PMID: 

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2019 ;65(4):303-308. PMID: 31474679

Abstract Title: 

Association between Vitamin D Status and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population-Based Study.

Abstract: 

The relationship between vitamin D levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unestablished. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and NAFLD based on population survey data. This cross-sectional study was conducted based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Liver steatosis was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between vitamin D status and NAFLD. A total of 9,782 participants were identified in this analysis, with 46.8% male and an average age of 44.41±0.16 y old. Among them, 6,047 (61.8%) cases were without NAFLD, 1,357 (13.9%) had mild NAFLD, 1,594 (16.3%) had moderate and 784 (8.0%) had severe NAFLD. Compared to those with non-NAFLD or mild NAFLD, patients in the moderate to severe NAFLD group had higher vitamin D deficiency or insufficiencyrates (12.4% vs 11.5% and 36.8% vs 33.2%, respectively). After adjustment for male gender, older age, race, BMI, history of diabetes and vitamin D intake, vitamin D levels were independently associated with the severity of NAFLD (vitamin D deficiency group OR: 1.314, 95% CI: 1.129 to 1.529, vitaminD insufficiency group OR: 1.203, 95% CI: 1.090 to 1.328). Besides that, cold season was also found to be an independent factor for NAFLD (OR: 0.896, 95% CI: 0.820 to 0.979). Lower vitamin D level is an independent risk factor for NAFLD. Vitamin D levels are inversely associated with the severity ofNAFLD. Cold season increases the risk of NAFLD independently.

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PMID: 

Korean J Fam Med. 2019 Sep 3. Epub 2019 Sep 3. PMID: 31476853

Abstract Title: 

The Association between Low Vitamin D Status and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Korean Premenopausal Women: The 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2014.

Abstract: 

Background: This study aimed to analyze the association of low vitamin D status with thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in the Korean population according to sex and menopausal status in women.Methods: This study was based on the data acquired from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We enrolled 4,356 subjects who had data of thyroid function, antithyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. We excluded subjects who were pregnant and who had a history of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer, and those with transient thyroid dysfunction who tested negative for TPOAb (TPOAb[-]).Results: TPOAb positivity (TPOAb[+]) with thyroid dysfunction (subclinical and overt hypothyroidism) was more prevalent in the vitamin D deficient group than in the vitamin D insufficient and sufficient groups including premenopausal (P=0.046) and postmenopausal women (P=0.032), although no significant differences were observed in men. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the TPOAb(+) with thyroid dysfunction group than in the TPOAb(+) with euthyroidism and TPOAb(-) groups of premenopausal women (P=0.001), although no significant differences were observed in men and postmenopausal women. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, body mass index, and current smoking status, showed that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly associated with TPOAb(+) with thyroid dysfunction in premenopausal women (P

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While honey and sugar share similar degrees of sweetness, the differences in the way our bodies respond to them are profound.

Technically, honey and sugar (sucrose) both exist because they are food for their respective species.

In the case of sugarcane, a member of the the grass family (Poaceae) which includes wheat, maize and rice, sucrose provides energy for its leaves and is an easily transportable source of energy for other parts of the plant, such as the root, that do not produce their own energy.

Honey, of course, is produced by bees from the nectar of flowers solely for the purpose of food.

Beyond this obvious similarity, the differences between honey and sugar, however, are much more profound.

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A groundbreaking clinical trial indicates that the most common cause of hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease) may be improved with the addition of only two grams of powdered black seed daily. 

A randomized clinical trial reveals that the ancient healing food known as nigella sativa (aka “black seed”), once known as the “remedy for everything but death,” may provide an ideal treatment for the autoimmune thyroid condition known as Hashimoto’s disease, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

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PMID: 

Metab Brain Dis. 2019 Sep 2. Epub 2019 Sep 2. PMID: 31478182

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin D supplementation ameliorates severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Abstract: 

This study investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) clinical symptoms and neurochemical biomarkers including serotonin, neopterin and kynurenine. Thirty male and female patients diagnosed with GAD and had vitamin D deficiency were recruited from the psychiatric clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and divided into two groups; one group of patients (n = 15) received standard of care (SOC) plus 50,000 IU vitamin D (once/week) for 3 months, while the other group (n = 15) received SOC alone. Biochemical parameters including serum vitamin D, serotonin, neopterin and kynurenine were measured for all patients enrolled in the trial. In addition, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale was used to measure the severity of GAD symptoms in both vitamin D treated- and untreated-patients. Significant improvements in GAD scores were observed in the vitamin D-treated group compared to the group that did not receive vitamin D. In addition, serum serotonin concentrations were significantly increased while serum neopterin were significantly decreased in vitamin D-treated vs. untreated patients. In contrast, no significant differences were found in serum kynurenine concentrations at the end of the study period between the two groups. No changes either in GAD-7 scores or in any of the biochemical measurements were observed in the group that received only SOC after 3 months. Vitamin D supplementation was effective in ameliorating the severity of GAD symptoms by increasing serotonin concentrations and decreasing the levels of the inflammatory biomarker neopterin in GAD patients.

