-
1.
A systematic review for the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Xu, Y, Yang, G, Zuo, X, Gao, J, Jia, H, Han, E, Liu, J, Wang, Y, Yan, H
International urology and nephrology. 2022;(1):173-184
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remain controversial. OBJECTIVE A systematic review of current evidence was performed to systematically and comprehensively summarize the effects of CoQ10 on cardiovascular outcomes, oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid profiles, and glucose metabolism. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library database (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched to identify eligible studies investigating the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on patients with CKD. RESULTS Twelve independent studies (including seventeen publications) were included in this systematic review. For CKD patients, six studies reported variable cardiovascular outcomes, which yielded inconsistent results. Regarding oxidative stress and inflammation, pooled analysis showed that CoQ10 supplementation significantly reduced malonaldehyde (WMD: - 1.15 95% CI - 1.48 to - 0.81) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels (WMD: - 1.18 95% CI - 2.21 to - 0.15). Regarding glucose metabolism, we found that CoQ10 supplementation resulted in significant improvements in HbA1c (WMD: - 0.80; 95% CI: - 1.35 to - 0.24) and QUICKI (WMD: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.03). The pooled results indicated that CoQ10 supplementation had no effects on total cholesterol, or LDL-cholesterol, or on HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS Our systematic review demonstrated that CoQ10 supplementation might have promising effects on oxidative stress. This work provided some clues that CoQ10 supplementation might have the potential to improve inflammation levels, glucose metabolism, cardiac structure, and cardiac biomarkers. However, the effects of CoQ10 supplementation should be confirmed in larger high-quality studies.
-
2.
Effect of a single high dose of vitamin D3 on cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.
Fernandes, AL, Murai, IH, Reis, BZ, Sales, LP, Santos, MD, Pinto, AJ, Goessler, KF, Duran, CSC, Silva, CBR, Franco, AS, et al
The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2022;(3):790-798
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
BACKGROUND The modulating effect of vitamin D on cytokine concentrations in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the effect of a single high dose of vitamin D3 on cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. METHODS This is a post hoc, ancillary, and exploratory analysis from a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 were recruited from 2 hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. Of 240 randomly assigned patients, 200 were assessed in this study and randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of 200,000 IU vitamin D3 (n = 101) or placebo (n = 99). The primary outcome was hospital length of stay, which has been published in our previous study. The prespecified secondary outcomes were serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The post hoc exploratory secondary outcomes were IL-4, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IFN-γ, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-8, IFN-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and leukocyte count. Generalized estimating equations for repeated measures, with Bonferroni's adjustment, were used for testing all outcomes. RESULTS The study included 200 patients with a mean ± SD age of 55.5 ± 14.3 y and BMI of 32.2 ± 7.1 kg/m2, of which 109 (54.5%) were male. GM-CSF concentrations showed a significant group-by-time interaction effect (P = 0.04), although the between-group difference at postintervention after Bonferroni's adjustment was not significant. No significant effects were observed for the other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The findings do not support the use of a single dose of 200,000 IU vitamin D3, compared with placebo, for the improvement of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04449718.
-
3.
Vitamin C and scar strength: analysis of a historical trial and implications for collagen-related pathologies.
Hujoel, PP, Hujoel, MLA
The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2022;(1):8-17
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
A double-blind controlled trial initiated in 1944 has led to the common narrative that a 10-mg daily vitamin C intake is adequate to prevent and treat impaired wound healing, and by inference, other collagen-related diseases such as heart disease or stroke. The WHO relies on this narrative to set the recommended nutrient intake for vitamin C. This narrative, however, is based on what is known as the eyeball method of data assessment. The 1944 trial published individual participant data on scar strength providing an opportunity to statistically probe the validity of the 10-mg narrative, something which has not yet been done. The findings show that a vitamin C intake that averages to 10 mg/d over a mean follow-up of 11.5 mo was associated with a 42% weakened scar strength when compared with 80 mg vitamin C intake/d (P < 0.001). The observed dose-response curve between scar strength and vitamin C intake suggests that the daily vitamin C intake needed to prevent collagen-related pathologies is in the range recommended by the National Academy of Medicine and the European Food Safety Authority (75 to 110 mg/d), not the WHO recommendation (45 mg/d). The findings also show that a vitamin C intake that averages to 65 mg/d over a mean follow-up of 6.5 mo failed to restore the normal wound-healing capacity of vitamin C-depleted tissues; such tissues had a 49% weaker scar strength when compared with nondepleted tissues (P < 0.05). Thus, average daily vitamin C intakes ∼50% higher than the WHO recommends may fail to treat existing collagen-related pathologies. It is concluded that the prior lack of statistical analyses of a landmark trial may have led to a misleading narrative on the vitamin C needs for the prevention and treatment of collagen-related pathologies.
