Welcome to another FAB Research update.
In case you missed it
This Friday - Nutrition & Mental Health Event
Join us in person in Bristol for a day of cutting-edge insights, expert speakers, and an opportunity to connect with others exploring new ways to support mental health wellbeing at the Chy-Sawel Charityâs Ninth Annual Conference.
FAB experts Dr Kevin Williamson (NHS Consultant Nutritionist) and Dr Alex Richardson will both be attending this event, and would be delighted to connect with some of you there in-person - but if you canât be there, virtual bookings will give access afterwards.
NUTRITION & MENTAL HEALTH: A 21st CENTURY APPROACH
Friday, September 19, 9am - 5pm GMT+1
Engineers House Conference Venue,
Bristol, Clifton, BS8 3NB
FAB supporters also get an exclusive 10% discount with code FAB2025.
FAB Research Founder Director, Dr Alex Richardson, will be giving two talks:
- Omega-3 & Mental Health: Getting the Fats Right
- The Role of Nutrition in ADHD, Autism & Related Conditions
Other speakers include psychiatrist Dr Mark Horowitz (expert on antidepressants & withdrawal) and Dr Sarah Myhill (renowned researcher on mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic fatigue & its links to mental health).
FAB Bookstore
Our new and improved bookstore is organised by interest for easier browsing.
Discover books by FAB speakers, plus our hand-picked favourites in FAB Recommends.
Every time you shop via our links, a small percentage comes back to FAB Research - at no extra cost to you. Itâs a simple way to support our charity while finding your next great read.
News Updates
Pregnancy & Early Life Nutrition
Iodine Deficiency Affects 60% of Pregnant Women
New findings are particularly concerning as most women in this study were considered healthy and low risk and two thirds reported taking pregnancy supplements containing iodine.
For more on iodine, please see our fuller FAB article on this important topic:
FAB Article: Iodine in Pregnancy & Children's Brains
A Promising Shield Against Postnatal Depression?
A new study shows that expectant mothers with depression who took broad-spectrum micronutrients during pregnancy were far less likely to experience postnatal depression six months after birth.
How Everyday Chemicals Could Fuel Pregnancy Hypertension
By detecting food-related xenobiotic chemicals in saliva, researchers uncovered that common substances from packaging and additives may disrupt stress hormones and elevate the risk of pregnancy hypertension.
Omega-3s May Counteract THC's Adverse Effects on Fetal Heart Health
Researchers found that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy prevented low birth weight and early cardiac dysfunction in rat offspring exposed to THC in utero.
Maternal Obesity Pre-Pregnancy Linked to Autism-like Behaviours in Mice Offspring
Even without direct maternal contact after conception, these epigenetic imprints from the egg carried enough weight to alter behaviour.
Vitamin B12 Screening in Newborns: Early Detection Outweighs Risks
Early and timely administration of vitamin B12 can prevent possible irreversible damage from acquired vitamin B12 deficiency in newborns.
Nutrition and Brain Aging
Omega Fatty Acids May Shield Women from Alzheimer's Risk
Lower levels of omega fatty acids in the blood may be linked to higher Alzheimerâs risk in women, suggesting its protective role.
Mediterranean Diet May Offset Genetic Risk of Alzheimer's
Individuals at the highest genetic risk experienced the greatest reduction in dementia risk when adhering to a Mediterranean-style diet.
Dementia Risk: It's More Than Just Lifestyle Choices
Public health messaging that focuses too narrowly on behaviour may be misleading and potentially harmful.
Food-derived signals can modulate biological aging
Diet doesn't just fuel the body, it sends molecular signals that can slow down or speed up biological aging, new research indicates â and targeted nutritional and lifestyle choices can bend the trajectory toward healthier aging.
Food, Brains and Behaviour in Healthcare
Keto diet linked to reduced depression symptoms in college students - pilot study
A new pilot study shows an association between at least 10 weeks of following a well-formulated ketogenic diet and a roughly 70% decrease in depression symptoms among a small group of college students.
Mental Healthâs Hidden Cost: Physical Illness Drives âŹ30.5B Burden in Europe
Physical illnesses, not psychiatric care, occur at higher rates in people with mental illness, often requiring inpatient or emergency treatment.
Medical Schools Lag in Nutrition Training, Impacting Patient Care
Only 27% of medical schools worldwide provide the recommended 25 hours of nutrition education, leaving doctors underprepared to advise patients.
Want to hear more on the relevance of food & behaviour to healthcare & our NHS?
Stay up to date with FAB Researchâs collaborative work with RDaSH NHS Trust, including news, research, and upcoming workshops.
And this recorded event is available FREE to NHS staff, researchers, students & anyone personally affected by severe mental illness:
âFood & Mental Health: New Initiatives for the NHSâ
Or if you are already a FAB Associate, you can access it directly from the FAB library here:
Ingredients, Additives and the Ultra-Processed Food Debate
What Exactly Are We Eating? Mapping a Hidden Chemical Universe
The food on our plate is not just calories and nutrients. Projects like the Foodome Project are cataloguing this hidden chemical universe, with over 130,000 already listed, linking food compounds to gut microbes, disease processes and more.
Some Food Additives Could Harm Gut Health
Animal studies suggest that artificial colorants, sweeteners, emulsifiers, and preservatives may negatively affect gut health.
Some Sugar Substitutes Linked to Faster Cognitive Decline
Research involving over 12,000 participants over 8 years showed heavy users of certain sweeteners faced up to 62% quicker decline in memory and thinking skills.
Are Food Additives Linked To ADHD-type symptoms?
Food dyes can stimulate hyperactivity in sensitive children, potentially aggravating symptoms in those with a pre-existing condition or biological predisposition.
No Drinks with Sweeteners for Younger Children, say UK advisers
'Real-world' evidence has consistently shown no long-term benefits from the use of sweeteners for weight loss purposes (despite some benefits having been demonstrated in short-term clinical trials).
âArtificial additivesâ are of course a key characteristic of the Ultra-Processed Foods and drinks that now dominate modern diets â but âUPFâ is such a broad category that firm conclusions in causal effects on health remain limited.
For more information on this complex and controversial topic, see:
Ultra-processed Foods and Mental Health â Is there a problem?
FAB FOR YOU.....
One of the things that makes FAB Research unique is the wide range of different audiences we serve, and the many different disciplines and perspectives we include in our news and research updates.
If youâd like additional updates and resources tailored to your own particular interest(s) in the links between food and behaviour, please let us know by registering here:
Many thanks for your interest in our work â and please share this email with friends or colleagues you think may be interested in finding out more about the many links between Food and Behaviour.
Best regards
The FAB Research Team
