bims-vitmet Biomed News
on Vitamin Metabolism
Issue of 2025–04–20
eight papers selected by
Onurkan Karabulut, Berkeley City College
  1. Vitamin A fortification: key factors and considerations for effective implementation.
  2. Dietary magnesium intake affects the association between dietary vitamin A and depression: a cross-sectional study.
  3. Vitamin K1 Alleviates Retinal Inflammation Following Acute Ocular Hypertension by Modulating Microglial Ferroptosis.
  4. Disrupting antimicrobial resistance: unveiling the potential of vitamin C in combating biofilm formation in drug-resistant bacteria.
  5. Effect of Sphingomyelin and Vitamin D3 Intake on the Rabbit Brain.
  6. Vitamin E in Plants: Biosynthesis Pathways, Biofortification Strategies, and Regulatory Dynamics.
  7. Diverse Clinical manifestations of Cobalamin C Metabolism Disorders.
  8. Two-phase linear relationship of Vitamin D and Vitamin A among children aged 0-14 years: a cross-sectional study.
  1. Front Public Health. 2025 ;13 1534375
    Vitamin A fortification: key factors and considerations for effective implementation.
    Joohun Han, Alvaro Durand-Morat, Khondoker Mottaleb.
      Vitamin A fortification plays a crucial role in achieving long-term economic development in developing countries by supporting the growth and development of human capital. While fortification programs involve a range of nutritional, agricultural, economic, and political considerations, there is a lack of a comprehensive overview of the topic in the literature. Our review highlights the importance of holistic approach in designing fortification programs: the effective program should consider (a) the agronomic, economic, and administrative capability of the target regions in regard of fortification method and vehicle to maximize effectiveness; (b) strategies to ensure the producers' and consumers' adoption to enhance uptake rate; and (c) evaluate outcomes with respect to economic metrics rather than focusing solely on before-and-after comparison to avoid biased assessment.
    Keywords:  food fortification; food policy; hidden hunger; policy design; vitamin A
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1534375
  2. Front Nutr. 2025 ;12 1514681
    Dietary magnesium intake affects the association between dietary vitamin A and depression: a cross-sectional study.
    Canqun Yan, Conghui Gao, Kebin Zhan, Cheng Li.
       Introduction: Depression represents a significant global health burden, ranking as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, and nutrition plays a key role in mental health. Vitamin A, essential for immune and neurological function, has shown conflicting associations with depression. Magnesium, essential for neurotransmission and neuroprotection, is associated with a reduced risk of depression. Importantly, magnesium is required for the activation of enzymes involved in vitamin A metabolism, suggesting a potential interaction between these nutrients in depression. However, this interaction remains poorly understood. This study investigates how magnesium intake modifies the relationship between vitamin A and depression, with the aim of elucidating their combined effects and informing personalized dietary strategies for depression prevention.
    Research design and methods: Data for this study were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2005 and 2016, involving a total of 60,936 participants. The final analysis included 25,277 adults aged ≥20 years (Female: 12,581, Male:12,696), excluding pregnant women, individuals under 20, and those with incomplete data. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), supplemented by self-reporting questionnaires. Dietary intake was assessed via a recall interview at the mobile examination center (MEC). Dietary vitamin A intake, treated as a continuous variable, was categorized based on the median intake value. Stratified analyses were conducted based on sex and magnesium intake levels (Female: low: <310 mg/day; high: ≥310 mg/day; Male: low: <400 mg/day; high: ≥400 mg/day).
    Results: Our cross-sectional study showed that in women with low magnesium intake, higher vitamin A intake was associated with a reduced risk of depression (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.76-0.92, p < 0.001), whereas no significant association was observed in the high magnesium group. Men did not show such an interaction. There was also a significant interaction between vitamin A levels and magnesium intake in reducing the incidence of depression (p-value for interaction = 0.145).
    Conclusion: Our study suggests that a sex-specific interaction between dietary magnesium and vitamin A in modulating depression risk. This interaction highlights the potential role of combined nutritional interventions in depression management. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings.
    Keywords:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; cross-sectional study; depression; magnesium intake; vitamin A
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1514681
  3. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2025 Apr 01. 66(4): 46
    Vitamin K1 Alleviates Retinal Inflammation Following Acute Ocular Hypertension by Modulating Microglial Ferroptosis.
    Xi Chen, Yan Rong, Yuxian Jiang, Qiuxiang Zhang, Sifei Xiang, Zhiqi Chen, Wei Chen, Hong Zhang, Chaohua Deng, Junming Wang.
       Purpose: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and encompasses a group of diseases characterized by optic nerve atrophy and visual field defects. Acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation is a key driver of retinal inflammation and optic nerve damage, often accompanied by microglial activation and dysregulated ferroptosis pathways. Vitamin K1, a fat-soluble vitamin, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and has the potential to regulate ferroptosis. However, its mechanisms in alleviating retinal inflammation following acute IOP elevation remain unclear.
