Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Green-Lights First New Sunscreen Ingredient In 20 Years
The New York Times: F.D.A. Clears Sunscreen Ingredient Long Used In Europe And Asia
The Food and Drug Administration cleared a new ingredient for sunscreens on Tuesday, paving the way for American companies to begin using a compound that has long been a part of popular sunscreens in Europe and Asia. The ingredient, bemotrizinol, works by blocking ultraviolet radiation. It filters out two kinds of ultraviolet rays: ultraviolet A, which contributes to wrinkles and skin aging, and ultraviolet B, which causes sunburns. (Blum, 6/9)
In other health and wellness news —
The Wall Street Journal: Doctors Should Do More Screening For Excess Body Fat And Its Health Risks
Mitzi Franklin was diagnosed with high blood pressure at the age of 16. She didn’t take it all that seriously, often skipping her medicine. “I was your typical teenager thinking I was invincible,” she said. A decade or so later, Franklin learned she had chronic kidney disease. At 42, she had a heart attack and a stroke, then four open heart surgeries. Then diabetes and congestive heart failure. (McKay, 6/9)
NPR: Big Tobacco Helped Shape Ultra-Processed Foods
Tobacco companies spent decades honing marketing strategies, flavor engineering and processing technologies that helped addict consumers to cigarettes. Then, in the 1980s, they started buying up large food firms and deployed these same strategies to sell more ultra-processed foods. So says Laura Schmidt, a professor and researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who has been studying old tobacco company archives. (Godoy, 6/9)
MedPage Today: Dementia May Be Worse For People Taking Popular Supplement
Glucosamine -- a popular supplement used for joint pain -- was associated with faster progression to Alzheimer's disease and worse survival among Alzheimer's patients, a retrospective study of electronic health records suggested. Glucosamine use was linked with a 25% higher likelihood of progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia (P<0.001) over 5 years, reported Ramon Sun, PhD, of the University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute in Gainesville, and co-authors. (George, 6/9)
Military.com: VA Doctor Warns Of Serious, Quiet Threat Plaguing Aging Veterans
Dr. Shannon Carpenter is a rare breed among doctors. She wants to see fewer patients. The shoulder and elbow surgeon at the Kansas City VA Medical Center is finding ways to prevent bone fractures before they happen. She told Military.com that fragility fractures pose a serious, under-discussed threat to aging veterans, especially women, saying that prevention starts with the patient. (Damask, 6/10)
