Health Report: May 16, 1994

THE GOOD NEWS

— Under existing fda regulations, foods like jelly beans and soda can legitimately be labeled “healthy,” since they’re low in fat and cholesterol. No more, though: the agency has declared that the word can apply only to foods that are low in fat, sodium and cholesterol and contain minimum amounts of actual nutrients.

— Nearsightedness appears to be genetic, and may someday be preventable with drug therapy. The possible culprit: a defect in the gene that determines the shape of the eyeball.

— Chemotherapy before cancer surgery can lengthen survival time sixfold over surgery alone, says a new report.

THE BAD NEWS

— Smokers may be inhaling more tar and nicotine than they think. “Light” brands have filters to screen out both substances — but research shows most people puff harder to compensate for the weak flavor.

— Skin cancer is now as common as all other cancers combined, says a new study. Up to 1.2 million cases of nonlethal malignancy turn up every year, along with some 32,000 cases of potentially lethal malignant melanoma. The numbers are still on the rise.

— Breast implants have been firmly linked for the first time to multiple sclerosis-like symptoms, including brain and spinal lesions, pain, fatigue and nerve problems.

Sources — GOOD: New York TImes; Journal of the American Medical Association; Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

BAD: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Federal Trade Commission; American Academy of Neurology