Latest news with #vitaminD3
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-07-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Nanoemulsion Form of Vitamin D3 Could Improve Core Manifestations of Autism
A recent clinical study conducted in China suggests promising results for a vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion in improving the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. In the study, published on Friday by the LabMed Discovery magazine, researchers from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University explained that while traditional vitamin D3 supplementation has shown mixed results in past studies, a nanoemulsion form-engineered to enhance absorption and bioavailability- might produce better outcomes. ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. It is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, along with restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. ASD symptoms become apparent during early childhood, typically within the first three years of life. Vitamin D3 Benefits Vitamin D3 is a vital form of vitamin D, essential for the typical growth and development of bones and teeth and for improving resistance to certain diseases. Recent studies suggest that Vitamin D3 may play a supporting role in neurodevelopment and behavior, particularly in children with ASD. Vitamin D3 supplements are available as tablets or oil drops, but these forms lack advanced techniques to enhance its absorption. Nanoemulsion Form of Vitamin D3 Therefore, the Chinese study focused on a nanoemulsion form of vitamin D3, which is specifically designed to improve how well the body absorbs and utilizes the nutrient, potentially leading to more effective outcomes. The study involved 80 children with confirmed ASD diagnoses, all between 3 and 6 years old. The children were randomly split into two groups: one group received the nanoemulsion version of vitamin D3, while the other group was given a commonly available standard supplement. Both groups followed their respective treatments for a six-month period. Their vitamin D3 levels, adaptive behaviors, and language abilities were assessed before and after supplementation. Only the nanoemulsion group showed statistically significant improvements in vitamin D3 levels, autism severity, social IQ, and both receptive and expressive language performance. The conventional supplement, despite raising blood vitamin D3 levels, did not lead to meaningful improvements in behavioral outcomes. The study concludes that the nanoemulsion form of vitamin D3 is superior to the conventional oral form in terms of increasing vitamin bioavailability and producing clinically relevant improvements in children with ASD. The authors of the study suggested that nanoemulsion technology could offer a valuable strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in neurodevelopmental disorders.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Taking this common supplement daily could prevent ‘years of ageing', study finds
Taking vitamin D3 supplements daily could prevent years of biological ageing, according to a new study that could lead to promising strategies for longevity. The study, published on Thursday in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, assessed data from the Vital clinical trial in which US women aged 55 years and older and males aged 50 years and above were tracked for five years after vitamin D3 and omega 3 fatty acid supplementation. It particularly looked at the effect of supplementation on telomeres in cells, which are repeating sequences of DNA at the ends of chromosomes that prevent them from degrading. These protective caps of chromosomes shorten during the natural process of ageing and are linked to the development of various age-related diseases. 'Vital is the first large-scale and long-term randomised trial to show that vitamin D supplements protect telomeres and preserve telomere length,' JoAnn Manson, a co-author of the study from Brigham and Women's Hospital, said. 'This is of particular interest because Vital had also shown benefits of vitamin D in reducing inflammation and lowering risks of selected chronic diseases of ageing, such as advanced cancer and autoimmune disease.' While previous short-term, small-scale studies suggested that vitamin D or omega 3 fatty acid supplementation supported telomeres, the results were inconsistent. In the Vital trial, researchers tracked supplementation of vitamin D3 (about 50mg a day) and omega 3 fatty acid (1g per day) in the participants for five years. The telomere length in their white blood cells was assessed at baseline as well as the second and fourth years in about 1,054 of the participants. Researchers found that taking vitamin D3 supplements significantly reduced telomere shortening over four years. 'Compared to placebo, vitamin D3 supplementation significantly decreased leukocyte telomere length attrition,' they wrote. This is equivalent to preventing 'nearly three years of ageing compared with placebo'. However, omega 3 fatty acid supplementation did not have any significant effect on telomere length throughout follow-up, they said. 'Our findings suggest that targeted vitamin D supplementation may be a promising strategy to counter a biological ageing process, although further research is warranted,' Haidong Zhu, another author of the study, said. 'Vitamin D3 daily supplementation with or without omega 3 fatty acids might have a role in counteracting telomere erosion or cell senescence.'
