Therapeutic Effects Of Vitamin Research Articles

The effect of Vitamin C in the therapy of haemolactia in dairy cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intravenous administration of vitamin C in the therapy of haemolactia in dairy cows. Haemolactia is often of unknown origin, and it can occur due to vitamin C deficiency. The research was carried out on twenty-eight dairy cows having clinical signs of haemolactia, with a clinical score of 2 or 3. The cows of the group A (n=10) were treated intravenously with 2000 mg vitamin C, those of the Group B (n=10) with 3000 mg vitamin C intravenously, whereas cows of group C (n=8) were served as controls and remained untreated. The vitamin C application was once per day intravenously until symptoms disappeared. The appearance of milk and the therapeutic effects of vitamin C were monitored during milking, based on the visual appearance of milk. The average duration of haemolactia in both treated groups A and B was significantly lower (72 h and 68 h, respectively) compared to the control group C (102 h) (p<0.05 for both). Vitamin C was shown to be beneficial in the therapy of haemolactia; no statistical difference was observed regarding the administered doses of vitamin C (2000 vs. 3000 mg). The results prove the importance of vitamin C administration to shorten the duration of haemolactia in dairy cows

Multifaceted Roles of Vitamin D for Diabetes: From Immunomodulatory Functions to Metabolic Regulations.

Numerous studies have established associations between vitamin D and diabetes. The vitamin D receptor is widely distributed throughout the human body, including in pancreatic beta cells (β-cells), hepatocytes, and immune cells. Therefore, vitamin D's effect on the risk, progression, or complications of diabetes may be mediated through various mechanisms. These include the regulation of insulin secretion or sensitivity and modulation of β-cell function and its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. This review extensively explores the relationship between vitamin D status and diabetes, as well as the preventive or therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation on diabetes from human studies. Additionally, it examines in detail the impact of vitamin D on immune and inflammatory responses in the diabetic milieux and β-cell function to better understand the underlying mechanisms through which vitamin D influences diabetes.

Therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation in mexican patients with allergic rhinitis

To evaluate the impact of cholecalciferol (D₃) supplementation using clinical and paraclinical variables in patients with RA and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included patients from 5 to 40 years with a diagnosis of RA and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. They were supplemented for 8 weeks with 4000 or 5000 IU, depending on age. Total nasal symptoms score (TNSS) was measured monthly and 25(OH)D₃ levels at baseline and at the end of the study. A total of 31 patients were included, with a mean age of 18.19 years. In the active group, there was a significant improvement in symptomatology with respect to the TNSS score and an increase in serum vitamin D levels (p < 0.01). There were no adverse reactions with cholecalciferol or placebo. Supplementing patients with vitamin D₃, at the evaluated dose, together with conventional treatent for allergic rhinitis results in symptoms and quality of life improvement in patients with this disease.

Therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation on COVID-19 aggravation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation on Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) aggravation remain controversial and inconclusive. To probe into this contentious issue, we performed the present meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Literature published up to June 2023 was retrieved from Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. RCTs assessing mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation (MV), length of hospitalization (LOH), and inflammatory markers containing C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were included. 19 RCTs were involved in the analysis and were conducted subgroup analyses on the baseline COVID-19 severity and vitamin D administration. In the severity subgroup, statistically significant effects in moderate to severe group were observed in ICU admission (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23, 0.80; p = 0.008), MV (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27, 0.72; p = 0.001) and LOH (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.92, -0.06; p = 0.027). In the administration subgroup, effects of ICU admission (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16, 0.97; p = 0.044), MV (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07, 0.46; p = 0.000) and LOH (SMD -0.50, 95% CI -0.96, -0.04; p = 0.034) were more pronounced in patients supplied with multiple-dose vitamin D than single-dose. Although the result of mortality showed no statistically significant effect, it indicated a reduced trend (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.63, 1.12; p > 0.05). The results of inflammatory markers reached no statistical differences. This meta-analysis revealed that moderate to severe COVID-19 patients supplied with multiple doses of vitamin D were less apt to need ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and have shorter hospital stays.

