Medical Bulletin 06/October/2025 - Video

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Yogurt Shows Limited Benefits for Bone Strength, New Study Finds

Yogurt may not significantly improve bone mineral density (BMD) or prevent fractures, according to a new systematic review published in Frontiers in Nutrition. The research examined 12 observational studies exploring how yogurt consumption affects bone health in adults, assessing outcomes such as BMD, fracture risk, and bone turnover markers. Despite yogurt’s reputation as a nutrient-rich food, the findings reveal that its benefits for skeletal strength are limited and inconclusive.

Yogurt is produced by fermenting milk through the cooperative action of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. This process enhances the bioavailability of key nutrients, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin K2-elements critical for bone maintenance. The bacteria involved also generate bioactive compounds like lactic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which contribute to gut health and may indirectly influence bone metabolism. Despite these promising properties, the current evidence does not establish yogurt as a reliable tool for preventing osteoporosis or bone loss.

“Increased yogurt intake appears to have a minor, statistically significant effect on bone density, but the clinical impact is negligible,” the authors noted. Two studies reported modest protective effects against osteoporosis, yet no consistent link with fracture reduction was found. The review also highlighted methodological gaps: none of the included studies quantified bacterial viability in yogurts or assessed participants’ baseline calcium and vitamin D levels-factors that could strongly influence outcomes.

Researchers emphasize that yogurt’s nutrient composition varies widely depending on fat content, starter cultures, and fortification, making it difficult to generalize its effects. While yogurt remains a valuable component of a balanced diet-offering benefits for gut health, digestion, and overall metabolism-it should not be considered a standalone strategy for improving bone strength.

“Yogurt is healthy, but its role in bone protection remains unclear,” the authors concluded. They called for well-designed randomized controlled trials that clearly define product composition and control for nutritional variables to better understand yogurt’s true impact on bone health.

REFERENCE: Mayo, B., Malagon-Rojas, J., Agahi, F., et al. (2025). Impact of yogurt consumption on bone health markers in adults with or without osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta- analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1660505.

Late Autism Diagnosis Linked to Increased Risk of Mental Disorders: Study

The age at which a child is diagnosed with autism may reveal distinct biological and developmental differences, according to a new study published in Nature. Researchers suggest that children diagnosed later in life are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders such as depression, PTSD, and self-harm, compared to those diagnosed at an earlier age.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects brain regions involved in emotion and behavior regulation, including the cerebellum and amygdala. The condition can impair communication and social interaction, with early signs such as avoiding eye contact or not responding to one’s name typically emerging during the first two years of life.

The research team, including scientists from the University of Cambridge, found that early-diagnosed and late-diagnosed autism represent biologically distinct pathways. In children diagnosed early, social and behavioral challenges-such as anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and difficulties in social engagement-surface before school age and remain relatively stable over time. In contrast, those diagnosed later often develop more severe symptoms during adolescence, accompanied by a higher incidence of mental health problems and adverse life experiences.

“The earlier-diagnosed autism factor showed weaker genetic links to educational attainment, cognitive performance, and psychiatric disorders,” the authors wrote. “In comparison, the later- diagnosed factor displayed significantly stronger genetic correlations with ADHD, depression, PTSD, self-harm, and childhood maltreatment.”

These findings suggest that late-diagnosed autism may represent a form of the condition that interacts more strongly with environmental and psychological stressors, amplifying vulnerability to emotional distress during critical developmental periods. The researchers emphasize the importance of early identification and supportive interventions, particularly as the transition to adolescence may exacerbate social and emotional challenges in undiagnosed individuals.

REFERENCE: Zhang, X., Grove, J., Gu, Y. et al. Polygenic and developmental profiles of autism differ by age at diagnosis. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09542-6

Elderberry Juice Boosts Key Metabolic Genes, Enhancing Flexibility in Overweight Adults: Study

Elderberry juice may enhance the body's ability to switch fuel sources between feeding and fasting, improving metabolic flexibility, according to a new study published in Nutrients. The study involved overweight and obese adults participating in a controlled, randomized crossover trial comparing elderberry juice consumption against a placebo. Researchers focused on how elderberry juice influences gene expression in immune cells during transitions from fasting to feeding, unveiling molecular pathways linked to metabolic health.

Metabolic flexibility—the body's capability to switch between glucose use after eating and fat oxidation during fasting-is vital for maintaining healthy metabolism. Loss of this flexibility contributes to several metabolic disorders. Elderberries, rich in anthocyanins, have shown promise in enhancing these metabolic processes, but the underlying molecular mechanisms were unclear until now.

In this study, participants consumed elderberry juice or placebo for seven days, followed by a meal tolerance test with high-carbohydrate breakfast. Blood samples collected before and after feeding were analyzed using RNA sequencing to identify changes in gene expression. The elderberry juice group exhibited over four times more differentially expressed genes during the fasted-to-fed transition than the placebo group, highlighting a stronger transcriptional response.

Key genes involved in metabolism, immune response, and insulin signaling showed significant regulation with elderberry juice intake. Notably, pathways related to insulin receptor signaling, autophagy, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid degradation, and cellular growth factors were activated, indicating enhanced metabolic and immune system coordination. Conversely, gene sets related to ribosome activity and oxidative phosphorylation were downregulated after feeding in the elderberry group, suggesting adaptive metabolic responses.

The researchers caution that while peripheral blood mononuclear cells serve as useful surrogates for systemic changes, they do not directly measure metabolic tissues like muscle or liver. Also, some molecular findings differed from previously observed clinical improvements in glucose tolerance and fat oxidation, illustrating the complexity of metabolic responses.

REFERENCE: Teets C, Etter AJ, Solverson PM (2025). One-Week Elderberry Juice Intervention Promotes Metabolic Flexibility in the Transcriptome of Overweight Adults During a Meal Challenge. Nutrients, 17(19), 3142. DOI: 10.3390/nu17193142.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/19/3142