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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Micronutrients and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 16184

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Dr. Tyler Barker

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1. Sports Medicine Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
2. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Interests: osteoarthritis; cachexia; vitamin D; cytokines; systemic inflammation; precision nutrition
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vitamins are essential compounds involved in fundamental functions of the body. Vitamins differ in physiological functions and are broadly classified as water-soluble or fat-soluble. The purpose of this Special Issue, “Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition”, is to build upon the first edition by providing cutting-edge original research and review articles regarding the diverse properties of various vitamins in disease and healthy living conditions. This Special Issue will discuss the potential role of vitamins on health and disease etiology, progression, treatment, and the recovery from injury and/or surgery. Articles eloquently discussing the various or new determinants of endogenous vitamin levels in disease and non-disease related conditions are encouraged. Submissions discussing the influence of a vitamin or vitamins on physical performance and survival are welcome.

Dr. Tyler Barker
Guest Editor

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Keywords

vitamin C
vitamin B complex
vitamin A
vitamin D
vitamin E

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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11 pages, 1393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Circulating Vitamin K Levels, Gut Microbiome, and Type 1 Diabetes: A Mendelian Randomization Study

by Samuel De La Barrera, Benjamin De La Barrera, Marc-André Legault, Isabel Gamache and Despoina Manousaki

Nutrients 2024, 16(22), 3795; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223795 - 5 Nov 2024

Viewed by 547

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Nutritional deficiencies have been proposed as possible etiological causes for autoimmune diseases, among which type 1 diabetes (T1D). Vitamin K (VK) has potentially positive effects on type 2 diabetes, but its role on T1D in humans remains largely unknown. We aimed to examine the presence of a causal association between VK and T1D using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods: Genetic variants from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for VK (N = 2138 Europeans) were used as instruments in our two-sample MR study to investigate whether circulating VK levels are causally associated with the risk of T1D in a large European T1D GWAS cohort (18,942 cases/520,580 controls). Through a multivariable MR (MVMR), the effects of both VK and specific gut microbiota on T1D were investigated given that the gut microbiome synthesizes VK. Results: We found that changes in levels of circulating VK did not affect T1D risk in our univariate two-sample MR, but this study had limited power to detect small effects of VK (OR for T1D of less than 0.8). However, our MVMR indicated a suggestive association of VK with the risk of T1D adjusting for two different gut microbiome populations. Conclusions: In conclusion, VK levels are unlikely to significantly affect the risk of T1D, but small effects cannot be excluded, and the role of gut microbiome in this association should be further investigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 920 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Enhance Gains in Muscle Strength and Lean Body Mass or Influence Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Vitamin D-Insufficient Middle-Aged Men Engaged in Resistance Training

by Lauri Savolainen, Saima Timpmann, Martin Mooses, Evelin Mäestu, Luule Medijainen, Märt Lellsaar, Kristi Tiimann, Anneli Piir, Mihkel Zilmer, Eve Unt and Vahur Ööpik

Nutrients 2024, 16(19), 3356; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193356 - 2 Oct 2024

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Abstract

Background: This study checked whether vitamin D (Vit-D) supplementation improves the efficacy of resistance training (RT) in terms of increasing muscle strength and lean body mass (LBM), and influencing cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max) in Vit-D-deficient middle-aged healthy men. Methods: Participants (n = 28) were quasi-randomly assigned to one of two groups, which, in a double-blind manner, supplemented their diet daily with either Vit-D (8000 IU; VD) or placebo (PLC) during participation in a 12-week supervised RT program. Results: During the intervention, serum Vit-D concentrations increased 2.6-fold (p < 0.001) in the VD group, while no changes occurred in the PLC group. Muscle strength gains (p < 0.001) as measured in seven exercises performed on RT equipment and increases (p < 0.001) in LBM were similar in the two groups. Total fat mass, percent total fat, and percent android fat decreased (p < 0.05) to a similar extent in both groups, but there was no change in VO₂max in either group. Conclusions: In conclusion, in healthy Vit-D-insufficient middle-aged men engaged in resistance training, Vit-D supplementation increases serum 25(OH)D levels but does not enhance gains in muscle strength and LBM, or decreases in fat mass and fat percentage, and does not affect cardiorespiratory fitness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

