Supplements May Ease Anxiety

Some dietary supplements may soothe anxiety without setting off side effects, according to a new report. After analyzing 24 studies on supplements and anxiety disorders, researchers concluded that passionflower, kava, and a combination of L-lysine and L-arginine can offer all-natural anxiety relief. The review's authors determined that St. John's wort and magnesium supplements, on the other hand, may not be effective in alleviating anxiety.
Passionflower and kava are both herbs known to produce a calming effect on the nervous system. Long used to treat anxiety in herbal medicine, passionflower and kava are also touted as natural remedies for insomnia. L-lysine and L-arginine, meanwhile, are essential amino acids found naturally in certain foods and sometimes combined in supplement formulas. Previous research shows that taking a combination of the two substances may help normalize hormones involved in the stress response and, in turn, reduce chronic anxiety.
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Folic Acid Supplements May Not Fight Heart Disease

Taking folic acid supplements may not cut your risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer, according to a recent report.
Analyzing eight clinical trials (with a total of 37,485 participants), the report's authors found that folic acid supplementation was linked to 25 percent drop in homocysteine, an amino acid thought to raise heart disease risk when it occurs at elevated levels. However, they also found that study members given folic acid supplements weren't any less likely to suffer a major heart or blood vessel event than those who took a placebo. What's more, subjects assigned to folic acid supplements did not show a reduced risk of stroke or cancer. In the analyzed trials, folic acid doses ranged from 0.8 mg per day to 40 mg per day.
Previous research suggests that folic acid supplements may be useful in treatment of conditions like ulcerative colitis, asthma, and allergies.
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Probiotics May Provide Constipation Relief

Probiotics may help treat constipation in infants, a new study shows. A class of "friendly bacteria" naturally present in the digestive tract, probiotics are available in supplement form and often used to improve gut health.
The study involved 44 infants, all of whom were diagnosed with chronic constipation. For eight weeks, the infants received either a dietary supplement containing the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri or a placebo. Study results showed that babies given the probiotic treatment had a significantly higher frequency of bowel movements over the course of the study (compared to those assigned to the placebo). What's more, no side effects were associated with use of the probiotic supplement.
Previous research suggests that probiotics may also ease constipation in adults, as well as help treat other common digestive complaints (such as diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems resulting from use of antibiotics).
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