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A vitamin supplement that improves metabolism in the eye appears to slow down damage to the optic nerve in glaucoma. In glaucoma, the optic nerve is gradually damaged, leading to vision loss and, in the worst cases, blindness. High pressure in the eye drives the disease. Glaucoma researchers have long theorized the substance homocysteine is somehow relevant to understanding the disease. Now, researchers have investigated the role of homocysteine in several ways. In the current study, the researchers discovered that when rats with glaucoma were given elevated levels of homocysteine, their disease did not worsen. The researchers also found that...

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is independently associated with increased depression risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study. I-Wen Chen and colleagues examined the association between VDD and the risk for depression. The analysis included 17,955 propensity-matched pairs of patients with CKD (aged 50 years and older) with VDD of ≤20 ng/mL or ≥30 ng/mL (control group), as measured within three months of CKD diagnosis. The researchers found that VDD was associated with increased depression risk at one year (hazard ratio [HR], 1.929). This association remained at follow-up three years later. The finding was consistent across...

Meeting the minimum requirement for vitamin B12, needed to make DNA, red blood cells and nerve tissue, may not actually be enough—particularly if you are older. It may even put you at risk for cognitive impairment. A new study found that older, healthy volunteers, with lower concentrations of B12, but still in the normal range, showed signs of neurological and cognitive deficiency. These levels were associated with more damage to the brain's white matter—the nerve fibers that enable communication between areas of the brain—and test scores associated with slower cognitive and visual processing speeds, compared to those with higher B12....

Your brain might not be getting enough B12 — even if your levels are considered “normal.” A new study suggests that older adults with lower B12, even within the accepted range, show signs of cognitive decline and brain damage. Researchers found that these individuals had slower thinking and reaction times, along with white matter lesions linked to dementia. Normal B12 Levels Still Linked to Brain Deficiency Getting the recommended amount of vitamin B12 is essential for making DNA, red blood cells, and nerve tissue. But new research suggests that meeting the minimum requirement may not be enough — especially for...

Micronutrient deficiency, whereby levels of vitamins and minerals essential for healthy bodily function are far too low, is common in people with type 2 diabetes, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence. A lack of vitamin D is the most common "missing" micronutrient. Genetic predisposition, various environmental factors, sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet and obesity are risk factors for the disease, explain the researchers. And previously published research suggests that micronutrients have a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes, by potentially affecting glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathways. Their analysis included 132 studies, involving 52,501...

New research reveals that many prenatal vitamins don't contain enough of the nutrients that are essential for a healthy pregnancy, while others contain harmful levels of toxic metals. The researchers tested a sample of 47 different prenatal vitamins (32 nonprescription and 15 prescription products) bought from online and local stores where people commonly shop. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends dietary reference intakes for choline at 450 mg/day during pregnancy and 550 mg/day during lactation, with a tolerable upper limit of 3,500 mg/day. For iodine, the recommended dietary reference intake for females aged 19 and...

Dietary intake of vitamin E may potentially lower the risk for atopic dermatitis, according to a study. Siqing Wang and colleagues conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis to explore the causal relationship between dietary antioxidant vitamin intake (vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene, and retinol) and atopic dermatitis. The researchers observed a causal relationship between vitamin E intake and atopic dermatitis (odds ratio, 0.859; 95% confidence interval, 0.745 to 0.992; P = 0.038). No causal relationship was seen between the other three vitamins and atopic dermatitis (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals], 0.953 [0.826 to 1.099; P = 0.507], 1.011 [0.864 to 1.184;...

A study has revealed a link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease (PD). The researchers found a reduction in the gut bacteria of genes responsible for synthesizing the essential B vitamins B2 and B7. They also identified a relationship between the lack of these genes and low levels of agents that help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier. This barrier prevents toxins from entering the bloodstream, which causes the inflammation seen in PD. Their findings suggest that treatment with B vitamins to address these deficiencies can be used to treat PD. In ideal conditions, gut microbiota produce SCFAs and...

Americans spend billions of dollars every year on dietary supplements that claim to promote almost every aspect of our health. But how much do you know about the supplements you’re taking? A recent government study found that nearly 60 percent of adults take vitamins, minerals, fish oil, herbal capsules, melatonin, probiotics and other types of dietary supplements.

A team of medical researchers and doctors reports that administration of vitamin D2 to patients newly diagnosed with diabetes type 1 can prolong the so-called honeymoon phase of the disease. The group conducted a clinical trial involving giving vitamin D2 supplements to children newly diagnosed with diabetes. Prior research has shown that at the time of diagnosis, most diabetes type 1 patients still have approximately 30% to 50% function in pancreatic beta cells (diabetes occurs when such cells stop making insulin). Sometimes the beta cells continue to function for several months or even years. This time period is known as...

