Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Drug Shows Promise for Alcoholism
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MONDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDayNews) -- A drug called topiramate shows promise as a potential new treatment for alcoholism, according to a study in the August issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. This early-stage study of 150 people with alcohol dependence found that topiramate can reduce self-reported drinking and may reduce self-reported craving for alcohol. "Few medications to treat alcoholism exist," study author Bankole A. Johnson, the Wurzbach Distinguished Professor in the departments of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, said in a prepared statement. "This study is the first demonstration of topiramate's efficacy for treating alcohol dependence ... treatment was efficacious at reducing not only drinking and craving for alcohol, but also improving abstinence and lifestyle," Johnson said. Currently, only two drugs are approved in the United States for treatment of alcohol dependence. More information The American Academy of Family Physicians has information about alcohol abuse.
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