Science Media Centre

Calcium gives you strong bones, right? Not according to new Kiwi research. Increasing calcium intake through diet or supplements should not be recommended for fracture or osteoporosis prevention, say researchers from the University of Auckland. They undertook two studies examining the available published evidence for the role of calcium in boosting bone health in older […]

The company behind a new New Zealand weight loss product claim their latest clinical trial shows the pill works — but experts say more rigorous studies are needed to show it is actually effective. Satisfax, a blend of grape and kiwifruit extracts, was developed by Tuatara Natural Products as a weight loss aid which slows […]

Earlier today, UK health charities launched a consensus position paper on vitamin D covering issues of sun exposure, cancer risk and dietary supplementation, recommending some exposure to midday sun. The paper also emphasised that evidence for additional health benefits for vitamin D beyond bone health (such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc) remain inconclusive, and […]

Thursday (1 July) sees the launch of a new iodine tablet targeted at pregnant and breastfeeding New Zealand women. The 150 mcg iodine supplement will be subsidised, and recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Health for daily consumption by all women considering pregnancy, or who are […]

Week from hell for climate science It broke last weekend and has run all week – the “climategate” saga that has seen the private emails of prominent climate scientists leaked onto the web and picked over by climate change sceptics who accuse them of manipulating data to show the world’s climate is warming. New Zealand […]

Dietary supplements are an increasingly common part of our lives, but should they be? A sophisticated, multibillion dollar industry exists in supplying dietary supplements. It is not unusual for people to take vitamin and mineral supplements every day, while some rely on caffeine drinks for a daily energy boost and nutrition bars that promise more […]

Briefing: dietary supplements Dietary supplements such as multivitamin tablets and energy drinks are an increasingly common part of our lives, but should they be? Concerns have been sparked recently by the availability of ultra-high caffeine energy drinks, the proliferation of people taking (often large) doses of vitamins/minerals every day, and an industry which appears to […]

Virginia Winder of the Taranaki Daily News writes about the new ultra-high caffeine energy drinks available on the market, and why there is rising concern about their availability. The drinks, which are legally available to teens and children, also contain guarana, a stimulant more potent than caffeine – indeed, the sale of drinks containing guarana […]