Several pieces of health news caught my eye today, so I’ve rolled them all into a single healthy treat:

  • People may have overreacted to the link between children’s use of antidepressants and suicide, say researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Although an earlier FDA study showed that a very few people (about one in 50) will see their symptoms worsen on antidepressants, the drop in antidepressant use since that study may in fact have led to more suicides.
  • Amniocentesis may be safer than previously thought, according to an article in November’s Obstetrics & Gynecology. “There was no significant difference in [pregnancy] loss rates between those undergoing amniocentesis and those not undergoing amniocentesis,” it concludes.
  • Those who get more exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UVB), which triggers production of vitamin D3, may be at less risk for ovarian cancer, concludes a new global study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study showed that women at high latitudes are at greater risk for ovarian cancer than those in equatorial regions. The scientists urge further study to remove additional variables based on location, and to test more narrowly the effects of vitamin D from sun, diet, and supplements. [I'd also caution that this doesn't imply running around without sunscreen, as doing so can cause other types of cancer.]

As always, discuss matters with your health professionals before taking or halting any medical action because of something you read online.