NUTRITION BITES

HEART HOPES DASHED

Vitamin K2 supplements failed to slow calcium build-up in heart valves, according to a new study in the journal Circulation. Researchers had hoped that a combination of vitamin K2 and vitamin D supplements might slow the progression of aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body, in a group of older men. However, the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found the supplements had no impact on progression of aortic stenosis.

ADHD IMPROVEMENTS

Children with ADHD and emotional regulation issues who took a micronutrient formula consisting of all known vitamins and minerals for eight weeks were three times more likely to show symptomatic improvement compared with a placebo group (54% versus 18%), a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found. The findings “confirm that supplementation with a broad range of nutrients may benefit some children”, the study report says.

TARGETING NEW MUMS

Formula milk companies are paying social media platforms and influencers to gain direct access to pregnant women and mothers. According to a report from the World Health Organisation, the global formula milk industry, valued at US$55 billion, is targeting new mothers with personalised social media content that is often not recognisable as advertising. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes specifies there should be no advertising or o other form of promotion of t these products to the public. However, H the code in its current c form does not address a many of t the strategies now used in digital marketing.