Medical Bulletin 11/May/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

Researchers Launch BHARAT Study: India’s First Large-Scale Search for Aging Biomarkers

India is launching one of its most ambitious aging research efforts yet, aiming to decode how millions of people across the country age at the biological level. Scientists at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have introduced the BHARAT Study, the country’s first large-scale multi-omics project designed specifically to understand aging in Indian populations.

Published in Aging-US, the study addresses a major problem in global aging research: most existing biological aging models are based largely on Western populations and may not accurately reflect aging patterns in countries like India.

The BHARAT Study—short for Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions—will collect detailed biological, clinical, environmental, and lifestyle data from healthy volunteers across multiple age groups throughout India. Researchers aim to include participants from both rural and urban communities with balanced representation across sexes and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

The project will analyze a wide range of biological samples, including blood, urine, stool, hair, and cheek swabs. These samples will undergo advanced “multi-omics” testing, including epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, metagenomics, and immune profiling. Together, these technologies allow scientists to examine how genes, proteins, metabolism, microbes, and immune systems change during aging.

The initiative also plans to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to build population-specific biological aging models.

Researchers hope the project will reveal biomarkers linked to healthy aging, frailty, resilience, and age-related disease risk. Importantly, the study could help recalibrate existing “biological clocks” that may currently underestimate or misinterpret aging trajectories in non-Western populations.

Scientists say the BHARAT Study could become a globally important resource for precision aging research by capturing the enormous genetic, dietary, environmental, and cultural diversity found across India. Ultimately, the project aims to improve early risk prediction and support more personalized strategies for healthy aging and disease prevention.

REFERENCE: Asthana, S., et al (2026). The BHARAT study: a multi-modal, multi-omics investigation of aging signatures in the Indian population. Aging-US. DOI: 10.18632/aging.206373. https://www.aging-us.com/article/206373/text.

Short Exercise Sessions May Help Smokers Reduce Immediate Nicotine Cravings, Study Finds

A brisk walk may do more than clear your mind — it could also help smokers fight nicotine cravings and improve their chances of quitting for good.

A new systematic review led by researchers from the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at Adelaide University suggests that exercise can play a meaningful role in smoking cessation. Published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, the review found that structured exercise programs modestly improve quit success, while even a single workout session can rapidly reduce cigarette cravings.

The review analyzed 59 randomized controlled trials involving more than 9,000 participants. Researchers examined both long-term exercise programs and the immediate effects of single exercise sessions. The interventions included aerobic exercise, resistance training, yoga, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and lifestyle-based physical activity.

The findings showed that people participating in exercise programs were 15% more likely to maintain continuous smoking abstinence compared with control groups. Exercise also increased short-term quit success and helped participants smoke an average of two fewer cigarettes per day.

One of the strongest effects was seen in craving reduction. Even a single session of exercise produced moderate-to-large decreases in nicotine cravings immediately afterward, with benefits lasting up to 30 minutes. Higher-intensity exercise appeared especially effective during moments of strong urge, which are often linked to relapse.

Aerobic exercise showed the most consistent long-term benefits for quitting, while high-intensity activities were most effective for immediate craving relief.

Researchers caution that exercise should not replace established smoking cessation treatments, as the evidence for long-term abstinence remains limited. However, they say exercise may serve as a valuable complementary tool that is affordable, flexible, and beneficial for both physical and mental health.

REFERENCE: Singh, B., et al. (2026) Exercise-based interventions for smoking cessation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Health Science. DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2026.101138. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254626000190?via%3Dihub

Doctors Warn Popular Vitamin Supplements May Interfere with Cancer Treatment and Diagnostic Tests

A vitamin many people take for healthier hair could quietly interfere with cancer care in ways patients never expect. Doctors are now warning that biotin supplements, often marketed for hair and nail growth, may distort important lab test results used to monitor cancer and other serious conditions.

The findings are published in the journal JCO Oncology Practice.

Hair loss is one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment, leading many patients to search for solutions online or through over-the-counter supplements. But according to experts at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, there is little strong evidence that oral biotin actually improves hair growth after cancer therapy.

More importantly, biotin can interfere with several blood tests. Some cancer monitoring tests rely on chemical reactions involving biotin. As a result, supplements may falsely lower or raise hormone levels and tumor markers.

For example, biotin may falsely suppress prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, potentially hiding signs of cancer recurrence. It can also falsely elevate hormones such as estrogen or testosterone, which may delay treatment decisions.

The risks are not limited to cancer monitoring. Biotin may also interfere with troponin testing, a blood marker used to detect heart attacks.

Researchers say true biotin deficiency is rare because the vitamin is already found naturally in foods like eggs, dairy products, vegetables, meat and fruits. Instead of supplements, doctors recommend evidence-based treatments such as minoxidil for managing hair loss during or after cancer treatment.

Experts advise patients to stop taking biotin at least 72 hours before scheduled blood tests if they continue using it. However, many specialists now suggest avoiding unnecessary biotin supplements altogether, particularly during cancer treatment and recovery.

REFERENCE: Layna Mager, Olivia Ueltschi, Lucy Rose, Brittany Dulmage. Biotin Supplements for Hair and Nail Regrowth: A Caution for Oncologists. JCO Oncology Practice, 2025; DOI: 10.1200/OP-25-00693