Episode Details

HEALTH NEWS  

• Choline intake in pregnancy linked to lower inflammation
• Fatty acids found to influence immune defense during chronic infections
• Online shopping and social media use linked to higher stress levels
• Scientists Discover Natural Compounds With Unexpected Benefits for Skin, Anti-Aging, and Heart Health
• Discrimination damages the body—and makes victims age faster

  Choline intake in pregnancy linked to lower inflammation

Cornell University, February 5 2026 (Eurekalert)

 

A new Cornell University study suggests that choline, a nutrient many pregnant people consume too little of, may play an underappreciated role in keeping inflammation in check during pregnancy.

Choline is an essential nutrient involved in many biological processes, including cell membrane structure, neurotransmitter production, methylation, immune cell receptor agonism, and fetal brain development, and some of these biochemical processes play a role in the regulation of inflammation. It is found primarily in eggs, meat, fish, dairy and some legumes and cruciferous vegetables.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,300 pregnant participants enrolled in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort, one of the most detailed long-running pregnancy nutrition studies in North America. They found that higher recent dietary choline intake was associated with lower levels of inflammation in the third trimester.

Most strikingly, participants with the highest choline intakes had dramatically lower odds of having clinically elevated inflammation than those with the lowest intakes.The current recommendation for choline during pregnancy is 450 mg, but there’s some evidence that that may not be enough.
    Fatty acids found to influence immune defense during chronic infections

University of California at San Diego, February 5 2026 (Medical Xpress)

Our immune system implements an array of strategies to combat threatening infections. White blood cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes or "CD8 T cells" are soldiers of the immune system, serving as defensive agents that fight invading pathogens. When CD8 T cells reach the point of exhaustion, their protective capabilities decline and the immune system is much less effective.

University of California San Diego immunologists have now studied the influences related to metabolism and the environment surrounding CD8 T cells. Their study led to intriguing new insights on the role of fatty acids in chronic infections and other persistent conditions, such as tumors.

The research focused on metabolites, including small molecules such as amino acids, sugars, and lipids, in mice that play key roles in metabolism and its many functions and pathways. The study examined how such metabolites circulating in the blood change during short-lived or long-lasting viral infections.

They discovered that an ongoing viral infection causes a brief but striking shift in the availability of nutrients in the early stages after infection. They saw levels of fatty acids increase during the first week after infection, associated with infection-induced changes in eating behavior and fat breakdown.

At the same time, a special group of exhausted CD8 T cells with stem-like properties was found to absorb and store more fat than other T cells. These cells were able to use fatty acids as an energy source to power their mitochondria, the cell's energy producers. When fatty acids were provided later during chronic infection, the number of stem-like T cells expanded.

 

Online shopping and social media use linked to higher stress levels     Aalto University (Finland), January 9 2026 (News-Medical)

Planning to save time by doing your shopping online? If so, it's possible you're not doing your well-being any favors. A study from Aalto University in Finland has found that online shopping is more str