Exploring Serum Vitamin D, Sex Hormones, and Lipid Profile Disparities in Women With and Without Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by dyslipidemia, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic dysfunctions.Vitamin D deficiency may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PCOS, potentially exacerbating its metabolic syndrome. However, the exact interplay between these factors remains underexplored. Aim This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of vitamin D and its association with modalities of PCOS among women with PCOS and healthy controls. Methods This was a hospital-based case-control study where 60 women newly diagnosed with PCOS and 56 non-PCOS controls were consecutively recruited within a 10-month period. The women aged 20-40 were recruited at the gynecology clinics of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. PCOS was diagnosed using the Rotterdam's criteria. The biodata, anthropometry, clinical features, serum vitamin D, cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels of PCOS-diagnosed women were assessed and compared with those of women without PCOS. The exclusion criteria comprised known diabetics, women with gynecological pathologies such as fibroids, and womenon medications affecting the study analytes or hormones. Statistical analyses included chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables, student t-test for continuous variables, and Pearson's correlation for assessing relationships between continuous variables. The significance level was set at p<0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%. Results Individuals with PCOS exhibited a younger mean age (26.90±3.73 versus 29.95±5.00 years, p=0.001) and a higher prevalence of irregular menstrual patterns (46.7% versus 14.3%, p=0.0001) and acne (58.3% versus 37.5%, p=0.025). Moreover, PCOS was associated with elevated levels of TC (p = 0.03), TG (p = 0.03), LDL-C (p = 0.014), FBG (p = 0.001), LH:FSH ratio (p = 0.002), AMH (p = 0.0001), and testosterone (p = 0.003), but low progesterone (p = 0.001) and vitamin D (p = 0.033), alongside a higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency (33.3% versus 26.1%) and insufficiency (66.7% versus 56.5%). Additionally, significant but weak correlations were observed between serum vitamin D levels and waist-hip ratio (r = 0.4, p = 0.016) and FBG (r = -0.4, p = 0.036) in the PCOS group, suggesting potential metabolic implications. Conclusion The PCOS subjects in this study had decreased vitamin D and progesterone levels, with elevated concentrations of testosterone, AMH, lipid profile (TC, LDL, and TG), FBG, and LH:FSHratio. Studies on the therapeutic effect of vitamin D administration in managing PCOS will need to be further evaluated.

Efek Terapi Pemberian Vitamin E Terhadap Kerusakan Histopatologi Ginjal Tikus Putih (Rattus norvegicus) Yang Diinduksi Dexamethasone

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there was a therapeutic effect of vitamin E administration on dexamethasone-induced kidney histopathological damage of white rats. This study used 20 white rats (Rattus norvegicus) aged 2-3 months with a body weight of 200 grams divided into 5 groups, namely negative control (K) without dexamethasone and vitamin E, positive control group (P0) given dexamethasone subcutaneously at a dose of 0.13 mg / Kg BB, treatment group 1 (P1) given dexamethasone subcutaneously at a dose of 0.13 mg / Kg body weight and vitamin E orally at a dose of 150 mg / Kg body weight, treatment group 2 (P2) given dexamethasone subcutaneously at a dose of 0.13 mg / Kg body weight and vitamin E orally at a dose of 200 mg / Kg body weight, and treatment group 3 (P3) given dexamethasone subcutaneously at a dose of 0.13 mg / Kg body weight and vitamin E orally at a dose of 250 mg / kg body weight. Adaptation is carried out for 7 days. Experimental animals are then terminated and kidney organs are taken to make histopathological preparations with HE staining then the preparations are observed under a microscope. The observed parameter is damage to the glomerulus and proximal tubules of the kidneys. The results showed that dexamethasone was able to damage the kidneys characterized by necrosis of the glomerulus and hydropic degeneration of the proximal tubules of the kidneys shown in the positive control group (P0). In the group given vitamin E, only the P3 group with a dose of vitamin E 250 mg / kg body weight was able to provide a therapeutic effect on damage to the glomerulus and renal tubules due to the toxic effects of dexamethasone.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF VITAMIN D IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISORDER: EXAMINING THE RELATION BETWEEN VITAMIN D INTAKE AND DISEASE ACTIVITY

