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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.

Cardiovascular disease: more prevalent than you think

August 31 2026. Findings from the REACT study published on August 29, 2026, in the New England Journal of Medicinerevealed the presence of atherosclerotic plaque in approximately 1 in 13 people aged 18–29years and 9 in 10 of those aged 60–70.

“The REACT study is based on a simple but revolutionary idea: moving from the current model, which estimates the probability of cardiovascular disease on the basis of traditional risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking, towards a new paradigm in which the disease is detected directly through imaging before it causes symptoms,” co-lead researcher Borja Ibáñez, MD, PhD, explained. “In this model, preventive interventions and the treatment of risk factors could be guided by the actual presence of silent atherosclerosis rather than relying solely on an indirect estimate of risk. The first step in this ambitious endeavor was to determine the actual prevalence of silent atherosclerosis in all three major vascular territories and across the entire adult lifespan, something that we are reporting now”.

The first phase of REACT imaged the carotid (neck), coronary (heart) and femoral (leg) arteries of 16,808 men and women aged 18–70 years with no symptoms or diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Among individuals in whom coronary artery atherosclerosis was detected, most also had plaque in their carotid and femoral arteries. Men exhibited atherosclerotic plaque at younger ages than women, and women showed a marked increase at 40–60 years of age, which coincides with menopause.

“For decades, we have estimated cardiovascular risk using factors such as age, blood pressure and cholesterol,” Dr Ibáñez noted. “This study shows that we can now go one step further and detect the disease directly before it causes a heart attack or stroke.”

“If we identify atherosclerosis in its earliest stages, we will be able to intervene sooner, tailor treatment more effectively and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease,” he added.

—D Dye

Vitamins, minerals, botanicals associated with lower cancer mortality risk in survivors

August 28 2026. Men and women with a history of cancer had a significantly lower risk of dying from the disease if they regularly added nutrients to their diets, according to a report published August 17, 2026, in the American Society for Nutrition's Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers at Jiaotong University in China analyzed data from 4,494 participants in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who reported having been diagnosed with cancer. Regular use of added nutrients for a minimum of 60 consecutive days was reported by 1,571 individuals. Common added nutrients included vitamins, minerals, and botanicals (such as herbs). Among vitamins, B12, C, D, E and folic acid were among the top five in popularity. Calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese and zinc were the most consumed minerals, and the top five botanicals included flaxseed oil, green tea, ginkgo, lutein and grape seed extract.

During an observation period of 6.58 years, 542 deaths occurred, including 199 deaths due to cancer. In the fully adjusted statistical model, the use of nutrient products was associated with a 40% lower risk of cancer mortality compared with no use. When vitamins, minerals and botanicals were separately analyzed, vitamin use was associated with a 40% lower risk of cancer mortality and minerals were associated with a 31% lower risk. The use of botanicals was associated with a 29% reduction in mortality from all causes during the observation period.

While other research has primarily focused on the effects of individual nutrients, the current investigation revealed that more than half of the subjects consumed more than one nutrient category. The authors observed that the evaluation of overall nutrient use reflects real-world use patterns and recommended the initiation of clinical trials to investigate the integration of these nutrients in cancer care.

—D Dye

High dose vitamin D linked with better cognition in sleep-disturbed adults

August 26 2026. A study that examined the effect of consuming additional vitamin D in older adults with sleep disturbances and mild cognitive impairment found better overall cognitive performance among those who added 5,000 international units (IU) or more of the vitamin to their diets each day.

"Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional state between normal aging and early dementia," authors Sirui Zhou of Emory University and colleagues explained. "Evidence suggests a bi-directional relationship between MCI and sleep disturbances, and several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this link, including neuroinflammation and amyloid beta accumulation."

The study included 54 men and women of an average age of 67.2 years who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or were suspected to have the condition. Montreal Cognitive Assessment tests were administered to evaluate cognitive status. Responses to questionnaires provided information concerning sleep disturbances and the addition of vitamin D to the diet.

Participants who used 5,000 IU vitamin D every day had better Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores than individuals who did not add vitamin D to their diets; however, lower doses of the vitamin did not improve scores. There was no difference in cognition observed between people who used vitamin D2 or vitamin D3.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D . . . and overall global cognition in individuals with both sleep disturbance and mild cognitive impairment," the authors announced. "Our findings suggest that taking higher doses of daily vitamin D . . . is associated with better overall cognitive performance in this population."

