Zach studied biology in college and currently works in paleontology as well as contributing to earth.com. He has interned, worked and volunteered with conservation groups all over the world. His writing has also appeared in Alaska Magazine, Mongabay, The Bark and other publications.

Zach just finished his first book, <a href="https://www.westholmepublishing.com/book/tears-for-crocodilia-fitzner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tears for Crocodilia: Ecology, Evolution and the Disappearance of one of the World’s Most Ancient Animals</a>, and lives with his wife, Erin, and two dogs in Colorado.

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Ever since I was very young exploring the woods behind my house I have been fascinated with nature. I love writing for Earth.com because I stay informed on the biggest environmental issues and I get to play a small role in keeping others informed. I am currently studying human services at East Tennessee State University, and previously studied media communications and cyber security.

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Dietary supplements of minerals, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/replace-meat-with-seafood-for-a-healthier-planet/">vitamins</a> and antioxidants are commonly taken by adults to maintain or improve various aspects of health. Previous research has found that 49 of adults in the U.S. report using dietary supplements, with less than a quarter of these being prescribed by a physician. Many adults take supplements that purportedly improve cardiovascular health, as heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality across both sexes and all races and ethnicities in the United States. However, the value of these supplements is debated by the scientific community.



We need to ingest vitamins and minerals in our diets, since we cannot make most of them ourselves. And it is well known that deficiencies in micronutrients lead to clinical diseases, so it is natural to assume that supplementing these substances will be beneficial to health. However, the question of whether individuals without deficiencies would benefit from supplementation has been the subject of innumerable investigations that have produced inconclusive results. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) states that the current evidence for use of multivitamins or other nutrient supplements to prevent cardiovascular diseases is insufficient.



In a new study published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.09.048">Journal of the American College of Cardiology</a>, researchers have now reviewed 884 scientific investigations on the efficacy of micronutrient supplementation to reduce cardiovascular risk. In total, more than 883,000 patients were involved in the combined studies, which provide some clarity on the micronutrients that may be of benefit in preventing heart failure.



“For the first time, we developed a comprehensive, evidence-based integrative map to characterize and quantify micronutrient supplements’ potential effects on cardiometabolic outcomes,” said Dr. Simin Liu, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Brown University and a principal investigator for the study. “Our study highlights the importance of micronutrient diversity and the balance of health benefits and risks.”



The development of heart disease has previously been associated with oxidative stress in heart tissue. This implies that the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) during metabolic processes is not balanced by the body’s natural antioxidant enzymes that "mop up" the free radicals. This has led to the idea that antioxidant supplementation may assist in maintaining heart health.&nbsp;



Heart-healthy diets, like the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH), feature foods that are naturally rich in antioxidants, such as amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C, but the results of investigate studies on their effects have been inconsistent.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Research on micronutrient supplementation has mainly focused on the health effects of a single or a few vitamins and minerals,” said Dr. Liu. “We decided to take a comprehensive and systematic approach to evaluate all the publicly available and accessible studies reporting all micronutrients, including phytochemicals and antioxidant supplements and their effects on cardiovascular risk factors as well as multiple cardiovascular diseases.”



In their meta-analysis, the researchers looked at the results of randomized, controlled intervention trials evaluating 27 different types of antioxidant supplements. They identified several micronutrients that do reduce cardiovascular risk, as well as others that offer no benefit at all, or even have a negative effect.&nbsp;



For example, there was strong evidence that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease, while taking folic acid lowered stroke risk and coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant sometimes marketed as CoQ10, decreased all-cause mortality. Supplementation with omega-6 fatty acid, L-arginine, L-citrulline, Vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, alpha-lipoic acid, melatonin, catechin, curcumin, flavanol, genistein and quercetin also showed evidence of reducing cardiovascular risk.



However, supplements of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and selenium showed no effect on long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes or on type-2 diabetes risk. And beta carotene supplements were actually associated with increases in all-cause mortality.



According to the researchers, the findings point to the need for more personalized, precision-based dietary interventions that involve specific combinations of beneficial supplements to suit each individual’s specific requirements. Further study is needed, including large, high-quality interventional trials to investigate the long-term effects of certain micronutrients on health.



“Identifying the optimal mixture of micronutrients is important, as not all are beneficial, and some may even have harmful effects,” said Dr. Liu.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Supplements for heart health should address individual needs

Dietary supplements of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants are commonly taken...