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases include Crohns and ulcerative colitis . They have become more common diseases and lifelong problems for individuals, despite the availability of many medication and surgical alternatives. To achieve the optimum benefits, vitamin D is used to lower disease activity. Objective: This study helps us show the impact and therapeutic effect of vitamin D in active Inflammatory bowel disorder . Methodology: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect are the databases searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and reviews. After quality appraisal and cross checking the literature, this systematic review is carried out grounded on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2020 (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. A total of 11 studies which include nearly 1500 subjects showed that theres an positive association between VIT D and disease severity . Results: The results suggests that vitamin D administration can significantly lower the inflammation in the gut. An inexpensive VIT D reduced inflammation and drastically bettered the patient lives. Conclusion: To completely understand the complex Relationship between Vitamin D and Inflammatory Bowel Disorder, Large population-sizes trials are highly demanded for further identification and understanding the efficacy of vitamin D with conventional therapy.

Vitamin E and genistein generate a cytoprotective effect on polychlorinated biphenyl- induced oxidative stress in testicular Leydig cells

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial substances which were widely used in industrial applications starting from the 1930s until the mid-1970s. Aroclor 1242 (A1242) is a commercial PCB mixture with 42% chlorine manufactured by the Monsanto Chemical Company in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Previous studies suggested that PCBs have inhibitory effect on reproductive function, developmental abnormality, and impaired reproductive ability. PCBs may also affect the endocrine system by reducing the testosterone synthesis and the activity of steroidogenic enzymes in Leydig cells. This study was performed to investigate the specific effects of A1242 on the viability of Leydig cells, oxidative damage, and the profile of steroidogenic enzymes in an in vitro culture. The therapeutic effects of vitamin E (VitE) and genistein (Gen), as two antioxidants, in mitigating the damage produced by A1242 were also evaluated. TM3 Leydig cells were exposed to 10-8 and 10-6 M of A1242 and VitE (50µM) and Gen (10µM) as antioxidant for 24 h. After the exposure period, the Leydig cells were assessed to determine their viability using a cell viability assay. Measurements were performed for lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and steroidogenic enzymes. The results showed that cell viability was reduced after A1242 exposure, while lipid peroxidation and ROS increased. Steroidogenesis was interrupted in a concentration-dependent manner. Following A1242 exposure, administrations of VitE or Gen as an antioxidant reduced hazardous effects of A1242 on Leydig cells. Our results showed that exposure to A1242 may impair Leydig cell function and cause toxicity in Leydig cells and that VitE and Gen treatment exhibited therapeutic effects against this toxicity.

Vitamin C reduces the severity of common colds: a meta-analysis

BackgroundRandomized trials have shown that vitamin C shortens the duration of common colds. Some trials reported greater effects on severe cold symptoms compared with mild symptoms. This review systematically compares the effects of vitamin C on severe and mild common cold symptoms.MethodsWe included all placebo-controlled trials of orally administered vitamin C in doses of at least 1 g/day for the common cold for people in good health at baseline. The analysis was restricted to trials which reported both the total duration of the common cold, and the severity of the common cold measured using severity scales, the duration of more severe stages of the cold, or proxies for severe colds such as days indoors. Findings were pooled using the inverse variance, fixed effect options of the metacont function of the R package meta to calculate the ratio of means estimate.ResultsFifteen comparisons from 10 trials which reported both mild and severe symptoms were identified. All trials were randomized and double-blind. Compared to placebo, vitamin C significantly decreased the severity of the common cold by 15% (95% CI 9–21%). The direct comparison of the effect of vitamin C on mild and severe symptoms was limited to five comparisons which found that vitamin C had a significant benefit on the duration of severe symptoms. In this subset, there was a significant difference in the size of the effect of vitamin C on the overall duration of colds versus the duration of severe colds (P = 0.002), and vitamin C had no significant effect on the duration of mild symptoms.ConclusionsThe common cold is the leading cause of acute morbidity and a major cause of absenteeism from work and school. However, absenteeism is dependent on the severity of symptoms. The finding that vitamin C may have a greater effect on more severe measures of the common cold is therefore important. Further research on the therapeutic effects of vitamin C on the common cold should measure outcomes of differing levels of severity.

