High carbohydrate intake is associated with a higher risk of mortality, and high fat intake with a lower risk, researchers report. Scientists studied diet and mortality in 135,335 people between 35 and 70 years old in 18 countries, following them for an average of more than seven years. Compared with people who ate the lowest 20 percent of carbohydrates, those who ate the highest 20 percent had a 28 percent increased risk of dying earlier. People with the highest 20 percent in total fat intake — an average of 35.3 percent of calories from fat — had about a 23 percent reduced risk of death compared with the lowest 20 percent (an average of 10.6 percent of calories from fat).

Overtreatment is common, doctors say

Most U.S. physicians believe that overtreatment is harmful, wasteful and common. Researchers surveyed 2,106 physicians in various specialties. On average, they believed that 20.6 percent of all medical care was unnecessary, including 22 percent of prescriptions, 24.9 percent of tests and 11.1 percent of procedures. The study is in PLOS One. Nearly 85 percent said the reason for overtreatment was fear of malpractice suits. Nearly 60 percent of doctors said patients demand unnecessary treatment.

Treating reflux with the Mediterranean diet

A small study has found that a plant-based diet is just as effective as proton pump inhibitors in treating laryngopharyngeal reflux. LPR is a disease in which stomach acid comes up into the throat to the level of the laryngopharynx. The study included 85 patients treated with the PPIs Nexium and Dexilant, and 99 treated with alkaline water and the Mediterranean diet, a regimen low in meat and dairy, and rich in olive oil, fish, beans, fruits and vegetables. Scientists used an index that measures severity of symptoms on a 0 to 45-point scale. In the PPI group, 54 percent achieved a clinically significant 6-point reduction, compared with 63 percent for the diet cohort.

New York Times