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10 pages, 238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations of Serum Vitamin A and E Concentrations with Pulmonary Function Parameters and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

by Wonjun Noh and Inkyung Baik

Nutrients 2024, 16(18), 3197; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16183197 - 21 Sep 2024

Viewed by 969

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Oxidative stress, an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, is known to affect pulmonary function (PF), thereby leading to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, data on the associations of serum vitamin A and E concentrations with PF parameters and COPD are inconsistent. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate these associations, considering inflammatory status. Participants/Methods: This study included 2005 male and female adults aged ≥40 years who had participated in a population-based national survey. Spirometry without a bronchodilator was conducted to yield PF parameters, such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the FEV1/FVC ratio, which were used to define COPD. Serum vitamin A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) concentrations were assayed. Multivariable regression analysis was performed after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Results: Serum vitamin A concentration was positively associated with FEV1 (p for trend < 0.01) among all participants. In addition, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of the highest serum vitamin A concentration tertile for the prevalence of COPD, which was defined by the FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7, was 0.53 (0.31, 0.90) compared with that of the lowest tertile (p for trend < 0.05). Analysis stratified by a cutoff point of 1 mg/L serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) revealed that such associations with FEV1 and COPD prevalence were stronger in participants with lower hs-CRP levels (p for trend < 0.05). In contrast, serum vitamin E concentration was associated with neither PF parameters nor COPD prevalence. Conclusions: These findings suggest that serum vitamin A concentration may be important in preventing the progressive decline in PF parameters that results in COPD. Further epidemiological investigations are warranted to evaluate the causal associations of antioxidant vitamin status with PF parameters and COPD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

10 pages, 839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vitamin D Deficiency after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Associates with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Study

by Sonu Bae, Laura C. Schmitt, Zachary Burnett, Eric M. Milliron, Parker A. Cavendish, Robert A. Magnussen, Christopher C. Kaeding, David C. Flanigan and Tyler Barker

Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 3029; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16173029 - 8 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1133

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency (i.e., serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) ≤ 20 ng/mL) associates with the increased occurrence and shortened time to a knee osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods: This study consisted of a retrospective, case-control design. The inclusion criteria consisted of (1) patients (≥18 y) who underwent arthroscopic ACLR with (cases; n = 28) and without (controls; n = 56) a subsequent knee OA diagnosis (≥90 d from the date of ACLR) and (2) with a documented serum 25(OH)D concentration after ACLR (and before a knee OA diagnosis for the cases). Controls were matched (2:1) to cases based on sex, age at ACLR, date of ACLR, and body mass index. After matching, patients were separated into two groups: (1) vitamin D deficient (serum 25(OH)D ≤ 20 ng/mL) or (2) non-vitamin D deficient (serum 25(OH)D > 20 ng/mL). Data were extracted from the medical records. Results: Thirty-one percent (n = 26) of patients included were vitamin D deficient. Fifty percent (n = 13) of the vitamin D deficient and twenty-six percent (n = 15) of the non-vitamin D deficient patients were subsequently diagnosed with knee OA (p = 0.03). Time from ACLR to a knee OA diagnosis was significantly (p = 0.02) decreased in the vitamin D deficient (OA-free interval, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.9 to 10.9 y) compared to the non-vitamin D deficient group (OA-free interval, 95% CI = 10.5 to 12.5 y). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency after ACLR may serve as a prognostic biomarker for knee OA following ACLR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 1068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Course of Minipuberty in Daughters of Women with Low Gestational Vitamin D Status

by Karolina Kowalcze, Robert Krysiak, Giuseppe Gullo and Johannes Ott

Nutrients 2024, 16(14), 2362; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142362 - 21 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1258