The role of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Vitamin D (VitD) has been shown to be important for the immune response of the respiratory system, but the preventive and therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation on SARS-CoV-2 infection are controversial. This study aimed to determine the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched systematically from inception to April 17,2023 to identify trials involving a randomized comparison of vitamin D supplementation versus non-vitamin D supplementation for SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention or treatment. We retrieved 25 eligible trials, including 8128 participants. Four trials compared the preventive effects of vitamin D supplementation on SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the results (RR 0.31; 95%CI 0.07 to 1.32) were inconclusive. Regarding the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection with vitamin D supplementation, it was found that vitamin D supplementation could significantly reduce the rates of ICU admission (RR 0.63; 95%CI 0.44 to 0.89) and mechanical ventilation (RR 0.58; 95%CI 0.39 to 0.84), but had no statistically significant effect on mortality. However, in subgroup analyses based on the patients' specific conditions, vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the mortality in patients with vitamin D deficiency (RR 0.76; 95%CI 0.58 to 0.98). Vitamin D supplementation may have some beneficial impact on the severity of illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, particularly in VitD deficient patients, but further studies are still needed.

Therapeutic Effects of Vitamin D on Vaginal, Sexual, and Urological Functions in Postmenopausal Women.

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of growing evidence concerning vitamin D's potential role in women's health, specifically in postmenopausal women. This evidence also includes its connection to various genitourinary disorders and symptoms. Numerous clinical studies have observed improvements in vulvovaginal symptoms linked to the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) with vitamin D supplementation. These studies have reported positive effects on various aspects, such as vaginal pH, dryness, sexual functioning, reduced libido, and decreased urinary tract infections. Many mechanisms underlying these pharmacological effects have since been proposed. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) have been identified as a major contributor to its effects. It is now well known that VDRs are expressed in the superficial layers of the urogenital organs. Additionally, vitamin D plays a crucial role in supporting immune function and modulating the body's defense mechanisms. However, the characterization of these effects requires more investigation. Reviewing existing evidence regarding vitamin D's impact on postmenopausal women's vaginal, sexual, and urological health is the purpose of this article. As research in this area continues, there is a potential for vitamin D to support women's urogenital and sexual health during the menopausal transition and postmenopausal periods.

Can vitamin D be an adjuvant therapy for juvenile rheumatic diseases?

Vitamin D, known for its essential role in calcium and bone homeostasis, has multiple effects beyond the skeleton, including regulation of immunity and modulation of autoimmune processes. Several reports have shown suboptimal serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in people with different inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic conditions, and an association between 25(OH)D levels, disease activity and outcomes. Although most available data pertain to adults, insights often are extended to children. Juvenile rheumatic diseases (JRDs) are a significant health problem during growth because of their complex pathogenesis, chronic nature, multisystemic involvement, and long-term consequences. So far, there is no definitive or clear evidence to confirm the preventive or therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation in JRDs, because results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have produced inconsistent outcomes. This review aims to explore and discuss the potential role of vitamin D in treating selected JRDs. Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were comprehensively searched in June 2023 for any study on vitamin D supplementary role in treating the most common JRDs. We used the following keywords: "vitamin D" combined with the terms "juvenile idiopathic arthritis", "juvenile systemic scleroderma", "juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus", "juvenile inflammatory myopathies", "Behcet disease", "periodic fever syndromes" and "juvenile rheumatic diseases". Observational studies have found that serum 25(OH)D concentrations are lower in juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile systemic scleroderma, Behcet disease and proinflammatory cytokine concentrations are higher. This suggests that vitamin D supplementation might be beneficial, however, current data are insufficient to confirm definitively the complementary role of vitamin D in the treatment of JRDs. Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide, children and adolescents should be encouraged to supplement vitamin D according to current recommendations. More interventional studies, especially well-designed RCTs, assessing the dose-response effect and adjuvant effect in specific diseases, are needed to determine the potential significance of vitamin D in JRDs treatment.