-
4.
Critical Appraisal of Large Vitamin D Randomized Controlled Trials.
Pilz, S, Trummer, C, Theiler-Schwetz, V, Grübler, MR, Verheyen, ND, Odler, B, Karras, SN, Zittermann, A, März, W
Nutrients. 2022;(2)
Abstract
As a consequence of epidemiological studies showing significant associations of vitamin D deficiency with a variety of adverse extra-skeletal clinical outcomes including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and mortality, large vitamin D randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been designed and conducted over the last few years. The vast majority of these trials did not restrict their study populations to individuals with vitamin D deficiency, and some even allowed moderate vitamin D supplementation in the placebo groups. In these RCTs, there were no significant effects on the primary outcomes, including cancer, cardiovascular events, and mortality, but explorative outcome analyses and meta-analyses revealed indications for potential benefits such as reductions in cancer mortality or acute respiratory infections. Importantly, data from RCTs with relatively high doses of vitamin D supplementation did, by the vast majority, not show significant safety issues, except for trials in critically or severely ill patients or in those using very high intermittent vitamin D doses. The recent large vitamin D RCTs did not challenge the beneficial effects of vitamin D regarding rickets and osteomalacia, that therefore continue to provide the scientific basis for nutritional vitamin D guidelines and recommendations. There remains a great need to evaluate the effects of vitamin D treatment in populations with vitamin D deficiency or certain characteristics suggesting a high sensitivity to treatment. Outcomes and limitations of recently published large vitamin D RCTs must inform the design of future vitamin D or nutrition trials that should use more personalized approaches.
-
5.
Nutrition in Thalassemia: A Systematic Review of Deficiency, Relations to Morbidity, and Supplementation Recommendations.
Goldberg, EK, Lal, A, Fung, EB
Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology. 2022;(1):1-11
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reports of nutritional deficiencies in patients with thalassemia (Thal) are common. Despite its importance, however, nutritionally focused research in Thal has been limited by inadequate sample size, inconsistent methodology, a lack of control comparisons, and few interventional trials. Due to these limitations, clinicians lack evidence-based nutrition recommendations to support clinical decision-making. This systematic review summarizes observed relationships between nutrition and morbidity in Thal published in the last 3 decades. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were screened for articles pertaining to nutrition in Thal using comprehensive search terms. Studies performed in humans, written in English, and published between 1990 and 2020 were included. Over 2100 manuscripts were identified, from which 97 were included. RESULTS Patients with Thal were most often deficient in vitamins A, C, D, selenium, and zinc. Prevalence of nutritional deficiency was positively correlated with age and iron overload. Evidence to support the role of vitamin D and zinc for bone health was observed; zinc was also found to improve glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Due to the risk for multinutrient deficiency, nutritional status should be assessed annually in patients with Thal with prompt nutrient replacement when deficiency is detected. Routine supplementation with vitamin D and zinc is recommended.
-
6.
Vitamin supplementation as a potential adjunctive therapeutic approach for COVID-19: biological and clinical plausibility.
Daei Sorkhabi, A, Sarkesh, A, Daei Sorkhabi, A, Entezari-Maleki, T, Rashedi, J, Bannazadeh Baghi, H
Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology. 2021;(1):55-77
Abstract
The recent pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has introduced itself into the human population in the 21st century after the coronavirus diseases SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV). Major investigations are underway worldwide in the search for pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 and many agents are administered in off-label routes. Several cases are under study to check or restrict clinical manifestations of COVID-19. According to the fact that the efficacy of some micro-nutrients like vitamins is proven to treat or prevent infectious diseases because of their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity, the potential role of vitamins in the COVID-19 treatment or prevention must be considered.
-
7.
Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D level with survival outcomes in female breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis.
Li, C, Li, H, Zhong, H, Li, X
The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. 2021;:105947
Abstract
Conflicting results have been reported on the association of blood vitamin D level with prognosis in women with breast cancer. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and survival outcomes in female breast cancer patients. Two authors independently searched PubMed and Embase databases from their inception to August 25, 2020. Prospective or retrospective cohort studies evaluating the association between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and survival outcomes in women with breast cancer were included. Outcome measures included overall survival (OS), breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Twelve studies involving 8574 female breast cancer patients were identified and analyzed. When compared the lowest with the highest category of 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, the pooled adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.57 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.35-1.83) for OS, 1.98 (95 % CI 1.55-2.53) for DFS, and 1.44 (95 % CI 1.14-1.81) for BCSS. This meta-analysis indicates that lower blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is significantly associated with reduced survival among female breast cancer patients. Additional clinical trials are required to investigate whether vitamin D supplement can improve survival outcomes in these patients.