Abstract

Minipuberty is a term describing temporary, sex-specific activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, which is implicated in the development of male and female genital organs. Sons of women with low vitamin D during gestation were found to be characterized by increased activity of the reproductive axis and faster postnatal growth of genital organs. The current study assesses for the first time the course of minipuberty in female descendants of women with a vitamin D deficit. The study population included three matched groups of infant girls: children born to women with vitamin D deficiency (25OHD concentration below 50 nmol/L), offspring of women with vitamin D insufficiency (25OHD concentration between 50 and 75 nmol/L), and daughters of healthy females (25OHD concentration between 75 and 150 nmol/L). Salivary concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androgens, as well as urine concentrations of FSH and LH, were assayed during the first 18 months of life (once a month in the first 6 months, bimonthly between months 6 and 12, and then every three months). At each visit, beyond hormone measurements, the investigators assessed the size of reproductive organs: ovaries, uterus and breasts. In daughters of mothers with vitamin D deficiency, concentrations of FSH, LH and estradiol were higher and detectable for a longer period of time, while ovarian volume, uterine length and breast diameter were greater than in the remaining groups. Children born to women with vitamin D insufficiency were characterized by higher FSH levels than daughters of healthy females, though the detection period was the same, and both groups differed in breast diameter. These findings suggest that low vitamin D status during gestation leads to more pronounced and longer-lasting activation of the reproductive axis, and is associated with increased dimensions of sexual organs, the magnitude of which depends on the degree of vitamin D deficit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Vitamin D Levels on Dental Caries: A Retrospective Study of the United States Population

by Man Hung, Himani Patel, Samantha Lee, Justin Nguyen and Amir Mohajeri

Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1572; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111572 - 22 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2243

Abstract

(1) Background: This study examines vitamin D’s impact on dental caries to inform prevention strategies, given its critical role in bone and calcium regulation, vital for dental health. (2) Methods: Data from 18,683 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2016 were analyzed. NHANES collects U.S. population data through interviews, physical exams, and tests, including vitamin D levels and dental health assessed using both the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the presence of untreated dental caries. Vitamin D levels were measured according to serum 25(OH)D concentrations, and the analyses adjusted for confounders such as body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status (SES) using Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis tests, as well as logistic and Poisson regression. (3) Results: This study found a mean DMFT score of 7.36 and a 33.2% prevalence of untreated dental caries. A higher caries prevalence was correlated with a lower SES (p < 0.001), the male gender (p < 0.001), and a higher BMI (p < 0.001). Severe vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L) doubled the risk of dental caries, with odds ratios of 2.261 and 1.953 after adjusting for demographic factors and BMI. (4) Conclusions: Our study confirms a significant relationship between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of dental caries nationwide, even after accounting for sociodemographic factors, emphasizing the importance of maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels for preventing caries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

14 pages, 653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vitamin K Status Based on K1, MK-4, MK-7, and Undercarboxylated Prothrombin Levels in Adolescent and Adult Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Patrycja Krzyżanowska-Jankowska, Jan Nowak, Marta Karaźniewicz-Łada, Małgorzata Jamka, Eva Klapkova, Szymon Kurek, Sławomira Drzymała-Czyż, Aleksandra Lisowska, Irena Wojsyk-Banaszak, Wojciech Skorupa, Jarosław Szydłowski, Richard Prusa and Jarosław Walkowiak

Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091337 - 29 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1320

