The first issue of MJA for 2019 is out now
The new issue of the Medical Journal of Australia is out now. Among the articles this month are two research letters discussing important lifestyle-related health issues: alcohol consumption and nicotine.
A research letter from Ann Roche and Victoria Kotadinov outlines why alcohol consumption by Australians over 50 years of age is concerning. Analysing data from the tri‐annual National Drug Strategy Household Surveys for 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016, the authors found that the proportion of the cohort drinking at ‘risky’ or ‘high risk’ levels has increased. While the majority still drink at low risk levels, there are now an additional 400,000 people drinking at the higher risk levels. The issue is discussed on the MJA Podcast.
Elsewhere, Emily Chivers and colleagues discuss the presence of nicotine and other harmful substances found in nicotine-free e-cigarette liquids. The authors explain that lack of regulation and inaccurate labeling of the substances poses a significant risk to consumers.
The authors examined the contents of ten “nicotine-free” e-liquids purchased online and over the counter. They found that a majority of them contained nicotine and other dangerous chemicals including one classified as acutely toxic by the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
This week on MJA InSIght, the Research news in brief highlights recent research which found that dietary fibre lowers the risk of diet-related diseases. Citing a meta-analysis published in the Lancet on studies and trials conducted over nearly 40 years, higher intake of fibre suggests significant reduction in all-cause cardiovascular-related mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer, as well as being associated with lower bodyweight and cholesterol.
You can read these articles and more at the MJA website. Subscription to the MJA is one of your benefits as an AMA member.