Pleiotropic Functions of Nitric Oxide Produced by Ascorbate for the Prevention and Mitigation of COVID-19: A Revaluation of Pauling's Vitamin C Therapy.

Linus Pauling, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, suggested that a high dose of vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) might work as a prevention or treatment for the common cold. Vitamin C therapy was tested in clinical trials, but clear evidence was not found at that time. Although Pauling's proposal has been strongly criticized for a long time, vitamin C therapy has continued to be tested as a treatment for a variety of diseases, including coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pathogen of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, belongs to the β-coronavirus lineage, which includes human coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This review intends to shed new light on vitamin C antiviral activity that may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection through the chemical production of nitric oxide (NO). NO is a gaseous free radical that is largely produced by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) in cells. NO produced by upper epidermal cells contributes to the inactivation of viruses and bacteria contained in air or aerosols. In addition to enzymatic production, NO can be generated by the chemical reduction of inorganic nitrite (NO2-), an alternative mechanism for NO production in living organisms. Dietary vitamin C, largely contained in fruits and vegetables, can reduce the nitrite in saliva to produce NO in the oral cavity when chewing foods. In the stomach, salivary nitrite can also be reduced to NO by vitamin C secreted from the epidermal cells of the stomach. The strong acidic pH of gastric juice facilitates the chemical reduction of salivary nitrite to produce NO. Vitamin C contributes in multiple ways to the host innate immune system as a first-line defense mechanism against pathogens. Highlighting chemical NO production by vitamin C, we suggest that controversies on the therapeutic effects of vitamin C in previous clinical trials may partly be due to less appreciation of the pleiotropic functions of vitamin C as a universal bioreductant.

Vitamin D as an adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia.

Children with acute pneumonia may be vitamin D deficient. Clinical trials have found that prophylactic vitamin D supplementation decreases children's risk of developing pneumonia. Data on the therapeutic effects of vitamin D in acute childhood pneumonia are limited. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2018. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation as an adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and two trial registries on 28 December 2021. We applied no language restrictions. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared vitamin D supplementation with placebo in children (aged one month to five years) hospitalised with acute community-acquired pneumonia, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) acute respiratory infection guidelines. For this update, we reappraised eligible trials according to research integrity criteria, excluding RCTs published from April 2018 that were not prospectively registered in a trials registry according to WHO or Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI) guidelines (it was not mandatory to register clinical trials in India before April 2018). Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and extracted data. For dichotomous data, we extracted the number of participants experiencing the outcome and the total number of participants in each treatment group. For continuous data, we used the arithmetic mean and standard deviation (SD) for each treatment group together with number of participants in each group. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. In this update, we included three new trials involving 468 children, bringing the total number of trials to seven, with 1601 children (631 with pneumonia and 970 with severe or very severe pneumonia). We categorised three previously included studies and three new studies as 'awaiting classification' based on the research integrity screen. Five trials used a single bolus dose of vitamin D (300,000 IU in one trial and 100,000 IU in four trials) at the onset of illness or within 24 hours of hospital admission; one used a daily dose of oral vitamin D (1000 IU for children aged up to one year and 2000 IU for children aged over one year) for five days; and one used variable doses (on day 1, 20,000 IU in children younger than six months, 50,000 IU in children aged six to 12 months, and 100,000 IU in children aged 13 to 59 months; followed by 10,000 IU/day for four days or until discharge). Three trials performed microbiological diagnosis of pneumonia, radiological diagnosis of pneumonia, or both. Vitamin D probably has little or no effect on the time to resolution of acute illness (mean difference (MD) -1.28 hours, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.47 to 2.91; 5 trials, 1188 children; moderate-certainty evidence). We do not know if vitamin D has an effect on the duration of hospitalisation (MD 4.96 hours, 95% CI -8.28 to 18.21; 5 trials, 1023 children; very low-certainty evidence). We do not know if vitamin D has an effect on mortality rate (risk ratio (RR) 0.69, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.07; 3 trials, 584 children; low-certainty evidence). The trials reported no major adverse events. According to GRADE criteria, the evidence was of very low-to-moderate certainty for all outcomes, owing to serious trial limitations, inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision. Three trials received funding: one from the New Zealand Aid Corporation, one from an institutional grant, and one from multigovernment organisations (Bangladesh, Sweden, and UK). The remaining four trials were unfunded. Based on the available evidence, we are uncertain whether vitamin D supplementation has important effects on outcomes of acute pneumonia when used as an adjunct to antibiotics. The trials reported no major adverse events. Uncertainty in the evidence is due to imprecision, risk of bias, inconsistency, and indirectness.

