Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

• Study supports screening to reduce the risk of advanced CRC
  A University of Pennsylvania study found people who underwent a colonoscopy in the past 10 years were 71% less likely to develop advanced colon cancer than those who did not have the screening. Researchers found those who had sigmoidoscopy had a 50% reduced risk of colon cancer, but they noted sigmoidoscopy was associated with prevention of advanced tumors on only one side of the colon. Reuters (3/4)

• EHRs, reminders increase CRC screening rates, study finds
  CNN/The Chart blog (3/4)

• Questions to ask your doctor on colonoscopy
  If your doctor has ordered a colonoscopy, here are some questions you should ask to help ensure you get a quality exam from a specialist in gastrointestinal diseases who has received special training in colonoscopy. You can read the ACG brochure online and print it out to take to your doctor. Get it now.

Top Story

• Survey: 29% of adults want to reduce gluten consumption
  Survey data from the NPD Group found 29% of U.S. adults want to reduce the amount of gluten they eat or switch to a gluten-free diet, which is used to treat the 1% of the population with celiac disease and seems to help people who do not have celiac but have a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance. "For people with celiac disease, the gluten-free diet is medically prescribed. It is the only course of treatment for this lifelong chronic condition. It isn't a choice; it is a matter of life and death," said Andrea Levario, executive director for the American Celiac Disease Alliance. NPD analyst Harry Balzer said the survey showed that while people still eat sandwiches, they are less likely to have bread with a meal and are choosing more gluten-free or wheat-free items when dining out. USA Today (3/5)

Guide to Healthy Living

• Study ties risk of food allergies with lack of vitamin D
  An Australian study of 5,276 1-year-olds showed that vitamin D deficiency was linked to a threefold increased risk of developing food allergies compared with those with vitamin D sufficiency. Researchers also found that children with two or more allergies were 10 times more likely to have vitamin D deficiency. The Age (Melbourne, Australia) (3/4), Science World Report (3/5)

Diagnosis & Treatment

• IBS patients benefit from hypnotherapy, study finds
  Gut-directed group hypnotherapy plus medication led to a better quality of life for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome, according to a study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. "Given that IBS drug developments have been disappointing, GHT is a useful and harmless therapy option with no side effects," the study team wrote. Healio (3/4)

• Study: Oral HCV drugs are best for untreated patients
  Tests of fully oral drug regimens for hepatitis C showed they cured up to 95% of previously untreated patients but only 47% of those whose earlier therapy had failed, a University of Texas researcher reported. None of the patients were given pegylated interferon, which has been a standard HCV treatment but is difficult for patients to tolerate. MedPage Today (free registration) (3/5)

Policy Watch

• Poll: Americans back government efforts to boost health
  A Harvard University survey found 81% of respondents support government initiatives that aim to reduce childhood obesity, while 84% said the government should help diabetes patients better manage their condition. The survey also found 84% said the government should help make fruits and vegetables more affordable, 89% said children should be taught more about the health risks of obesity, and 88% believe school children should get at least 45 minutes of physical education each day. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Booster Shots blog (3/4)

• Report: Generics lower spending on drugs for common conditions
  Spending on drugs to treat common chronic conditions such as high cholesterol and hypertension dropped last year for the first time since record keeping began due to higher utilization of generic drugs, according to new research. Overall spending on prescription drugs rose 2.7%, driven by an 18.4% increase in spending on treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and hepatitis C and other specialty drugs, the study found. Reuters (3/5), Bloomberg (3/5)

The Last Word

News and information from the American College of Gastroenterology

• Constipation sufferers: Fiber to the rescue
  While everyone's had a bout of constipation at one point, eating a high-fiber diet can help alleviate the symptoms and promote normal bowel function. Learn more about fiber, its benefits and which foods you should eat to increase your fiber intake.

SmartQuote

Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want." --Anna Lappé, American writer, speaker and activist