    Methods: In vivo, we established a mouse model of acute ocular hypertension to evaluate the protective effects of vitamin K1 on the retina and visual function. Transcriptome sequencing was used to explore the underlying mechanisms by which vitamin K1 exerts its effects. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to assess retinal inflammation and observe ferroptosis in microglia. In vitro, we developed a BV2 cell OGDR model to investigate the regulatory effects of vitamin K1 on iron metabolism and inflammation in microglia.
    Results: Our findings demonstrated that acute IOP elevation led to microglial activation, along with iron overload and ferroptosis in microglia. Further analyses revealed that microglial ferroptosis was accompanied by an upregulation of inflammatory cytokine gene expression and protein levels. Vitamin K1 intervention, however, inhibited microglial ferroptosis, alleviated retinal inflammation, minimized retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, and protected visual function.
    Conclusions: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that vitamin K1 exerts a protective effect by modulating microglial ferroptosis, thereby alleviating acute ocular hypertension-induced retinal inflammation.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.66.4.46
  4. BMC Microbiol. 2025 Apr 12. 25(1): 212
    Disrupting antimicrobial resistance: unveiling the potential of vitamin C in combating biofilm formation in drug-resistant bacteria.
    Samiur Rahim, Reazur Rahman, Tania Akter Jhuma, Mustak Ibn Ayub, Shakila Nargis Khan, Ashfaque Hossain, Muhammad Manjurul Karim.
       BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, exacerbated by the protective mechanisms of biofilms formed by drug-resistant bacteria. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by bacteria in biofilms serve as a formidable shield, impeding the efficacy of antimicrobial agents. Here, we investigated the potential of vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) to disrupt biofilm formation in drug-resistant bacteria isolated from diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients and studied the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of vitamin C on these bacteria.
    RESULTS: Out of 117 study isolates, primarily identified as Escherichia coli (n = 52), Staphylococcus spp. (n = 19), and Klebsiella spp. (n = 46), 80 isolates exhibited a Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance (MAR) index greater than 0.2, classifying them as multi-drug resistant (MDR) superbugs. Among these, 58 isolates demonstrated moderate to strong biofilm-forming abilities and were selected for further experiments with vitamin C. The effective concentration of vitamin C inhibiting the growth of most E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates (90%) was estimated at 1.25 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml respectively, while for allStaphylococcus spp. isolates, it was 0.325 mg/ml. Vitamin C exhibited a notable anti-biofilm effect against the studied isolates, with biofilm prevention concentrations (BPC) of 0.625, 1.25, and 0.16 mg/ml for E. coli, Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. isolates respectively. Furthermore, when combined with oxacillin or amoxicillin - drugs that were found ineffective, vitamin C significantly reduced the ability of MDR isolates to form biofilms, rendering them susceptible to the drugs' effects and restoring their efficacy. The expression of the recA gene, an early and quantifiable marker for the onset of the SOS response and biofilm production was downregulated after treatment of E. coli with vitamin C. Relative gene expression analysis revealed that ciprofloxacin-induced recA expression was significantly inhibited when MDR isolates of E. coli were treated with vitamin C at a concentration of 0.625 mg/ml, the BPC of vitamin C.
    CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that vitamin C, alone or in combination with ineffective antibiotics, attenuates biofilm formation and restores the susceptibility of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates to antimicrobial agents. This study underscores the promise of vitamin C as a non-lethal disruptor of biofilm-associated antimicrobial resistance.
    CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
    Keywords:  And multidrug-resistant; Antimicrobial resistance; Biofilm; Biofilm prevention concentration; Vitamin C
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03800-3
  5. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Apr 01. pii: 3269. [Epub ahead of print]26(7):
    Effect of Sphingomyelin and Vitamin D3 Intake on the Rabbit Brain.
    Federico Fiorani, Alda Quattrone, Samuela Cataldi, Roberto Maria Pellegrino, Carla Emiliani, Cataldo Arcuri, Alessandra Mirarchi, Giulio Curone, Laura Menchetti, Tommaso Beccari, Claudia Floridi, Martina Mandarano, Gabriele Brecchia, Elisabetta Albi.
      Sphingomyelin is a crucial molecule in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway, and its action is closely related to that of vitamin D3. Both molecules are recognized for their involvement in brain pathophysiology. In this study, the effect of a sphingomyelin + vitamin D3-enriched diet was investigated in rabbits. The results showed a strong immunopositive GFAP staining in the brain's white matter. Furthermore, a remodeling of the balance between glycero-phospholipids and ether-phospholipids was observed in the brain, along with an increase in ceramides and hexose ceramides, molecules relevant for the structure, function, and stability of myelin. Taken together, these findings provide clues as to how the combination sphingomyelin + vitamin D3 may play a vital role in normal brain physiology and could potentially be leveraged in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
    Keywords:  brain; diet; rabbit; sphingomyelin; vitamin D3
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073269
  6. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Apr 04. pii: 3380. [Epub ahead of print]26(7):
    Vitamin E in Plants: Biosynthesis Pathways, Biofortification Strategies, and Regulatory Dynamics.