The study findings were reported in the October 2026 issue of Sleep Medicine.

—D Dye

Review affirms vitamin D benefits in breast cancer patients

August 24 2026. A systematic review published August 11, 2026, in Acta Medica concluded that women with breast cancer who received chemotherapy had improved clinical outcomes, a greater incidence of pathologic complete responses and improved survival in comparison with standard care or a placebo. The study is the first to focus on the effects of vitamin D among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

"Vitamin D plays a role in regulating gene expression that controls cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and modulates the immune system, thereby reducing inflammation that contributes to cachexia and malnutrition," authors I. Wayan Gede Sutadarma and colleagues wrote. "Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency is often associated with fatigue, pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, and decreased appetite. Vitamin D . . . has been shown to improve these symptoms, increase energy and protein intake, and improve Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment scores and anthropometric parameters."

The systematic review included five randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort study that included a total of 787 women treated for breast cancer with chemotherapy. Vitamin D doses ranged from 20 international units (IU) per day to 50,000 IU per week.

The authors concluded that consuming additional vitamin D is associated with better clinical outcomes, including included improved nutritional status and decreased markers of inflammation and cardiotoxicity. Importantly, women who were given the vitamin had greater pathologic complete response and disease-free survival compared with the control groups.

"These findings support the potential of vitamin D as a beneficial adjuvant therapy," Sutadarma and associates concluded. They recommend large-scale, standardized, randomized controlled trials to further evaluate vitamin D's impact on overall and disease-free survival.

—D Dye

Greater antioxidant intake associated with lower prevalence of cervical cancer

August 21 2026. A study reported August 19, 2026, in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics found an association between diets high in antioxidants and lower odds of having been diagnosed with cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus).

"Persistent infection with high- risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the principal cause of cervical cancer," authors Maozhu Lang and colleagues noted. "In addition to persistent high- risk HPV infection, lifestyle, nutritional status, and metabolic factors may also be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of cervical cancer."

The cross-sectional study included 1,044 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2018, an ongoing survey of US residents conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of the CDC. One hundred seventy-four women who reported a history of cervical cancer were each matched for age and race with five control subjects. Dietary recall interview responses were analyzed for the average daily intake of vitamins A, C and E, carotenoids and selenium, which were used to calculate composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) scores.

Higher composite dietary antioxidant index scores were associated with a lower prevalence of cervical cancer. The odds of cervical cancer among women whose scores were among the top one-third of those in the study were 55.8% lower than women whose scores were among the lowest third.

In their discussion of the findings, Lang and associates remarked that the current study and other evidence suggest that antioxidants may help protect against HPV-infection-induced cervical cancer. "Higher composite dietary antioxidant index was associated with a lower prevalence of cervical cancer in this cross-sectional study," they concluded. "However, more epidemiological studies are required to verify this association and further clarify the potential mechanism."

—D Dye

Zinc lowers infection risk in children with sickle cell anemia

August 19 2026. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found a protective effect for zinc against infection in children with sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is the most severe form of sickle cell disease, a blood disorder that is prevalent in Africa where up to 45% of children with the disease die before five years of age. The majority of deaths are related to infections.

Sickle cell disease causes a loss of zinc that commonly results in deficiency. "In a previous randomized clinical trial, 10 mg of daily zinc for 12 months did not reduce the incidence of infection among children in Uganda younger than 5 years with sickle cell anemia, but 41% of the children in the zinc group remained zinc deficient after 12 months, suggesting that a daily dose of 10 mg was too low to achieve adequate serum levels and prevent infection," Ruth Namazzi, MMED, and colleagues wrote. "The aim of this follow-up study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of 20 mg of daily zinc . . . a dose well tolerated by children in prior clinical trials, for all-cause infection prevention in children in Uganda with sickle cell anemia."

The trial, which was reported August 19, 2026, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), equally divided 100 sickle cell anemia patients aged 12–59 months to receive 20 milligrams zinc or a placebo daily for six months. During the course of the trial, 80 infections were documented among children who were given zinc and 124 infections occurred in the group who received a placebo, resulting in an adjusted 38% lower rate of infection among those who received zinc. No adverse events requiring discontinuation occurred in either group.

"Multisite clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and to assess effectiveness in older children," Namazzi and her associates recommended.

