Weight management
We all know there are no silver bullets when it comes to battling the bulge, but there was some thought-provoking research in this area published this year, covering everything from the role of gut bacteria in weight management (click here, here and here) to the effects of cayenne pepper, flaxseed fiber, soluble fiber and kidney bean and artichoke extracts on appetite and leucine for fat burning.
Meanwhile the debate over the role of calcium in weight management raged on, with one study suggesting no effect in overweight teens but a meta-analysis suggesting supplementation can help with fat loss.
There was also good news for chocolate lovers, with a study suggesting that cocoa polyphenols could play a role in weight management.