Medical Bulletin 16/May/2026

Here are the top medical news for today:

Study Finds Protein Requirements Vary Widely, Challenging Standard Daily Intake Recommendations

The era of “one-size-fits-all” protein advice may be nearing its end. New research from Texas A&M University suggests that the amount of protein people actually need can vary widely depending on age, activity level, health status, and even chronic disease — challenging decades of traditional dietary guidance.

The research was published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.

For years, nutrition recommendations have centered around a standard target of about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. That benchmark was designed to meet the needs of most healthy adults, but researchers now argue it may oversimplify the body's true requirements.

According to researchers, protein needs are far more individualized than previously believed. Older adults, physically active people, and individuals with chronic illnesses may require different amounts than healthy younger adults.

The research also questions the methods scientists have traditionally used to estimate protein needs. Older techniques mainly tracked amino acids in the bloodstream, but researchers say those methods may not fully reflect what happens inside cells, where most protein turnover actually occurs.

To improve accuracy, the team developed a new approach using stable isotope tracers that better measure how the body processes protein at the cellular level. By analyzing participants after an overnight fast, researchers were able to estimate baseline protein loss and calculate more personalized daily protein requirements.

The findings revealed that protein breakdown may be significantly higher than earlier estimates suggested, helping explain why universal recommendations may not work equally well for everyone.

Researchers say the future of nutrition is likely moving toward “precision nutrition” — tailoring dietary advice to an individual’s biology, lifestyle, and health rather than relying on a single universal number.

REFERENCE: Nicolaas E.P. Deutz, Savanah B. Knezek, Mariëlle P.K.J. Engelen; A novel pulse tracer method to estimate the relationship between amino acid meal composition and its intracellular disposal; Clinical Nutrition; 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2025.10.002.

Ultraprocessed Food Consumption Linked to Increased Asthma Risk Among Children: Study

A child’s lunchbox may be shaping more than eating habits—it could also influence future lung health. New research, published in the journal Allergy, suggests that children who get a large share of their calories from ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) may face a much higher risk of developing asthma during early childhood.

Researchers analyzed data from 691 children participating in the SENDO cohort study, with an average age of nearly five years at the start of the research. Using detailed food questionnaires, scientists measured how much of each child’s daily energy intake came from ultraprocessed foods, including packaged snacks, sugary cereals, processed meats, soft drinks, and ready-to-eat meals. The children were then followed for an average of 3.4 years to track the development of asthma and other allergic conditions.

The findings revealed a striking pattern. Children who consumed 30% or more of their total calories from ultraprocessed foods had nearly four times the risk of developing asthma compared with children whose UPF intake stayed below 30% of total energy consumption.

Asthma rates also rose steadily across increasing levels of UPF intake. Only 2.6% of children in the lowest consumption group developed asthma, compared with 9.9% in the middle intake group and 7.6% in the highest intake group.

Interestingly, the researchers did not find significant links between ultraprocessed food intake and other allergic conditions such as eczema, food allergies, allergic asthma, or atopy. The effect appeared to be particularly connected to asthma risk.

Scientists believe several biological mechanisms could explain the association. Ultraprocessed foods are often high in refined sugars, unhealthy fats, salt, additives, and artificial ingredients while lacking fiber and protective nutrients. Previous research suggests these foods may increase inflammation, alter immune system development, and negatively affect the gut microbiome—all factors that could influence respiratory health in children.

The researchers emphasized that diet is a potentially modifiable risk factor. While more studies are needed to confirm the findings, the study adds to growing concerns that heavily processed diets during childhood may have long-term effects extending far beyond weight and metabolism.

REFERENCE: O.Galindo, M. J.Goikoetxea, L.Moreno-Galarraga, et al., “Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Childhood Allergic Diseases: Increased Risk of Asthma Onset in the SENDO Project,” Allergy (2026): 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1111/all.70378.

Regular Physical Activity and Arts Engagement Linked to Slower Biological Aging Process: Study

A museum visit, dance class, painting session, or evening walk may be doing more than lifting mood—they could also be slowing the body’s biological aging process. A new study published in Innovation in Aging suggests that leisure activities such as arts engagement and physical activity are linked to slower epigenetic aging, a key marker of how quickly the body is aging at the molecular level.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 3,500 adults participating in the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Using blood samples, scientists examined DNA methylation patterns—chemical changes that help regulate gene activity and are widely used in modern “aging clocks” to estimate biological age.

The findings revealed that people who regularly participated in arts and cultural activities appeared biologically younger than less engaged individuals. Monthly participation in activities such as attending concerts, museums, heritage events, or creative arts was linked to nearly a 0.8-year reduction in biological age. Weekly engagement was associated with an even larger reduction of just over one year.

The study also found that diversity mattered. People involved in a wider variety of arts and cultural experiences showed slower biological aging rates compared with those participating in fewer activities.

Physical activity showed similar benefits. Weekly exercise was linked to lower biological age scores and a slower pace of aging. Participants with the highest activity levels demonstrated reductions of up to 1.34 years in one biological aging measure.

Interestingly, the associations were strongest in newer epigenetic clocks designed to reflect overall health decline and aging speed, rather than simply chronological age.

Scientists believe these activities may influence aging through multiple pathways. Arts engagement can provide social connection, mental stimulation, emotional regulation, and sensory enrichment, while physical activity is known to affect inflammation, metabolism, and DNA-related processes.

Researchers caution that the study cannot prove cause and effect, and the findings were limited to white European participants. Still, the results add to growing evidence that everyday lifestyle choices may shape how the body ages at a biological level.

REFERENCE: Fancourt, D., Masebo, L., Finn, S., Mak, H. W., & Bu, F. (2026). Does leisure activity matter for epigenetic ageing? Analyses of arts engagement and physical activity in the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Innovation in Aging. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igag038. https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/advance-article/doi/10.1093/geroni/igag038/8669801