Vol. 38, No. 18

3-14-2006
By:

Discoveries briefs 3/16/06

New anti-drug program shows 'phenomenal' success by focusing on positives
A newly released study suggests that a well-designed in-school and community communication campaign really can dramatically cut marijuana and alcohol use among young teens. In a study of 32 schools in 16 communities around the country, researchers found that the campaign reduced by half the number of students who began using marijuana and alcohol during the two years of the project, compared to students in communities without the program. "That's a startlingly strong effect," said Michael Slater, principal investigator of the study and professor of communication at Ohio State.

The campaign included print materials, such as a series of posters, as well as promotional items such as book covers, tray liners, T-shirts, water bottles, rulers and lanyards. Slater said the success of the campaign was largely due to the sophisticated, well-researched theme, developed over the past 15 years by study co-author Kathleen Kelly, professor of marketing at Colorado State University. The theme was "Be Under Your Own Influence," which Kelly said speaks to teens' efforts to establish their own identities. "The campaign slogan elicits positive attitudes about being independent and in control," she said. "It's something teens will listen to because it isn't preachy."
www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/antidrug.htm

Nutritional friend or foe? Vitamin E sends mixed messages
One of the most powerful antioxidants is truly a double-edged sword, say researchers at Ohio State who studied how two forms of vitamin E act once they are inside animal cells. In the past few decades, a slough of studies has looked at the benefits of vitamin E and other antioxidants. While a considerable amount of this research touts the advantages of consuming antioxidants, some of the studies have found that in certain cases, antioxidants, including vitamin E, may actually increase the potential for developing heart disease, cancer and a host of other health problems. This study provides clues as to why this could happen, said Jiyan Ma, an assistant professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry, and his colleague David Cornwell, an emeritus professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry.

The two men led a study that compared how the two most common forms of vitamin E — one is found primarily in plants like corn and soybeans, while the other is found in olive oil, almonds, sunflower seeds and mustard greens - affect the health of animal cells. The main difference between the two forms is a slight variation in their chemical structures. In laboratory experiments, the kind of vitamin E found in corn and soybean oil, gamma-tocopherol, ultimately destroyed animal cells. But the other form of vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol, did not. (Tocopherol is the scientific name for vitamin E.)
www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/vite.htm

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