Abstract

The available evidence on vitamin K status in cystic fibrosis (CF) is scarce, lacking data on vitamin K2 (menaquinones—MK). Therefore, we assessed vitamin K1, MK-4 and MK-7 concentrations (LC-MS/MS) in 63 pancreatic insufficient and modulator naïve CF patients, and compared to 61 healthy subjects (HS). Vitamin K1 levels did not differ between studied groups. MK-4 concentrations were higher (median <1st–3rd quartile>: 0.778 <0.589–1.086> vs. 0.349 <0.256–0.469>, p < 0.0001) and MK-7 levels lower (0.150 <0.094–0.259> vs. 0.231 <0.191–0.315>, p = 0.0007) in CF patients than in HS. MK-7 concentrations were higher in CF patients receiving K1 and MK-7 supplementation than in those receiving vitamin K1 alone or no supplementation. Moreover, vitamin K1 concentrations depended on the supplementation regime. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, we have found that MK-7 supplementation dose has been the only predictive factor for MK-7 levels. In conclusion, vitamin K1 levels in CF are low if not currently supplemented. MK-4 concentrations in CF patients supplemented with large doses of vitamin K1 are higher than in HS. MK-7 levels in CF subjects not receiving MK-7 supplementation, with no regard to vitamin K1 supplementation, are low. There do not seem to be any good clinical predictive factors for vitamin K status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 1592 KiB

Open AccessReview

The “Sunshine Vitamin” and Its Antioxidant Benefits for Enhancing Muscle Function

by Cristina Russo, Rosa Santangelo, Lucia Malaguarnera and Maria Stella Valle

Nutrients 2024, 16(14), 2195; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142195 - 10 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1626

Abstract

Pathological states marked by oxidative stress and systemic inflammation frequently compromise the functional capacity of muscular cells. This progressive decline in muscle mass and tone can significantly hamper the patient’s motor abilities, impeding even the most basic physical tasks. Muscle dysfunction can lead to metabolic disorders and severe muscle wasting, which, in turn, can potentially progress to sarcopenia. The functionality of skeletal muscle is profoundly influenced by factors such as environmental, nutritional, physical, and genetic components. A well-balanced diet, rich in proteins and vitamins, alongside an active lifestyle, plays a crucial role in fortifying tissues and mitigating general weakness and pathological conditions. Vitamin D, exerting antioxidant effects, is essential for skeletal muscle. Epidemiological evidence underscores a global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, which induces oxidative harm, mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced adenosine triphosphate production, and impaired muscle function. This review explores the intricate molecular mechanisms through which vitamin D modulates oxidative stress and its consequent effects on muscle function. The aim is to evaluate if vitamin D supplementation in conditions involving oxidative stress and inflammation could prevent decline and promote or maintain muscle function effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

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29 pages, 493 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Water-Soluble Vitamins and Vitamin D in Prevention and Treatment of Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder in Adults

by Alireza Jahan-Mihan, Priscilla Stevens, Saily Medero-Alfonso, Georgina Brace, Laurel Kate Overby, Kristin Berg and Corinne Labyak

Nutrients 2024, 16(12), 1902; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121902 - 17 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5175

Abstract

Depression is a major global health concern expected to worsen by 2030. In 2019, 28 million individuals were affected by depressive disorders. Dietary and supplemental vitamins show overall favorable preventative and therapeutic effects on depression. B vitamins are crucial for neurological function and mood regulation. Deficiencies in these vitamins are linked to depression. Studies on individual B vitamins show promise in improving depressive symptoms, particularly thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. Vitamin C deficiency may heighten depressive symptoms, but its exact role is not fully understood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is associated with insufficient sunlight exposure and vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D supplementation for SAD shows inconsistent results due to methodological variations. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms of vitamins in depression treatment. Moreover, more research on SAD and light therapy’s efficacy and underlying mechanisms involving photoreceptors, enzymes, and immune markers is needed. Although dietary and supplemental vitamins show overall favorable preventative and therapeutic effects on depression, dietitians treating psychiatric disorders face challenges due to diverse study designs, making direct comparisons difficult. Therefore, this article reviews the current literature to assess the role of dietary and supplemental vitamins in the prevention and treatment of depression. This review found that, although evidence supports the role of B vitamins and vitamins C and D in preventing and treating depression, further research is needed to clarify their mechanisms of action and determine the most effective intervention strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 2nd Edition)

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