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News flashes are posted here frequently to keep you up-to-date with the latest advances in health and longevity. We have an unparalleled track record of breaking stories about life extension advances.

Kidney disease patients need more vitamin C

January 07 2026. The November 2025 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported an association between chronic kidney disease and inadequate or deficient levels of vitamin C.

Caecilia S. E. Doorenbos of University Medical Center Groningen and colleagues in the Netherlands compared plasma vitamin C levels of 62 men and women with chronic kidney disease receiving kidney dialysis, 41 individuals with chronic kidney disease stage 4/5, 42 kidney transplant recipients, 447 living kidney donors and 385 healthy control participants who did not have kidney disease. Vitamin C intake among participants with chronic kidney disease was ascertained by dietician-administered 24-hour dietary recall interviews.

Median plasma vitamin C levels were highest among the healthy control group. Fourteen percent of this group had inadequate or deficient levels of vitamin C, while kidney donors had an incidence of inadequacy or deficiency of 24%. The incidence of inadequacy of deficiency was 48% among kidney transplant recipients, 58% among dialysis patients and 80% among individuals with stage 4/5 chronic kidney disease.

"Worse kidney function is associated with lower plasma vitamin C concentrations, even in healthy individuals," Doorenbos and her associates concluded. "This novel finding is underscored by decreasing vitamin C concentrations following kidney donation."

They remarked that a causal role for vitamin C inadequacy in kidney disease could not be proven; however, the study's findings emphasize the need for research to explore potential mechanisms.

"Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring vitamin C status in individuals with impaired kidney function and suggest opportunities for targeted interventions to improve vitamin C status," they concluded. Routinely adding vitamin C to the diets of stage 4/5 chronic kidney disease patients and kidney transplant recipients, as well as increasing the dose of the vitamin prescribed to patients receiving dialysis could be considered as strategies to improve vitamin C intake.

—D Dye

Meta-analysis concludes CoQ10 effective against depression

January 05 2026. A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials published in the January/February 2026 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology concluded that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) consumed by individuals with depression was associated with improvement of depressive symptoms.

Authors Pedro Lucas Machado Magalhães, MS, and colleagues observed that CoQ10 has antioxidant properties and supports a healthy inflammatory response, which may help lower oxidative stress and inflammation related to depression. They noted that the addition of antioxidants to the diet has been associated with improvements in depressive symptoms and that antioxidants may be helpful when combined with antidepressant drug treatment. Study findings indicate that CoQ10 may decrease alpha-synuclein aggregation, which has been implicated in dysfunction of cellular power plants known as mitochondria that occurs with mood disorders.

For their review, Magalhães and his associates selected five randomized, controlled trials that included a total of 474 depressed adult participants. Three of the trials included participants whose depression was associated with breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, and the remainder involved individuals with primary depressive disorders that included bipolar disorder and major depression.

Analysis of pooled trial outcomes found that participants treated with CoQ10 experienced greater improvements in depressive symptoms in comparison with the control groups. No significant effect for CoQ10 was found against fatigue in the two trials that evaluated this depression-associated symptom.

"The antidepressant effect observed with coenzyme Q10 supplementation, with a moderate effect size and consistent results across validated scales, suggests a potential role for CoQ10 as an adjunctive intervention in patients with depressive disorders, particularly those with metabolic or inflammatory comorbidities," Magalhães and colleagues wrote. "Given its favorable safety profile, CoQ10 may be a viable option in populations where conventional pharmacotherapy is limited by adverse effects or treatment resistance."

—D Dye

Multivitamin/mineral users report vitality, well-being

January 02 2026. Findings from a study appearing December 23, 2025, in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition revealed self-reported aspects of youthful vitality among individuals who used multivitamin/minerals.

Four hundred men and women of an average age of 46.72 years completed questionnaires concerning six measures of youthful vitality that included energy and performance, metabolism, sleep, mental alertness, skin health and complexion, and spirit. Other questionnaires completed by the participants evaluated immunity status, vitality and well-being.

Daily use of multivitamin/minerals was reported by 59.25% of the respondents, while the remainder were occasional users. An equal percentage recognized multivitamin/mineral use as a contributor to youthful vitality.

Ninety-three percent of respondents agreed that multivitamin/mineral use supported at least one of the six youthful vitality benefits. Fifty-nine percent reported energy support, 59.75% reported better metabolism and 53.25% reported an improved complexion. Normal immune function was reported by 66.25% and general health maintenance was reported by 63.25%.

Three-quarters of the participants expressed product satisfaction. Daily users, men and individuals aged 50 years and older reported more favorable outcomes than occasional users, women and people who were under the age of 50. "Overall, users’ perception was positive, with over 70% expressing satisfaction, trust, and a willingness to repurchase," authors Vandana Garg and colleagues wrote.

"These user-reported outcomes complement existing clinical research by highlighting benefits experienced in everyday settings, especially among daily users and those aged 50 and above," they concluded. "By bridging the gap between controlled trials and consumer experience, this study adds valuable context to the science and recommendation of micronutrient[s]."

—D Dye

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