Therapeutic Effect of Vitamin A Administration on Disease Severity in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Open-Labeled Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Considering the high prevalence of the COVID-19 worldwide and since there is no effective treatment for it, the employment of complementary treatments without side effects is highlighted. So, this clinical trial aimed to assess if vitamin A injection decreases disease severity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: In this pilot open-labeled randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT), 18 patients were instructed to take a daily dose of intramuscular vitamin A (maximum of 14 days), and 18 patients continued their common treatment protocols. For predicting mortality risk, we used the Coronavirus Clinical Characterization Consortium (4C) score. This score predicts mortality in hospitalized patients based on demographic and physiologic parameters. Based on this score, the patients were classified into four groups from low-risk to extremely high-risk groups. Results: The included participants were aged 61.43±13.54 years, and 38.8% of them were female. The findings indicated no significant differences between groups regarding baseline characteristics. In the vitamin A group, the mean 4C score was 6.86±3.37 before the study which reduced insignificantly to 6.8±3.34 at the end of the study. In the control group, the mean 4C score increased insignificantly from 7.21±2.72 to 7.28±2.39. Furthermore, the result of the one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that after adjusting for baseline values, the differences between groups are not significant. Conclusion: Based on the results, this study showed no significant effect of vitamin A on COVID-19 severity.

Effect of Vitamin D on the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis With Consideration of Heterogeneities: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Various therapeutic approaches, including supplemental nutritional support, have been tried for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Previous studies have reported the role of vitamin D in the treatment of AD with inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D in the treatment of AD, with considerations on the heterogeneities of AD. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation for AD treatment, published before June 30, 2021 were identified in the PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. This meta-analysis included 5 RCTs with 304 cases of AD. We found that vitamin D supplementation did not decrease AD severity, even when AD was classified as severe vs non-severe. However, vitamin D supplementation was found to be effective in the treatment of AD in RCTs that included both children and adults, but not in those that included only children. Geographic location was associated with a significant difference in the therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation of > 2,000 IU/day decreased AD severity, but supplementation ≤ 2,000 IU/day did not. Vitamin D supplementation, in general, was not effective for the treatment of AD. However, vitamin D supplementation might provide a therapeutic effect depending on the geographic location and dose of supplementation. The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that vitamin D supplementation might be targeted for patients with AD who may benefit from vitamin D supplementation.

Therapeutic Effects of Vitamin E in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Open-Labeled Clinical Trial

Abstract: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the widespread chronic liver diseases; it is ranging from simple fat buildup in the liver (steatosis) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) presence of inflammation and hepatocyte injury. This study aims to assess the effect of vitamin E on the degree of fatty infiltration in the liver, liver enzymes, and lipid profile. &#x0D; A prospective open-labeled clinical trial involved (39) Participants diagnosed with NAFLD depending on ultrasonography findings, they were administered vitamin E 800IU\day for 12wks and advised to take low fat, low carbohydrate diet and to do regular sport. Steatosis score, liver enzymes, fasting blood sugar and lipid profile were measured at baseline and repeated at 4wks and 12wks of the study period. Results of this study found that vitamin E reduces steatosis score significantly at 12wks (p=0.0001), while liver enzymes ALT and ALP did not show significant difference throughout the study period at 12wks (p=0.081 for ALT, P=0.117 for ALP) only AST showed significant difference ( p=0.008 at 12wks ), total cholesterol and triglyceride were reduced significantly (p=0.0001 for both) at 4wks and 12wks where HDL and fasting blood glucose were not altered significantly through the study period. In conclusion, vitamin E and lifestyle modifications have a positive impact on patients with NAFLD by reducing steatosis score, lipid profile, and BMI