-
8.
Androgens and hirsutism score of overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome improved after vitamin D treatment: A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial.
Al-Bayyari, N, Al-Domi, H, Zayed, F, Hailat, R, Eaton, A
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2021;(3):870-878
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIM: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D treatment on androgen levels and hirsutism scores in overweight women with PCOS. METHODS A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted at King Abdullah University Hospital in Irbid, Jordan. Overweight Jordanian females aged 18-49 years with vitamin D deficiency and PCOS (n = 60) were assigned to two groups: the treatment group (n = 30) who received 50,000 IU per week of vitamin D3 and the control group (n = 30) who received a placebo. RESULTS After receiving the treatment for 12 consecutive weeks, the levels of total testosterone, parathyroid hormone, free androgen index, and hirsutism score were significantly decreased (P < 0.001), and the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), sex hormone binding globulin, and phosphorus were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant changes were observed in ovarian volume and follicle numbers and size ultrasonography, and in the regularity of the menstrual cycle (P < 0.001). In the placebo group, no significant changes were observed in either androgen levels, hirsutism score, or menstrual regularity. CONCLUSION Vitamin D3 at a treatment dose of 50,000 IU per week improved 25(OH)D levels and decreased the hirsutism scores and androgen levels of overweight women with PCOS. These results could mean increased fertility and better reproductive health for overweight women with PCOS; the use of vitamin D3 as a treatment for these patients should be further investigated. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV REGESTRATION NUMBER NCT02328404.
-
9.
In Vitro Non-Genomic Effects of Calcifediol on Human Preosteoblastic Cells.
Donati, S, Palmini, G, Romagnoli, C, Aurilia, C, Miglietta, F, Falsetti, I, Marini, F, Zonefrati, R, Galli, G, Marcucci, G, et al
Nutrients. 2021;(12)
Abstract
Several recent studies have demonstrated that the direct precursor of vitamin D3, the calcifediol [25(OH)D3], through the binding to the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR), is able to regulate the expression of many genes involved in several cellular processes. Considering that itself may function as a VDR ligand, although with a lower affinity, respect than the active form of vitamin D, we have assumed that 25(OH)D3 by binding the VDR could have a vitamin's D3 activity such as activating non-genomic pathways, and in particular we selected mesenchymal stem cells derived from human adipose tissue (hADMSCs) for the in vitro assessment of the intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in response to 25(OH)D3. Our result reveals the ability of 25(OH)D3 to activate rapid, non-genomic pathways, such as an increase of intracellular Ca2+ levels, similar to what observed with the biologically active form of vitamin D3. hADMSCs loaded with Fluo-4 AM exhibited a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration as a result of exposure to 10-5 M of 25(OH)D3. In this work, we show for the first time the in vitro ability of 25(OH)D3 to induce a rapid increase of intracellular Ca2+ levels in hADMSCs. These findings represent an important step to better understand the non-genomic effects of vitamin D3 and its role in endocrine system.
-
10.
Role of vitamins and minerals as immunity boosters in COVID-19.
Kumar, P, Kumar, M, Bedi, O, Gupta, M, Kumar, S, Jaiswal, G, Rahi, V, Yedke, NG, Bijalwan, A, Sharma, S, et al
Inflammopharmacology. 2021;(4):1001-1016
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) known as coronavirus disease (COVID-19), emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. On March 11, 2020, it was declared a global pandemic. As the world grapples with COVID-19 and the paucity of clinically meaningful therapies, attention has been shifted to modalities that may aid in immune system strengthening. Taking into consideration that the COVID-19 infection strongly affects the immune system via multiple inflammatory responses, pharmaceutical companies are working to develop targeted drugs and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19. A balanced nutritional diet may play an essential role in maintaining general wellbeing by controlling chronic infectious diseases. A balanced diet including vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and K, and some micronutrients such as zinc, sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and phosphorus may be beneficial in various infectious diseases. This study aimed to discuss and present recent data regarding the role of vitamins and minerals in the treatment of COVID-19. A deficiency of these vitamins and minerals in the plasma concentration may lead to a reduction in the good performance of the immune system, which is one of the constituents that lead to a poor immune state. This is a narrative review concerning the features of the COVID-19 and data related to the usage of vitamins and minerals as preventive measures to decrease the morbidity and mortality rate in patients with COVID-19.