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PMID: 

Acta Paediatr. 2019 Sep 4. Epub 2019 Sep 4. PMID: 31483890

Abstract Title: 

Follow-up study found that vitamin D deficiency and weight gain increased the risk of impaired fasting glycaemia.

Abstract: 

Vitamin D deficiency, as measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D, has been related to obesity and impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG), but the causality is unclear. Obesity-related consequences, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and death, have been associated with low vitamin D in adults. However, it is unclear whether vitamin D plays a direct role in glucose metabolism or if there is an association without direct causality (1). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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PMID: 

Eur J Endocrinol. 2019 Aug 1. Epub 2019 Aug 1. PMID: 31484162

Abstract Title: 

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IS ASSOCIATED WITH CORTICAL BONE LOSS AND FRACTURES IN THE ELDERLY.

Abstract: 

INTRODUCTION: The role of vitamin D on bone microarchitecture and fragility is not clear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D

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PMID: 

Curr Neurovasc Res. 2019 Sep 5. Epub 2019 Sep 5. PMID: 31486754

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin D as a Potential Agent for Ischemic Axonal Regeneration after Epineurial Devascularization of the Sciatic Nerve.

Abstract: 

Although vitamin D has several noncalcemic functions particularly on nervous system, its neuroregenerative roles on ischemic peripheral nerve injury has not been reported. In this study it was aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D3 after epineurial devascularization of the sciatic nerve. Forty adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (Sham-operated), Group 3 (Epineurial devascularization + vitamin D3 treatment), Group 4 (Epineurial devascularization + vehicle treatment). Recovery of the sciatic nerve was analyzed by functional (sciatic functional index, pinch test and biochemical analyses) and morphological (electron microscopic analysis and wet muscle weight analysis) methods. Comparison of the data revealed that vitamin D3 administration had a beneficial effect on regeneration after epineurial devascularization. We suggest that vitamin D3 is an effective agent in prevention of ischemic peripheral nerve insults.

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PMID: 

Vnitr Lek. 2019 ;65(7-8):470-474. PMID: 31487989

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin D supplementation dose needs to be higher in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: interventional study.

Abstract: 

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D (vitD) is a substance with an immunomodulatory effect. Its insufficiency has negative impact also on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) where it is often present. The recommended daily intake for general population is 600 UI/day (units/day). What is the necessary dose for IBD patients remains unknown. The aim of the study was to verify whether the 2,000 IU/day of vitD is sufficient for maintaining sustained levels in these patients.METHODS: Patients with Crohns disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) were supplemented orally with 2,000 IU of cholecalciferol daily during winter time. The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was established at the beginning of substitution period (October to December) and in Month 4. Demographic data, Ca, P, parathormone levels, dose of vitD used, and patients compliance were observed.RESULTS: 108 patients with CD and UC (71/37) were analysed, out of them 51 females, average age 43.3 ± 16.2 years. The level of 25OHD increased from 60.2 ± 26.5 nmol/l to 68.1 ± 27.1 nmol/l (p< 0.001) during the period with the average substitution dose of vitD 1 858 ± 464 IU/day. 60.2 % of subjects complied with the recommended dosing of vitD. The dose of 1,820 IU vitD/day showed to be sufficient for maintaining sustained levels in the model. No changes of Ca, P serum levels occurred during observation period.CONCLUSIONS: Substitution doses of vitD recommended for general population are insufficient for IBD patients. A dose of up to 2,000/day, which is safe, is necessary to maintain normal levels of 25OHD. Noncompliance with the use of vitD is high.

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PMID: 

J Nutr Biochem. 2019 Sep ;71:82-89. Epub 2019 Jun 20. PMID: 31302374

Abstract Title: 

Astaxanthin attenuates the increase in mitochondrial respiration during the activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Abstract: 

Upon liver injury, quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSCs) transdifferentiate to myofibroblast-like activated HSCs (aHSCs), which are primarily responsible for the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins during the development of liver fibrosis. Therefore, aHSCs may exhibit different energy metabolism from that of qHSCs to meet their high energy demand. We previously demonstrated that astaxanthin (ASTX), a xanthophyll carotenoid, prevents the activation of HSCs. The objective of this study was to determine if ASTX can exert its antifibrogenic effect by attenuating any changes in energy metabolism during HSC activation. To characterize the energy metabolism of qHSCs and aHSCs, mouse primary HSCs were cultured on uncoated plastic dishes for 7 days for spontaneous activation in the presence or absence of 25μM ASTX. qHSCs (1 day after isolation) and aHSCs treated with or without ASTX for 7 days were used to determine parameters related to mitochondrial respiration using a Seahorse XFe24 Extracellular Flux analyzer. aHSCs had significantly higher basal respiration, maximal respiration, ATP production,spare respiratory capacity and proton leak than those of qHSCs. However, ASTX prevented most of the changes occurring during HSC activation and improved mitochondrial cristae structure with decreased cristae junction width, lumen width and the area in primary mouse aHSCs. Furthermore, qHSCs isolatedfrom ASTX-fed mice had lower mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis than control qHSCs. Our findings suggest that ASTX may exert its antifibrogenic effect by attenuating the changes in energy metabolism during HSC activation.

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