In a new study led by <a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en">ISGlobal</a>, experts have found that people who live in greener areas are less likely to have mental health issues that require <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-can-work-as-well-as-medication-to-lower-cholesterol/">medication</a>. The researchers analyzed the relationship between mental health and the 3-30-300 green space rule in Barcelona, Spain



The green space rule was proposed by urban forester Cecil Konijnendijk. According to this rule, everyone should be able to see at least three trees from their home, have 30 percent tree canopy cover in their neighborhood, and not live more than 300 meters away from the nearest park or green space.



The study showed that only 4.7 percent of Barcelona's population met all three criteria of the green space rule. This small percentage of people were found to have significantly better mental health. The experts identified a clear link between living in greener areas and better mental health, less medication use, and fewer visits to a psychologist.



“The study found that there is relatively little green space in Barcelona and that the 3-30-300 rule is satisfied only for a small percentage of people, despite its beneficial mental health effects,” explained study lead author Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at ISGlobal.



“There is an urgent need to provide citizens with more green space. We may need to tear out asphalt and plant more trees, which would not only improve health, but also reduce heat island effects and contribute to carbon capture. Any initiative that leads to a greener city will be a step forward, the key message is that we need more and faster greening”, added the lead author of the study.&nbsp;



The experts noted that similar studies should be carried out in cities with more tree cover than Barcelona, since the lack of green space, especially sufficient tree cover, limits the ability to assess the 30 percent aspect of the 3-30-300 rule. “The question is to what extent 30% tree canopy cover is feasible, especially in compact cities,” concluded the researchers.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114387">Environmental Research</a>.



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Urban green spaces are urgently needed to improve health

In a new study led by ISGlobal, experts have found...

According to a recent study published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2022.2120818">Clinical Toxicology</a>, adolescent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/media-coverage-of-cannabis-studies-may-be-misleading/">cannabis</a> abuse has increased by 245 percent since 2000 in the United States, while alcohol abuse has steadily decreased over the same period. 



The experts identified over 338,000 instances of intentional abuse or misuse among American children aged 6-18 (the majority – 58.3 percent – occurring in males, and over 80 percent of reported cases occurring in adolescents aged 13-18), suggesting that marijuana consumption is currently on the rise within this demographic.&nbsp;



The findings demonstrate a significant pattern of change in drug consumption over the years. For instance, although dextromethorphan (DXM) – a dissociative substance found in over-the-counter cough medicines – was the most reported substance over the study period. This peaked in 2006 and steadily decreased since then. 



Similarly, the largest number of abuse cases in 2000 involved alcoholic beverages. Since then, adolescent abuse of alcohol has declined.



By contrast, marijuana exposure cases remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2009, then steadily increased from 2011, with an even more dramatic rise between 2017 and 2020. According to the scientists, this rise in marijuana consumption among children and teenagers could be attributed to the increased popularity of edible cannabis products, which are now widely available across the United States.



“Ethanol abuse cases exceeded the number of marijuana cases every year from 2000 until 2013,” said study co-author Adrienne Hughes, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at the <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/">Oregon Health &amp; Science University</a>. “Since 2014, marijuana exposure cases have exceeded ethanol cases every year, and by a greater amount each year than the prior.”



Although rates of all cannabis abuse increased, edible marijuana showed the highest average monthly increase compared to all other forms, suggesting that teenagers have moved away from smoking weed to alternative modes of consumption. Moreover, cannabis extracts such as those used in vaping products have also become increasingly popular.



“These edible and vaping products are often marketed in ways that are attractive to young people, and they are considered more discrete and convenient,” Hughes explained. Yet, although they are often perceived as less harmful, many studies show this is not the case. “Compared to smoking cannabis, which typically results in an immediate high, intoxication from edible forms of marijuana usually takes several hours, which may lead some individuals to consume greater amounts and experience unexpected and unpredictable highs.”



“Our study describes an upward trend in marijuana abuse exposures among youth, especially those involving edible products. These findings highlight an ongoing concern about the impact of rapidly evolving cannabis legalization on this vulnerable population,” she concluded.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Teenagers are ditching alcohol for marijuana

According to a recent study published in the journal&nbsp;Clinical Toxicology,...