    Yanjiao Li, Di Yang, Yuqing Ren, Yanzhong Luo, Hongyan Zheng, Yuan Liu, Lei Wang, Lan Zhang.
      Vitamin E, mainly encompassing tocopherols and tocotrienols, is an essential antioxidant synthesized in the photosynthetic tissues of plants and photosynthetic bacteria, as well as in certain algae, yet dietary intake often falls short of recommended levels. Although synthetic supplements are available, natural vitamin E demonstrates higher bioavailability, creating a need for biofortification strategies to enrich crops with this nutrient. Recent advances in molecular genetics have elucidated key components of the vitamin E biosynthesis pathway, uncovering complex regulatory mechanisms and expanding opportunities for genetic enhancement. This review integrates current advances in vitamin E biosynthesis, novel gene discovery, diverse biofortification strategies, and insights into transporter-mediated regulation to enhance tocopherol and tocotrienol levels in staple crops. By aligning these advances, this review provides a framework to drive innovative biofortification efforts, positioning vitamin E enrichment as a sustainable solution for improved human and animal health.
    Keywords:  biofortification; biosynthesis; regulation; vitamin E
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073380
  7. Iran J Child Neurol. 2025 ;19(2): 131-141
    Diverse Clinical manifestations of Cobalamin C Metabolism Disorders.
    Hosein Eslamiyeh.
      Cobalamin, commonly known as vitamin B12, is a crucial micronutrient synthesized predominantly by a few microorganisms. In the human body, Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is essential for DNA synthesis and is required as a cofactor for functioning two crucial enzymes, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase. The deficiency in these cobalamin-derivated coenzymes leads to enzyme activity dysfunction and an accumulation of their respective substrates, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine,harming the brain and many other organs. Furthermore, deficiency in this micronutrient can lead to a wide spectrum of hematologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to vitamin B12 deficiency, some genetic disorders block the intracellular processing of Cobalamin to its cofactors and lead to symptoms somewhat similar to vitamin B12 deficiency. These disorders are called Cobalamin metabolism disorders. Many of them are reversible when diagnosed early and treated promptly. This group's most common and well-understood disease is Cobalamin C (CblC) metabolism disorder. This case series report aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of diverse clinical presentations within the spectrum of CblC metabolism disorder and the introduction of two cases of late-onset presentation with ataxia and repeated seizures as the first manifestation of the disorder. Few case reports are available, specifically in children, describing cerebellar ataxia and seizure as the first manifestations of late-onset CblC metabolism disorder. Additionally, this report sought to contribute to the existing literature by highlighting potential areas for timely recognition and targeted clinical and therapeutic interventions, thereby enhancing the comprehensive care and support for individuals affected by CblC metabolism disorder.
    Keywords:  Cobalamin C deficiency; Epilepsies; Hydroxycobalamin; Methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuriam Cerebellar Ataxias
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.22037/ijcn.v19i2.45047
  8. Front Nutr. 2025 ;12 1539590
    Two-phase linear relationship of Vitamin D and Vitamin A among children aged 0-14 years: a cross-sectional study.
    Wenyuan Liu, Qiao Wang, Bibo Mao, Fei Xu, Yefang Ke, Shengying Zhang, Chenbo Zhou, Chunyan Liu, Wenbo Lu, Jishan Zheng.
       Background: Vitamin D and Vitamin A are crucial for children's immune function, bone health, and cellular growth, but their interrelationship and the impact of various factors remain poorly understood.
    Objective: To explore the relationship between Vitamin D and Vitamin A levels in children and identify any critical thresholds.
    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2018 to 2021 in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. Participants were children aged 0 to 14 years attending community health service centers for routine health check-ups. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to ascertain the association between serum Vitamin D and Vitamin A levels. A smooth curve fitting approach was employed to analyze the dose-response relationship between Vitamin D and Vitamin A.
    Results: A total of 4,752 participants were included. The study revealed significant variations in baseline Vitamin D and Vitamin A levels across different deficiency categories. Mean Vitamin D levels were lowest in the severe deficiency group (4.9 ng/mL) and highest in the normal group (34.8 ± 9.8 ng/mL), while mean Vitamin A levels were lowest in the deficiency group (226.6 ± 72.2 ng/mL) and highest in the normal group (263.3 ± 74.0 ng/mL). The study revealed a two-phase linear relationship with a significant threshold effect at a Vitamin D level of 28.289 ng/mL. Below this threshold, the association between Vitamin D and Vitamin A was strong (β = 2.935, 95% CI: 2.173, 3.696), while above the threshold, the association was significantly weaker (β = 0.737, 95% CI: 0.413, 1.061). The likelihood ratio test confirmed the significance of this threshold effect (p < 0.001).
    Conclusion: The study concludes that a significant threshold at 28.289 ng/mL Vitamin D marks a point beyond which the association with Vitamin A levels plateaus, highlighting the importance of this threshold for optimizing vitamin status in children.
    Keywords:  Vitamin A; Vitamin D; children; dose–response relationship; micronutrients; public health intervention
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1539590
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