“There were good reasons to hypothesize that breastfeeding was important to influencing levels of inflammation in adulthood,” says Thomas McDade (Northwestern University), a CIFAR (Canadian Institute…

By Allison Bond NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Overall body size, rather than shape, is a better indicator of breast cancer risk after menopause, according to a recent study. The analysis of U.S. women contradicts past research suggesting that having an apple shape with a large midriff measurement, regardless of weight or body mass index (BMI), might signal greater breast cancer risk. “When we looked at both BMI and waist size, we found that BMI explained the relationship (with breast cancer risk), and that the waist circumference had little effect,” said Mia Gaudet, an American Cancer Society epidemiologist who led the new study. Having a BMI in the obese range (30 or greater) has also been linked to breast cancer risk up to twice that of women in the normal weight range (BMIs of 25 or less, in this study).

By Shereen Jegtvig NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Just three weeks of exercise and a healthy diet produced positive changes in middle-aged men with a cluster of heart risk factors known as metabolic syndrome, according to a new study from Austria. “The data of the AMAS-2000 study proved that daily hiking for hours at any altitude provides cardiovascular benefits and represents an excellent therapeutic opportunity for physical and mental regeneration even for individuals with a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors,” Dr. Guenther Neumayr told Reuters Health in an email. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of characteristics, including abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and triglycerides, high blood sugar and elevated blood pressure. People with metabolic syndrome are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

By Alastair Sharp TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index slipped on Friday, with energy companies among the leading weights as driller Canadian Oil Sands said unexpected maintenance could hurt its output. The energy sector in Canada has performed well in recent weeks, seemingly boosted by the geopolitical tensions in Ukraine that could limit the availability of Russian commodity exports to Western markets. “The overall scare of the conflict is really weighing on the market,” said Marcus Xu, a portfolio manager at MY Capital Management Corp in Vancouver. But the Canadian market seems to be holding up pretty well.” The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index ended the day down 20.68 points, or 0.14 percent, at 14,533.57.

April 24 – Canadian stock index futures inched higher on Thursday as upbeat earnings from heavyweights such as Apple and Facebook outweighed weak results from Potash Corp . June futures on the S&P TSX index were up 0.06 percent at 0715 ET. No major economic events are scheduled in Canada. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index eased on Wednesday, with gains from some big energy producers offset by weakness in banks and a pullback in Valeant Pharmaceuticals’ shares. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.3 percent at 0715 ET, S&P 500 futures were up 0. …

Scientists have shown new genetic evidence that could strengthen the link between the role of dietary fats with colon cancer progression.

By Alastair Sharp TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index edged lower on Wednesday, with gains from some big energy producers offset by dips in heavyweight banks and a pullback in Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc shares after an acquisition-backed bump. Suncor Energy Inc gained 2.6 percent to C$41.37 and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd added 0.7 percent to C$32.66 even as record U.S. crude inventories hurt oil prices. …

People who had low birth weights and those breastfed for short periods may be more likely to develop chronic inflammation linked to heart disease in adults, a study said Wednesday. Researchers in the United States found a “significant” association in almost 7,000 people between birth weight or duration of breastfeeding and higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, in blood samples of young adults. The protein is produced by the liver and levels increase when a person suffers from inflammation. “Each pound of additional birth weight predicted a CRP concentration that was five percent lower,” said a statement from Northwestern University, whose experts took part in the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.