More and more people in the Western world shift to a plant-based diet but may find themselves challenged when it comes to getting enough of certain essential nutrients. A new German study shows that most vegetarians and vegans get enough vitamin B12, provided they take supplements. However, many lack iodine and iron. Also, plant-based diet fails to deliver enough vitamin D, and many lack selenium due to the nutrient-depleted farmland. A lot of deficiency diseases are insidious, which makes it difficult to link them to the diet. It is therefore a good idea for children and adults who are vegetarians or vegans to take relevant supplements.

Overweight people often suffer from prediabetes, also known as metabolic syndrome, which is a condition characterized by blood sugar disturbances and cravings that make it difficult to maintain stable body weight. In addition, many people with this condition have low levels of chromium in their blood, which can contribute to insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, and hypertension – all of which are emblematic of metabolic syndrome, according to a Chinese study published in Nutrition Journal. Earlier studies also suggest that supplementation with chromium yeast may help control blood sugar levels. Another thing that is useful when regulating blood sugar levels to obtain weight loss is to adjust your intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein in order to optimize the energy utilization.

Vitamin B6 is important for energy levels, the nervous system, our mood, our immune system, our hormone balance, and a number of other functions. This vitamin is of vital importance to our physical and mental well-being but a variety of factors may lead to a deficiency. This article will provide you with information about vitamin B6 and the 11 different symptoms that a deficiency may cause.

It is already known that severely affected corona patients often lack vitamin D and selenium, both of which are nutrients that are important for the immune system. A team of Danish scientists has now confirmed a Dutch study showing that lack of vitamin K is also widespread among patients with severe cases of the coronavirus. Vitamin K is mainly found in dark, leafy greens. In the body, the nutrient occurs as vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 and they have different functions. Lack of vitamin K or poor utilization of the nutrient may be a result of a poor diet or using certain types of medicine. Although there is no evidence that vitamin K can prevent or mitigate corona infections, the scientists present several interesting hypotheses.

Heart failure affects millions of people worldwide and many die within the first year of being hospitalized with acute heart failure. However, eating a diet that is rich in the omega-3 fatty acid EPA from oily fish and ALA from plant foods such as walnuts is linked to a lower risk of blood clots and early death, according to a new study that is published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology. You can also read more about another compound that improves cardiac function and survival after acute heart failure.

Loss of muscle mass may be a result of a number of factors such as lack of exercise, too little protein, and ageing. Insulin resistance and acid accumulation are also related to loss of muscle mass, and it looks as if increased intake of vegetables with potassium, a base-forming mineral, is linked to decreased loss of muscle mass in men – but not in women.

- an overlooked connection

When it comes to battling COVID-19, the main focus is on hygiene, face masks, lockdown, and delayed vaccines. For several months, scientists have urged people to take vitamin D supplements during the winter period as a way of preventing new waves of COVID-19. This is because vitamin D is of vital importance for a well-functioning immune system and it is known that deficiencies of this nutrient contribute to the spread of seasonal virus infections. We also see that groups of people that are most likely to be vitamin D-deficient – including seniors, nursing home residents, people with dark skin, overweight individuals, diabetics, and those with chronic diseases – are most vulnerable towards COVID-19. The British government is already handing out vitamin D supplements to exposed groups, according to an article in Daily Mail and a review article that is published in British Medical Journal. But why is vitamin D so important for the immune defense, why are some people more likely to become deficient, and how much vitamin D do we actually need? Also, will vaccines cut the mustard if COVID-19 mutates?

- together with two other nutrients

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder that can ruin your quality of life and cost you many sick days. Migraine medicine does not necessarily work for all patients and many people get side effects. Therefore, prevention is a better strategy. According to a new study published in Nutrition Journal, zinc supplements have the potential to significantly reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. You can also read about two other nutrients that reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks and what it is that triggers them. The most important thing is to find and address the different causes. Diet and lifestyle have a profound impact.

Vitamin D plays an overlooked role in the immune defense. Being deficient of the nutrient increases your risk of bacterial pneumonia by up to 60 percent, according to a large Danish study of 116,000 participants that was carried out by scientists from Herlev Hospital, Gentofte Hospital, and the University of Copenhagen.
Because many older people, cancer patients, and other chronically ill individuals are at increased risk of respiratory infections and because bacterial pneumonia can be potentially lethal, the scientists see a huge potential in using vitamin D supplements to prevent the disease.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers even with improved therapies. Because many people are diagnosed too late and the prognoses are generally poor it is essential to focus a lot more on prevention for instance by striving to maintain normal weight and avoiding smoking. According to a new meta-analysis published in Nutrition Journal, it appears that large quantities of vitamin B6 from diet or supplements have the potential to lower the risk of pancreatic cancer. Earlier studies have also shown that vitamin B6 lowers the risk of bowel cancer.

- plus loss of smell and taste?

The rate of eating disturbances among children, teenagers, and adults has increased in the past year. Health authorities typically focus on cultural and psychosocial causes and therapies, but the treatments often drag out and are inadequate. What is equally important is to look at whether the patients lack essential nutrients that are important for the brain, the nervous system, the appetite, and the sense of smell and taste. Clinical research from the past decades has shown that anorexia and bulimia in particular can often be treated with zinc and various other nutrients, while chromium is important for maintaining stable blood sugar. The use of the right supplements combined with different therapy forms may therefore be the right way to obtain permanent results.