A-road-atherapy?
Thought you'd seen everything? Think again. Kumho Tire USA has introduced the Ecsta DX, the world's first fragrance-infused automotive tire, according to the company. The tires are the result of more than a year's worth of research and development "to deliver an alluring-aroma tire that replaces the normal 'black rubber' smell with heat-resistant oils in the scent of lavender, and in later versions, neroli (orange) or jasmine," according to a press release. The tire is targeted at female drivers and is available for popular sedans such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Subaru Outback. Go to www.kumhotireusa.com to find the nearest dealer or TireRack.com to buy online.

'D' for defender
A slew of studies are giving vitamin D's image an even bigger boost. According to a study in the February Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, nursing home residents who took high doses of vitamin D (800 IU) had fewer falls and a lower incidence of falls over five months than those taking lower doses. Researchers concluded, "Adequate vitamin D supplementation in elderly nursing home residents could reduce the number of falls experienced by this high-falls risk group."

In the March American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vitamin D was the subject of a meta-analysis to see if higher doses of the vita?min could protect against colorectal cancer. "The evidence to date suggests that daily intake of 1000 to 2000 IU/day of vitamin D3 could reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer with minimal risk," researchers concluded.

Finally, The Journal Of Steroid Biochemistry And Molecular Biology prepublished an article in January in which researchers reported the results of a meta-analysis of two previous studies and found that vitamin D cuts breast cancer risk. "The serum level associated with a 50 percent reduction in risk could be maintained by taking 2,000 international units of vitamin D3 daily plus, when the weather permits, spending 10 to 15 minutes a day in the sun," study co-author Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H., said in a statement.

EU's herbal no-nos
In a February article in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, The European Botanical Forum proposed a method for regulating botanical products across the European Union. Set up "as a discussion platform for scientific and regulatory issues related to the use of herbs in food supplements," the Forum recommendations include a list of botanicals not to be used in foods because of safety concerns. "The inclusion of botanicals into negative lists, however, should be considered with care since it would preclude use of the botanical entity for all food applications, whereas the safety of derivatives, extracts or isolates can be frequently demonstrated," said Dr. Manfred Ruthsatz, chairman of the EBF, in a statement.

—B.E.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXVIII/number 4/p.28