Nutrition
The latest from Nutrition on Vitalspell.
Fish oil supplements face mounting evidence of limited benefits and real risks
A growing body of research suggests fish oil supplements may not deliver the broad health benefits consumers expect and could pose risks including increased atrial fibrillation and possible cognitive decline in older adults.
Vitamin B12 and muscle mitochondria: what the latest research reveals
New research from Cornell shows vitamin B12 directly affects skeletal muscle energy production at the mitochondrial level. In aged mice, B12 supplementation doubled a key enzyme's activity, raising questions about whether marginal deficiency contributes to age-related muscle decline.
5-MTHF prenatal trial: what the Ritual-funded RCT actually showed
A 24-week randomized trial in Frontiers in Nutrition compared 5-MTHF and folic acid prenatal multivitamins in 62 second- and third-trimester pregnancies. The methylated form held folate status with about a quarter of the unmetabolized folic acid. Industry-funded, narrowly scoped, and worth reading carefully.
Berberine derivative lowered HbA1c by 1% in 12-week diabetes trial
A phase 2 randomized trial published in JAMA Network Open found that HTD1801, an oral compound combining berberine with ursodeoxycholic acid, reduced HbA1c by 1.0 percentage point over 12 weeks. The drug also improved insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and liver enzyme levels, with two phase 3 trials now completed and an NDA submission planned.
Magnesium bisglycinate modestly improved insomnia in largest placebo-controlled trial
A four-week randomized trial in 155 adults found that 250 milligrams of magnesium bisglycinate per day modestly reduced insomnia severity compared to placebo. The benefit was largest in people with low dietary magnesium intake.