Compound Interest: health

What do the IARC’s carcinogen classifications actually mean?

July 14, 2023 68Comments 10Likes 2862Views

Infographic on the IARC carcinogen classification system. Classifications are shown along with example substances that fall within each category. Classifications range from group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) to group 4 (probably not carcinogenic).

Alcohol: Well known to be carcinogenic to humans. Despite this, a large proportion of the population drink it regularly. More surprisingly, whenever the International Agency for Research on Cancer updates its carcinogen classifications for other substances with a lower cancer risk, there’s often media fanfare. In recent years, the IARC has upgraded classifications for red meat and aspartame, leading to a spate of panicked articles. This republished and updated post takes a look at what the classification groups actually mean, and how worried we should be about a substance’s classification.

Undeserved Reputation? Aspartame, The Artificial Sweetener

April 28, 2015 41Comments 1Like 413Views

Last week, Pepsi announced they will be removing aspartame, the artificial sweetener, from Diet Pepsi (in the US), and replacing it with another artificial sweetener, sucralose. This reignited the discussion on aspartame, probably one of the most maligned substances in fizzy drinks – but what does the science say on its safety? This graphic looks at the evidence behind aspartame’s bad reputation, and whether it makes sense to remove it from drinks.

Medicinal Chemistry - Common Components of Vaccines

A Summary of Common Vaccine Components

February 10, 2015 9Comments 0Likes 327Views

Medicinal Chemistry - Common Components of Vaccines Summary — Click to enlarge

The recent measles outbreak in the US has once again provoked discussion over vaccinations, and why some parents choose not to vaccinate their children despite the benefits of doing so. Whilst not the only factor, part of the blame lies with misinformation about the chemical composition of vaccines and the effects these compounds can have. This graphic summarises some of the key components in vaccines, as well as clarifying their purpose and safety in the concentrations present.

The Chemical Structures of Vitamins

January 13, 2015 12Comments 1Like 410Views

Vitamins are an important part of our diet, but you probably haven’t given a great deal of thought to their chemical structures. This graphic shows chemical structures for all 13 vitamins; though there can be some variability in these structures in sources of the vitamins, these are generally representative. They perform a range of roles in the body; below is a brief discussion, and a look at the evidence for taking vitamin supplements.

The Chemistry of Ginger – Flavour, Pungency & Medicinal Potential

November 27, 2014 8Comments 0Likes 441Views

Infographic on the chemistry of ginger. The pungency of fresh ginger comes from gingerol, while zingiberene also contributes to the flavour. Cooking ginger breaks down gingerols into zingerone, which is less pungent. Shogaols are also formed during cooking. Shogaols and gingerol have also been investigated for their potential medicinal effects. — Click to enlarge

Ginger is a spice commonly found in supermarkets and the kitchen, either as the fresh root or in dried, powdered form. It adds a strong, pungent flavour to dishes as a consequence of several chemical compounds it contains; additionally, these compounds are altered when the ginger is cooked or dried, producing alterations to its flavour. Some of these compounds have also been investigated for potential health benefits, including potential anti-tumour activity.