Fishy Omega-3 risks. On December 12, The Washington Post published excerpts from a fascinating Food and Drug Administration draft report about fish that contradicts what environmental activists and government regulators have been saying for years. [News Source]

Looking to private records for public health goals. About 1,000 physicians nationwide are using a computerized database to collect and monitor their patients' health information for public-health goals like monitoring disease frequency, cancer screening and substance abuse. [News Source]

Seychelles health ministry sets up research programme on autism. The Seychelles Ministry of Health and Social Development is setting up a research programme in the context of the Seychelles Child Development Study to learn more about autism in the Seychellois population. [News Source]

How food companies are teaching schoolchildren to love their products. Children are being fed misleading information about healthy eating habits by food companies which try to pass off marketing as educational resources for schools, a report reveals today. [News Source]

Processed food may fuel lung tumors: Korean study. Common food additives, known as phosphates, may help lung cancer tumors grow faster, at least in mice, South Korean researchers reported on Monday. [News Source]

Lung cancer link to food additive. Commonly-used food additives may fuel the growth of lung cancers, a Korean study on animals has suggested. Processed foods including meat, cheese, and drink contain inorganic phosphates. [News Source]

New Year’s Revelation: Bottled Vitamins No Way to Beat Cancer (Bloomberg) Dec. 30 (Bloomberg) -- If you’re pondering a New Year’s resolution to lead a healthier life in 2009, head to the fresh produce stand instead of the vitamin shelf. [News Source]

Vitamins C and E and beta carotene again fail to reduce cancer risk in randomized controlled trial (EurekAlert!) ( Journal of the National Cancer Institute ) Women who took beta carotene or vitamin C or E or a combination of the supplements had a similar risk of cancer as women who did not take the supplements, according to data from a randomized controlled trial in the Dec. 30 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. [News Source]

High vitamin C linked to lower BP in young women (Reuters via Yahoo! News) A study in young adult women links high blood levels of vitamin C with lower blood pressure. [News Source]

Vitamins Fail to Prevent Cancer: Study (HealthDay via Yahoo! News) TUESDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In another blow to the supposed cancer-fighting powers of vitamins C and E, new research suggests that supplement forms of the vitamins don't prevent the disease in women. [News Source]

Vitamin supplements do not protect woman against cancer research finds (Daily Telegraph) Taking vitamin supplements does not protect women against cancer a study has concluded. [News Source]

Blood Pressure Discovery; Vitamin Research; Diabetes Cure? (WCVB Boston) An operation could help teens who are struggling with obesity and type 2 diabetes. [News Source]