Health briefing

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Effects of fathers' diet can be visited on offspring

THE NUTRITIONAL effects of diet can be visited on children through a father's sperm, research suggests.

Studies in mice showed that a male parent’s eating habits may alter the metabolism of offspring. Significantly, the findings rule out the possibility of social influence.

Scientists still do not know how the mechanism works, but believe some kind of nutritional signal must be carried through the sperm that helps to shape early development.

The findings lend support to the theory that environmental factors can trigger heritable genetic effects that are carried down through generations.

Evidence for “epigenetic” influence has already been seen in a number of animal and human studies.

The most striking human research from Sweden suggested that a grandfather’s poor diet increased the risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease in second-generation children.

But in these studies it was impossible to be sure the effects were not caused by social and economic influences.

In the new research, scientists focused on the activity of genes in mice whose fathers were fed a low-protein diet and found that hundreds of genes were altered in offspring sired by the protein-starved males.

Livers from the offspring showed differences depending on the fathers’ diet. They included chemical modification of a DNA sequence that affects cholesterol and fat synthesis in the liver.

"It's consistent with the idea that when parents go hungry, it's best for offspring to hoard calories, said study leader Dr Oliver Rando, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Boston .

Dentists say rise in teeth grinding due to stress

IRISH PEOPLE are grinding their teeth more, probably due to increased financial pressures, the Irish Dental Association has said.

The association, which represents more than 1,340 dentists, says its members are encountering higher levels of teeth grinding in their practices than ever before.

While experts believe that one in five people will grind their teeth at some time in their lives, Irish dentists say they are now seeing numbers far in excess of that.

Bruxism, the medical name for teeth grinding, often occurs at night time, during sleep. Symptoms include headaches, damage to teeth, earaches, and mouth and jaw pain.

Dr Dermot Canavan of the Irish Dental Association says the condition is linked to anxiety and stress, while those who smoke, or drink alcohol or coffee to excess, are also prone to it.

He says he believes the increased levels of bruxism are “due to stress brought on by patients’ financial worries”.

“While we don’t have exact figures, I know from my own practice and from talking to other dentists that there has been a substantial increase in the number of patients suffering from the condition.”

Dr Canavan said: “From talking to some patients, it is clear many are facing severe financial pressures.”

He also pointed out that recreational drug use, particularly amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy, can also lead to increased clenching and grinding activity.

“Stress and drug use are a dangerous combination but people don’t realise the effect this can also have on their dental health.”

Workers clock up healthier lifestyles

MORE THAN 2,800 employees in 43 companies in the Republic walked over 160 million steps, raising €5,700 for the Irish Heart Foundation, as part of the month-long Smarter Travel Workplaces Pedometer Challenge 2010.

Employees from companies including ESB, Eircom, Dell and RTÉ took part, with the number of those walking to work increasing by 32 per cent during the challenge, which was designed to encourage participants to take 10,000 steps a day.