Health Highlights: June 9, 2007

Mar. 23 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments,compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Excessive Use of Anti-Pain Cream Caused Teen Runner's Death, M.E. Says

One of the most widely used over-the-counter anti-pain creams caused the death of a 17-year-old runner from the New York City borough of Staten Island, according to reports in the Staten Island Advance and the Associated Press.

Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner, used too much methyl salicylate -- more commonly known as oil of wintergreen -- to ease pain in her legs, the New York City Medical Examiner's office concluded Friday, the wire service reports. Methyl salicylate is found in a variety of anti-pain creams such as Bengay and Icy Hot.

Newman attended Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island and had won many track awards. She died Apr. 13, and the reason for her death had remained a mystery until Friday. The medical examiner's spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove, told the A.P. that this was the first time her office had ever reported a death caused by excessive anti-pain cream use. Borakove told the wire service that Newman used "topical medication to excess."

Alice Newman, Arielle's mother, told the Advance she couldn't believe what caused her daughter's death. "I am scrupulous about my children's health," she told the newspaper. "I did not think an over-the-counter product could be unsafe."

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Malnourishment Still Evident in the United Kingdom

Being overweight doesn't necessarily protect a person from being malnourished.

In fact, the Associated Press reports, at least 2 million Britons residents are malnourished, even if many of them don't look like they are. A recent survey revealed that a typical British diet -- high in fat, salt and calorie content -- doesn't contain the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances required to maintain a nutritious balance.

"People may be eating too much food, but they may not be eating enough fruits and vegetables," the wire service quotes Dr. Marinos Elia, a professor of clinical nutrition and metabolism at Southampton University, as saying.

In fact, the A.P. cites some medical experts praising the rationing system the British used during World War II, when food wasn't so plentiful. "Rationing was a huge success because it ensured that if you got your allotted amounts, you got a nutritionally reasonable diet," Dr. Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, told the wire service. "I'm not advocating a return to rationing, but it was a more balanced diet back then."