A new study has confirmed that primate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vanilla-cultivation-can-boost-biodiversity-in-madagascar/">diversity</a> is greater in areas that are managed by Indigenous peoples. The experts determined that primates such as monkeys and apes are less likely to be classified as vulnerable, threatened or endangered when they live in territories that overlap with Indigenous lands.&nbsp;



The research was led by Paul A. Garber, a professor of Anthropology at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</a>, and Alejandro Estrada, a professor in the Institute of Biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.&nbsp;



“There is an impending extinction crisis among the world’s 521 primate species,” said Professor Garber. “We know that 68% of these species are vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered and many of them may not survive to the end of the century. Worldwide, 93% of primate populations are declining.”



Understanding the conditions that allow primate populations to survive and even thrive is critical to preventing their extinction and preserving their special contributions to healthy forest ecosystems, explained Professor Garber.



“Most primates exploit forests, where they serve as agents of pollination and seed dispersal. They’re involved in important predator-prey relationships. They consume insects and small vertebrates. They play a very important role in the regeneration of forests.”



Professor Garber noted that primates are one of the first indicator species if there’s a dramatic change in the environment, as they are relatively large-bodied animals with a slow reproductive rate.



For the investigation, the study authors set out to evaluate the relationship between Indigenous lands and primate biodiversity. “We found that Indigenous peoples’ lands account for 30% of the primate range, and 71% of primate species inhabit these lands. As their range on these lands increases, primate species are less likely to be classified as threatened or have declining populations.” wrote the researchers.



The study also compared Indigenous lands to regions with roughly the same human population density immediately outside of the territories.&nbsp;



“The results were that the human footprint – a measure of infrastructure development and habitat conversion – was significantly greater immediately outside Indigenous peoples’ lands than inside,” said Professor Garber.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/journal/sciadv">Science Advances</a>.



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Primates have greater diversity on Indigenous lands

A new study has confirmed that primate diversity is greater...

According to a new study of over 364,000 people in England, exposure to traffic-related <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-low-level-air-pollution-is-dangerous-for-health/">air pollution</a> - fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - is associated with an increased risk of experiencing multiple long-term physical and mental health conditions. The strongest associations were observed for co-occurring respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and mental health conditions.



Multimorbidity is defined as having two or more co-occurring physical or mental health issues and is known to affect currently over 27 percent of UK adults in primary care. Although such problems increase the use of healthcare services and the costs of primary and secondary care, until recently their connection to air pollution has not been studied in the UK.



“People with more than one long-term health condition have a lower quality of life and greater dependence on the healthcare system,” said study lead author Amy Ronaldson, a research associate in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/">Kings College London</a>.



“Our NIHR funded research has indicated that those people that live in areas of higher traffic-related air pollution are at greater risk of having multiple health conditions. The study does not prove that air pollution causes multimorbidity, but it does warrant further research in this area. It could be that simple measures to reduce traffic levels could potentially improve lives and lessen the pressure on our healthcare systems.”



The scientists analyzed data from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a>, a large-scale medical database containing anonymized genetic, health, and lifestyle information about half a million UK residents aged 40-69. The participants were assessed for 36 physical and five mental health chronic issues that were linked with the estimated concentration of air pollution at their residential address.



The analysis revealed that participants exposed to higher concentrations (above 10µg/m3) of fine particulate matter had a 21 percent increased change of having two or more co-occurring health conditions, compared to those exposed to concentrations below this value. Moreover, for participants exposed to above 30µg/m3&nbsp;of NO2&nbsp;the investigation showed a 20 percent increased risk of having two or more co-occurring conditions compared to those exposed to concentrations of NO2&nbsp;below 20µg/m3.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The stronger links were mainly between conditions related to the respiratory system (such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and the cardiovascular system (coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure), but also to neurological and mental health issues, such as stroke, substance abuse, anxiety, or depression.



“How air pollution affects multiple organs and systems at the same time is not yet fully understood, but there is some evidence that mechanisms such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune activation could be triggered by air particulates, which can cause damage to the brain, heart, blood, lungs, and gut,” explained study senior author Ioannis Bakolis, a senior lecturer in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at KCL.



“Our study suggests that it could be through shared mechanisms that air pollution negatively impacts several body systems and increases the likelihood of people developing multiple long term health conditions. More research is needed to understand just how air pollution affects the different bodily systems, but it may be that tackling air pollution could help prevent and alleviate the debilitating impact of multiple long-term health conditions.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1035415/full">Frontiers in Public Health</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Air pollution linked to multiple chronic health conditions

According to a new study of over 364,000 people in...