a study in Psychotherapy Research.
"This research focused on short-term groups," says study leader Dr. Anthony Joyce, of the University of Alberta. "In longer-term therapies, it may be that men are better able to eventually 'get on board' and attain the same level of improvement as women."
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(EDITORS: For more information on VEGETABLES, contact Wendy White at (515) 294-3447. For ADOLESCENTS, Susan L. Davies at (205) 934-6020 or sdavies@uab.edu. For VACATIONERS, Emma Dickinson at 44-207-383-6529 or edickinson@bmj.com. For GROUP THERAPY, Ryan Smith at (780) 492-0436 or ryan.smith@ualberta.ca)
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.
