Vitamin D News and Research

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Vitamin D is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Vitamin D helps the body use calcium and phosphorus to make strong bones and teeth. It is fat-soluble (can dissolve in fats and oils) and is found in fatty fish, egg yolks, and dairy products. Skin exposed to sunshine can also make vitamin D. Not enough vitamin D can cause a bone disease called rickets. It is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer. Also called cholecalciferol.

Ancient DNA Unlocks Secrets of European Genetic Adaptation

Leveraging a unique statistical analysis and applying it to ancient DNA extracted from human skeletal remains, a team of researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of California, Los Angeles has revealed new insights into how ancient Europeans adapted to their environments over 7,000 years of European history.

21 Nov 2024

Chloroplast-Infused Cells Revolutionize Tissue Engineering

Recent research from Japan has demonstrated that chloroplasts from algae can be integrated into hamster cells, allowing these cells to perform photosynthesis.

1 Nov 2024

The Molecular Process That Causes MS and Autoimmune Diseases

A human immune system suppressor known as “regulatory T cells” was first identified more than 20 years ago by a research team working in the lab of Yale researcher David Hafler, who was at Harvard at the time.

29 Aug 2024

Germ Cells Found to Drive Sex-Dependent Lifespan Differences in Vertebrates

Women live longer than men. This isn't unique to humans, either; we see this trend in a wide range of other animals. Biologists have theorized that the discrepancy in life expectancy between sexes might be partly related to reproduction, but how?

13 Jun 2024

Study Provides Insights Into Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Healthy Aging in Drosophila

A new research paper was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 16, Issue 3, entitled, "The anti-aging effect of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor in Drosophila midgut."

28 Feb 2024

Almond Milk Yogurt has a Better Nutritional Profile Than Dairy and All Other Plant-Based Yogurts

In a nutritional comparison of plant-based and dairy yogurts, almond milk yogurt came out on top, according to research led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst food science major.

31 May 2023

Common Epstein-Barr virus may be a trigger for multiple sclerosis

In 1868, French physician Jean-Martin Charcot, known as the founder of modern neurology, defined a disease entity in which multiple plaques formed in the brain and spinal cord, with varying physical symptoms, called Sclérose en plaques, or in English as multiple sclerosis (MS).

24 Mar 2023

Spaceflight increases the risk of developing cancer and heart disease

A groundbreaking study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that astronauts are more likely to experience mutations that could be connected to spaceflight and increase their lifetime risk of acquiring cancer and heart disease.

2 Sep 2022

Researchers use gene-editing in tomatoes to boost vitamin D content

Researchers employed gene editing to switch off a specific component in the tomato plant’s DNA, which led to an increase in provitamin D3 in both the fruit and leaves. After that, UVB light was used to convert it to vitamin D3.

27 May 2022

Placenta plays an active role in the delivery of maternal vitamin D to the fetus

Scientists have shed new light on the role of the placenta in managing the relationships between maternal vitamin D and fetal development, according to a study published today in eLife.

9 Mar 2022

Researchers compare impact of different diets on health, animal welfare and the environment

Which diet is better: moderately reduce meat consumption and eat more fruit, vegetables and wholegrain products, as recommended by the German Nutrition Society? Follow Germany's southern neighbors' example and eat more fish and seafood? Or even switch completely to a vegan diet?

1 Dec 2021

Low dose of pollutants in food leads to high activation of antibodies that cause allergic response

Exposure to the heavy metal cadmium is known to irritate the stomach and lungs or cause kidney disease, but new research links another health issue to inadvertently ingesting low doses of the pollutant: high activation of the antibodies that cause an allergic response.

27 Oct 2021

Study explores dietary supplementation with vitamin D to support cows’ immune function

Known as a crucial component in the body's ability to absorb and retain calcium, essential to processes such as the development and maintenance of healthy bones, vitamin D has also been found to play important roles in immune defense.

18 Oct 2021

Skipping breakfast may lead to loss of key nutrients

Adults who skip breakfast are likely to miss out on key nutrients that are most abundant in the foods that make up morning meals, a new study suggests.

16 Jun 2021

Food scientists aim to create healthier and tastier plant-based proteins

As meat consumption grows throughout the world, food scientists are working to develop better-tasting, more sustainable, and healthier plant-based protein products that replicate cheese, fish, eggs, milk, and meat.

8 Jun 2021

Adequate calcium, vitamin D intake should be ensured when adopting an increasingly plant-based diet

In a study conducted at the University of Helsinki, Finland, 136 adults adhered to one of three study diets for 12 weeks. One of them corresponded to the average Finnish diet, containing roughly 70% animal-derived protein of total protein, while most of the plant-based protein originated from cereal products.

11 Feb 2021

Study: Vegan diet has broad effect on children's metabolism

The study concludes that vegan diet has a broad effect on children's metabolism. Serum biomarker levels for vitamins A and D, cholesterol forms and essential amino acids were significantly lower in children on vegan diet compared to age-adjusted omnivores.

22 Jan 2021