In the News: Vitamin C Supplementation Improves Mental Vitality

Low Vitamin D Linked to Higher Heart Disease Risk in Hyperuricemia

Hyperuricemia, a condition of excess uric acid in the blood, is known to contribute to gout and kidney stones, and it is also an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Low vitamin D levels have also been linked to increased cardiovascular risk.

In patients with hyperuricemia, vitamin D deficiency was associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and greater coronary artery narrowing, according to a study published in PLoS One.*

To analyze this association, researchers examined data from 483 hospitalized patients.

Patients with vitamin D deficiency (<12ng>) had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and more severe coronary artery narrowing than those with sufficient vitamin D (>20+ng/mL).

Overall, higher vitamin D status was independently associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in these patients, while older age was associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Editor's Note: Because of this study's observational design, it cannot establish direct cause and effect.

^* PLoS One. 2026; 21(4):e0346141.

Creatine Benefits More Than Muscle

A crossover trial involving 14 physically active men found that a week of creatine monohydrate supplementation resulted in improvements in physical output during high-intensity intermittent exercise, and less muscle soreness, in addition to improving subjective sleep quality and cognitive performance.*

The trial included 14 men who received either 20 grams of creatine or a placebo daily for one week. This was followed by a two-week washout during which neither treatment was given. The men were then switched to the opposite treatment for an additional week.

Compared with the placebo, creatine supplementation was associated with improved sleep quality and an earlier bedtime. Participants also demonstrated significantly greater total distance and best distance during a high-intensity, intermittent sprint test along with markedly lower muscle soreness. Cognitive performance also significantly improved.

Editor's Note: "Clinicians and sports nutritionists could consider incorporating creatine monohydrate supplementation into recovery strategies for athletes facing sleep disturbances and cognitive performance challenges," the authors concluded.

^* Nutrients. 2025 Dec 7;17(24):3831.

Probiotics May Reduce Chemotherapy-Related Complications

Chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity poses a major challenge in leukemia care, often reducing quality of life and causing treatment interruptions. A systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that probiotics may help lessen these complications.*

The analysis included eight randomized controlled trials involving 753 leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy, comparing probiotic use to conventional care.

Patients receiving probiotics experienced significant reductions in nausea, diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, and indigestion, compared to those receiving conventional care.

Additionally, probiotic use was associated with improvements in inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin and TNF-a, which suggests a systemic benefit beyond symptom relief.

Editor's note: These results suggest probiotics may reduce gastrointestinal side effects of chemotherapy, possibly by modulating the gut microbiome.

^* Nutr Clin Pract. 2026 Feb;41(1):62-73.

Combined A1c and Systolic Blood Pressure Levels Strongly Predict Heart Disease Risk

A study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology found that individuals with both higher systolic blood pressure and elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.*

The long-term study followed over 16,000 participants for 9-12 years.

The researchers developed a combined measure—the hemoglobin A1c-systolic blood pressure index (HSI)—to capture glucose and blood pressure status together.

Their findings showed that higher HSI at baseline and over time was strongly linked to increased cardiovascular risk. Overall, HSI predicted cardiovascular disease risk better than HbA1c or systolic blood pressure alone.

Editor's note: Previous research had shown that HbA1c and high blood pressure are both major drivers of cardiovascular disease. HSI, which combines both HbA1c and systolic blood pressure, could be a valuable tool for integrated cardiometabolic risk assessment, although more research is needed.

^* Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026 Feb 18;17:1718936.