The Role of Vitamin D in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Transcriptional Regulator of Amyloidopathy and Gliopathy

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation and cognitive mental decline. Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between low serum vitamin D levels and an increased risk of AD. Vitamin D regulates gene expression via the vitamin D receptor, a nuclear ligand-dependent transcription factor. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenic and therapeutic effects of vitamin D on AD is not fully understood yet. To better understand how vitamin D regulates the expression of genes related to AD pathology, first, we induced vitamin D deficiency in 5xFAD mice by providing a vitamin-D-deficient diet and observed the changes in the mRNA level of genes related to Aβ processing, which resulted in an increase in the Aβ load in the brain. The vitamin D-deficient diet also suppressed the expression of genes for microglial Aβ phagocytosis. Interestingly, vitamin D deficiency in the early stage of AD resulted in earlier memory impairment. In addition, we administered vitamin D intraperitoneally to 5xFAD mice with a normal diet and found lower Aβ levels with the suppressed expression of genes for Aβ generation and observed improved memory function, which may be potentially associated with reduced MAO-B expression. These findings strongly suggest the role of vitamin D as a crucial disease-modifying factor that may modulate the amyloid pathology with regard to reducing AD symptoms.

The Association Between Vitamin C and Cancer: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

In recent years, many studies have indicated that vitamin C might be negatively associated with the risk of cancer, but the actual relationship between vitamin C and cancer remains ambivalent. Therefore, we utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the causal associations of genetically predicted vitamin C with the risk of a variety of cancers. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with vitamin C at a significance level of p < 5 × 10–8 and with a low level of linkage disequilibrium (LD) (r2 < 0.01) were selected from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of plasmid concentration of vitamin C consisting of 52,018 individuals. The data of the GWAS outcomes were obtained from United Kingdom Biobank, FinnGen Biobank and the datasets of corresponding consortia. In the inverse-variance weight (IVW) method, our results did not support the causal association of genetically predicted vitamin C with the risk of overall cancer and 14 specific types of cancer. Similar results were observed in sensitivity analyses where the weighted median and MR-Egger methods were adopted, and heterogeneity and pleiotropy were not observed in statistical models. Therefore, our study suggested that vitamin C was not causally associated with the risk of cancer. Further studies are warranted to discover the potential protective and therapeutic effects of vitamin C on cancer, and its underlying mechanisms.

The Effects of Vitamin D Application on NaF-Induced Cytotoxicity in Osteoblast Cells (hFOB 1.19).

This study was planned to evaluate the effect of vitamin D administration on cytotoxicity due to fluoride exposure in vitro. NaF (IC50) and vitamin D (proliferative) were applied to human osteoblast (hFOB 1.19) cells. The major genes of apoptotic, autophagic, and necrotic pathways were determined by RT-PCR. 2-∆∆Ct formulation was used for expression analysis. In the NaF group, caspase 3, Bax, Bad, Bak, Bclx, Atg3, Atg5, Atg6, pG2, LC3-I, LC3-II, RIP1, and RIP3 genes were increased (2.6-15 times). It was observed that the expressions of these genes approached the control when vitamin D was given together with NaF. The Bcl2 gene increased significantly (sixfold) with the effect of NaF, and was down-regulated to some extent with additional vitamin D administration, but still more than in the control. As a result, it was determined that apoptotic, necrotic, and autophagic pathways were activated as the molecular basis of the damage in the bone tissue, which was most affected by fluorine, and these genes were down-regulated and approached the control group with the addition of vitamin D. It was concluded that this is an important data to explain the molecular basis of the protective and therapeutic effect of vitamin D against fluorine toxicity.