Folate is a B vitamin and a necessary nutrient to prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Folic acid, a synthetic form of folate, has been added products to ensure pregnant women get adequate amounts. However, research suggests there may be such a thing as too much folic acid. Researchers showed imbalances in folic acid and vitamin B12 can alter brain development in mice. Green said: "The safe upper limit for folate is 1,000 micrograms per day. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data showed that a substantial percentage of women's diets were above that limit." The team...

I am not sure where to get vitamin and mineral advice particularly ratios. Pcp sends me to nutritionist who is clueless. Osteopathy? Naturopaths? I understand now that ratios od vitamins D magnesium and calcium have to be looked after to not demineralize bones or clog arteries. Your thoughts appreciated. I will leave this here and come back to it later.

This video was a helpful source of updated information on nutrition.I really appreciate the video's author for providing a transcript and dividing the video into content 'chapters' with separate links, which I'll post below. Click on the chapter link to jump to that part of the video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhkxidN2M9Q 435,893 views Premiered Nov 9, 2023 InterviewsThis episode features Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D., and was originally recorded for the Institute for Functional Medicine's podcast, 'Pathways to Wellbeing.' This episode outlines a series of fundamental tactics you can start applying immediately to enhance cellular health, protect the nervous system, elevate mood, reduce inflammation, promote muscle...

New insights into the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease could unlock novel therapeutic approaches and help to prevent the disease. A study has shed light on a bidirectional interaction in the body's fat metabolism that could play an important role in the development of the disease. Dietary and other lifestyle factors such as smoking also play a role. One protein that is known to play a key role in Alzheimer's disease is the amyloid-beta peptide. "This small amyloid-beta protein accumulates in the form of hardened plaques within a patient's brain. Amyloid-beta is a key element in the development of Alzheimer's and...

Poster's Note: This is a very long article documenting how zinc is Anti: Weight, diabetes, cholesterol, inflammation, oxidation, metabolic syndrome, stroke, atherosclerosis, death, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, cytokines, liver damage, blood vessel damage, kidney damage, etc. I'll post the first dozen paragraphs or so, and you're welcome to follow the link to the extensive article. ------------- A number of studies have reported that zinc plays a substantial role in the development of metabolic syndrome, taking part in the regulation of cytokine expression, suppressing inflammation, and is also required to activate antioxidant enzymes that scavenge reactive oxygen species, reducing...

A team of researchers argue that vitamin supplements can help prevent secondary strokes. They also advocate for the value of new technologies in eye research to verify these findings. Homocysteine is an amino acid associated with stroke and secondary stroke when elevated above normal levels. B vitamins and folate, also known as vitamin B9, can help lower levels of homocysteine and stroke, according to a peer-reviewed editorial. Elevated homocysteine is the result of genetic mutations or inadequate stores of vitamins B6, B12, folate and riboflavin (B2). Lowering it is relatively inexpensive because it can be achieved through vitamin supplementation. The...

Researchers have now revealed that vitamin B12 plays a pivotal role in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration. The research was focused on an experimental process known as cellular reprogramming which is thought to mimic the early phases of tissue repair. The team found that cellular reprogramming in mice consumes large amounts of vitamin B12. Indeed, the depletion of vitamin B12 becomes a limiting factor that delays and impairs some aspects of the reprogramming process. The researchers validated their findings in a model of ulcerative colitis, demonstrating that the intestinal cells initiating repair undergo a process similar to cellular reprogramming and...

Are you in the dark about your vitamin D levels? Experts are shedding light on whether or not you might be lacking an important vitamin when the days get shorter. Vitamin D is important for multiple bodily functions and is most responsible for helping the body absorb calcium, essential for strong and healthy bones, according to the National Institutes of Health. It also plays an important role in the immune system and the health of the body’s muscles and nerves. The ways in which people get vitamin is from food, the sun, or supplements, according to Yale Medicine. However, 35%...

A new study has identified a compelling link between vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic inflammation, which is associated with a range of health problems including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. The research examined the effects of circulating B12 concentration on the levels of two key inflammatory markers in both humans and mice. Vitamin B12, an essential nutrient with roles in various physiological processes, is known to be critical for overall health. Its deficiency can be the result of dietary insufficiency or inefficient absorption in the body. This can lead to a range of complications, including neurological disorders. While previous...

Scientists have proven that a formulation they pioneered alleviates deadly sepsis. Promising results from an initial clinical trial show that sodium ascorbate—a pH-balanced formulation of vitamin C—is effective in treating sepsis. Yugeesh Lankadeva said sepsis is notoriously difficult to treat and is often deadly. "Sepsis accounts for 35–50 percent of all hospital deaths. It occurs when the immune system fails to fight off an underlying infection, causing life-threatening falls in blood pressure, multiple organ failure, and death," Lankadeva said. "In our trial, patients were given sodium ascorbate into their bloodstream, resulting in promising improvements to multiple organs." Rinaldo Bellomo, said...