The head of the World Health Organization in Europe is pessimistic about vaccines' ability to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, as new variants dash hopes of reaching herd immunity.

A recent study found people with the highest quality diets were around 10 percent less likely to develop COVID-19 than those with the lowest quality diets, and 40 percent less likely to fall severely ill.

Prolonged exposure to air pollution can be linked to an increased risk of stroke and coronary heart disease, even when levels are below the limits specified by the European Union and World Health Organization.

A study in Japan has found older people with type 2 diabetes and loss of muscle mass have significantly lower vitamin B1, B12 and D intake, compared to subjects without muscle mass loss.