Da Kine Star-Bulletin staff and wire services

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PREVENTION
Pregnant? Get your vitamin E

Pregnant women who do not get enough vitamin E could give birth to children who are at higher risk of developing asthma, a new study finds.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland found no association between maternal intake of the nutrients vitamin C, beta carotene, magnesium, copper or iron and problems in the child like wheezing, asthma, eczema or hay fever. But they did find that children of the women with the highest intake of vitamin E were less likely to develop wheezing or asthma. Higher levels of zinc also appeared helpful. Many foods contain vitamin E, including some vegetable oils, wheat germ and nuts.

The study said doctors caring for pregnant women should counsel them about their diet or consider giving them supplements.

HEALTH
Ginseng may fight breast cancer

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have tested ginseng's power to fight breast cancer -- with promising results. Researchers tracked 1,455 patients in Shanghai for up to 6 years and found that those who had a history of taking ginseng were 30 percent less likely to die from the cancer than nonusers. Women who began taking it after diagnosis reported more energy and better sleep than patients who didn't use ginseng.