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• Adding vitamin C to the diet associated with lower MS risk
• Antioxidants linked with delayed mortality
• Depleted magnesium associated with increased risk of ED
• Arginine vital to immune function

 

 

Adding vitamin C to the diet associated with lower MS risk

August 10 2026. Research findings reported July 19, 2026, in Nutrients revealed an association between taking vitamin C and a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system.

"Given the role of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in MS pathophysiology, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has been hypothesized to influence MS risk given its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties," Andrea Nova, PhD, of the University of Pavia and colleagues wrote. "Notably, a recent experimental study using an animal model of MS suggested that vitamin C, in combination with vitamin A, promotes resolution of neuroinflammation and supports remyelination."

The study included 486,908 individuals aged 37–70 years who were free of neurologic disease at enrollment in the UK Biobank, which collected data from half a million UK residents beginning in 2006. Questionnaires administered at UK Biobank recruitment obtained information concerning the use of vitamin C, which was reported by 42,728 men and women.

During the 13.45-year median follow-up, 19 multiple sclerosis diagnoses occurred in vitamin C users and 427 occurred in non-users. Adjusted analysis of the data determined a 49% lower risk of MS among people in the study who used vitamin C. Protective associations for vitamin C were significant among participants with high or average MS genetic risk scores. Dr Nova and his associates noted that their analyses did not find similar associations between MS and overall use of added nutrients or multivitamins, which provided reassurance against a healthy user effect in which people who use a particular nutrient also engage in disease-protective lifestyles.

"In the large UK Biobank prospective cohort, regular vitamin C . . . was associated with a lower risk of incident MS, particularly among individuals with average to high genetic susceptibility," they concluded.

 

—D Dye

 

Antioxidants linked with delayed mortality

August 07 2026. Research findings reported July 7, 2026, in the Journal of Nutritional Science revealed that regular consumption of antioxidant nutrients was associated with a lower risk of premature mortality in U.S. adults.

Zhijun Liu and colleagues analyzed data from 34,955 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2018, which is part of an ongoing survey of U.S. residents conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Dietary intake information was collected from the participants at the beginning of the study in two 24-hour recall interviews. During the study’s follow-up period, 4,456 deaths occurred, including 1,368 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 1,038 from cancer.

Men and women whose vitamin E intake was among the top 20% of individuals included in the study had a risk of all-cause mortality during follow-up that was 31% lower than the risk experienced by those whose intake of the vitamin was among the lowest 20%. An intake of carotenoids (a family of plant compounds that include beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A) that was among the top 20% was associated with a 23% lower risk compared with an intake among the lowest 20%. Individuals whose Composite Index of Dietary Antioxidants—a proxy for total antioxidant intake—was among the top 20% had an 18% lower risk of mortality from all causes during follow-up and a 39% lower risk of dying from cancer. Vitamins A and C, and the minerals selenium and zinc had dose-response relationships with premature mortality.

Men with a magnesium depletion score of 2 or greater had more than double the odds of ED than men with lower scores. Odds of ED increased more sharply when scores exceeded 3.

“While individual antioxidants like vitamin E show strong protective associations, the evidence collectively suggests that greater overall antioxidant exposure from a varied diet is linked to materially lower risks of death,” Liu and associates concluded. This reinforces that focusing on diets rich in diverse antioxidant sources is superior to single-nutrient strategies.”

 

—D Dye

 

Depleted magnesium associated with increased risk of ED

August 05 2026. Findings from an observational study reported July 24, 2026, in the journal Medicine revealed an association between higher magnesium depletion scores (a marker of long-term magnesium loss) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in men aged 20 years and older.

"Magnesium, an essential mineral, plays a crucial role in regulating vascular tone, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammatory responses that are central to erectile physiology," authors Zhexin Xhang and colleagues wrote. "A deficiency in magnesium can lead to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation, and has been associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes."

The study included 3,692 men who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2004. NHANES is an ongoing survey of U.S. residents conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Questionnaires completed by the men provided information concerning erectile function. Magnesium depletion scores, which range from 1 to 5, were calculated from blood markers of kidney function, current use of diuretic drugs, use of proton pump inhibitors that reduce stomach acid and consuming more than two alcoholic drinks per day, all of which can affect magnesium levels. Higher scores are associated with an increased risk of low magnesium levels.

Men with a magnesium depletion score of 2 or greater had more than double the odds of ED than men with lower scores. Odds of ED increased more sharply when scores exceeded 3.

According to the authors, randomized trials are needed to evaluate whether adding magnesium to the diet improves vascular and erectile outcomes. They observed that current ED guidelines do not include magnesium monitoring. "Given that ED often precedes overt cardiovascular disease, such interventions may offer dual benefits for both sexual and cardiometabolic health," they noted.

 

—D Dye

 

Arginine vital to immune function

August 03 2026. An article published in the journal Cell on July 30, 2026, describes a role for the semi-essential amino acid arginine in immune function.

"Our work reveals how a lack of arginine interferes with the immune system, and suggests that upping arginine intake could prove beneficial," first author Qiushuang Wu, PhD, explained. "Perhaps that means it could be used in combination with other therapies to treat both cancer and viral infections."

The investigation follows previous findings of increased mutations in arginine-deficient colon cancer cells. In the current investigation, Dr Wu and colleagues determined that insufficient arginine was associated with impaired expression of genes that encode MHC-1 proteins, which alert the immune system to danger.

In mouse models, arginine-restricted diets resulted in the development of a greater number of cancerous colon tumors, which were fewer in mice given high amounts. Arginine additionally showed protection against influenza. "Not only did mice with an arginine-rich diet have milder symptoms from viral infections, giving the mice arginine after influenza infection improved their outcomes too," Dr Wu reported. "From our genetic models, we knew manipulating arginine levels had a strong effect on gene expression, but we didn't expect the dietary manipulation to be equally impactful."

"Qiushuang's findings illuminate how poor diet and aging—during which arginine levels naturally decline—could create the perfect storm for the initiation of colon cancer," corresponding author Sohail F. Tavazoie, MD, PhD, stated. "Similarly, age-related arginine loss could partially contribute to the greater mortality caused by respiratory viruses. We're also investigating whether making dietary changes in other amino acids has beneficial effects in a variety of disease contexts."

"Arginine . . . could be readily tested in patients receiving immunotherapies or given to high-risk populations exposed to viral pathogens," he suggested. "Considering that arginine is inexpensive and readily available, we hope that therapeutic and preventative studies could be undertaken soon."

 

—D Dye

 

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