INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

HOBOKEN, N.J. — A recent study published in Panminerva Medica found that a pycnogenol and coenzyme-Q10 combination (PycnoQ10) taken by stable heart failure patients as an adjunct to medical treatment naturally strengthens the heart, increasing the blood volume ejected with each beat.

As a result, the oxygen-rich blood supply to the organs improves, and patients become more physically energetic.

Pycnogenol is an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and has been clinically proven to improve endothelial function and blood flow.

NEW YORK — It seems that intensive-dose statin therapy is linked with a higher risk of onset diabetes, compared with moderate-dose therapy, according to an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The analysis, which pooled data from previously published clinical trials, found that among 32,752 nondiabetic participants:

• 2,749 participants (8.4%) developed diabetes. Among them, 1,449 were assigned intensive-dose therapy, while 1,300 assigned moderate-dose therapy;

NEW YORK — Patients with inflammatory conditions may have lower rates of diabetes if they take drugs commonly used to treat arthritis, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study, conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, examined nearly 14,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis who took disease-modifying anthrheumatic drugs. Patients who have these diseases have significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

LONDON — One-third of spending on mental health in the United States, or $42 million, goes toward anxiety disorders, according to a new report by Companies & Markets.

The report found that the global anxiety disorders market would likely rise in value to $5.9 billion by 2017, thanks to increasing stress levels exacerbated by an unstable economic climate, the aging of the population, an increase in patients with anxiety disorders and new drug development.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Americans still believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, although many find it difficult to eat breakfast due to hectic schedules, according to a survey sponsored by Kellogg's.

The survey, which consisted of more than 14,000 respondents across varying ethnicities, income levels, geographic regions and ages, found that while more than half (54%) of all adult respondents would like to eat breakfast every day, in reality only one-third (34%) actually do.

WASHINGTON — The vitality of consumer packaged goods companies is healthy again, according to a new report issued by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers on Wednesday.

NEW YORK — Private-label sales across all three major retail channels reached new heights in 2010, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association.

NEW YORK — A new study recently estimated that 5.9 million children in the United States suffer from a food allergy.

The study, published in the July issue of Pediatrics, also found that children with a tree nut or peanut allergy tend to have the most severe reactions, with nearly 39% of children ages 18 years and younger surveyed saying they had a severe or life-threatening allergy. Additionally, more than 30% of children surveyed said they suffered from multiple food allergies.

The study was funded by the Food Allergy Initiative.