—D Dye

Greater antioxidant intake linked with better cognitive function in older individuals

August 17 2026. A study published July 17, 2026, in the journal Medicine found reduced odds of cognitive impairment among older men and women who consumed more antioxidants.

The study included 2,713 adults aged 60 years and older who participated in The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. NHANES is an ongoing survey of U.S. residents conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of the CDC.

Cognitive function was evaluated using three standardized tests. Dietary antioxidant quality scores (DAQS) were calculated from participants" reported dietary intake. "Given that individuals eat complex food components rather than isolated nutrients on a regular basis and that multiple dietary antioxidants from related sources may have intricate synergistic effects in the body, a 'single nutrient" approach may not be sufficient, given the complex relationships between nutrients," Dehong Xu and colleagues explained. "The effectiveness of the dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) has been demonstrated in numerous studies, and this approach focuses on 6 antioxidant nutrients: zinc, selenium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E."

A high DAQS was associated with an adjusted 66% lower odds of cognitive impairment compared with a low score. The strength of this association appeared to be more pronounced in women, nondiabetics and those with at least a high school education.

"This study is notable as it is the first to specifically investigate the relationship between DAQS and cognitive decline in older adults, addressing a gap in previous research that often focused on single nutrients or overall antioxidant capacity," Xu and associates announced. They concluded that increased antioxidant intake may help older men and women improve their cognitive function.

—D Dye

People eligible for GLP-1 RA antiobesity drugs need important nutrients

August 14 2026. The September 2026 issue of the Journal of Nutrition reported a study that found poor diet quality, inadequate vitamin intake and less than adequate consumption of magnesium, potassium and fiber among people eligible for treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) anti obesity medications.

"Obesity remains a major public health challenge in the United States, affecting over 40% of adults and substantially increasing risk for cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction," Demsina Babazadeh and colleagues at the University of California Davis wrote. "In response to this growing burden, pharmacologic treatment strategies have expanded rapidly, particularly with the emergence of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/GLP-1 RAs antiobesity medications."

The study included 37,982 adults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2020. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a continuous cross-sectional survey of U.S. residents that is representive of the U.S. population. Criteria for GLP-1 RA antiobesity medication qualification included having a body mass index of at least 30 kg/m2 or at least 27 kg/m2 with one or more obesity-related disorders excluding diabetes. Analysis of 24-hour dietary recall responses provided information concerning diet quality and micronutrient adequacy.

GLP-1 RA antiobesity medication eligibility was determined for 43.5% of men and women in the current study. Diet quality was lower among those eligible for the drugs, including poorer scores for fruit, vegetables, plant protein and whole grain intake in comparison with ineligible individuals. When micronutrient intake was examined, eligible individuals had greater inadequacy of vitamins A, C, E and K, and the minerals magnesium and potassium. Fiber intake was also inadequate.

"These findings suggest that modest nutrition risk may co-occur with GLP-1 RA antiobesity medication eligibility and support consideration of nutrition assessment as part of comprehensive obesity care," the authors concluded.

—D Dye

Greater vitamin E intake associated with lower risk of premature mortality . . . but there’s a catch

August 13 2026. Findings from a study published March 3, 2026, in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health revealed a lower risk of mortality from all causes during a ten-year median follow-up period among men and women who had a high intake of the alpha-tocopherol form of vitamin E in comparison with those whose intake was low. However, the protective effect of the vitamin was only observed in nonsmokers or former smokers and not among those who were current smokers.

The study included 30,280 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2014, including 16,378 nonsmokers, 7,443 former smokers and 6,459 current smokers. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall responses were evaluated for vitamin E intake and other data. Blood samples were analyzed for serum levels of the vitamin E fraction alpha-tocopherol.

During the follow-up period, there were 4,671 deaths. Having a high intake of vitamin E was associated with a lower risk of mortality during follow-up only among nonsmokers and former smokers, particularly those who had not smoked for over 20 years. While smokers whose vitamin E intake was among the top third of participants had a nonsignificant reduction in mortality compared with smokers whose intake was among the lowest third, former smokers among the top third had a significantly lower 21% decrease and nonsmokers experienced a 22% reduction.

When serum vitamin E was examined, high vitamin E levels were protective for nonsmokers only. Nonsmokers whose serum levels were among the highest third had a 37% lower risk of premature mortality than those whose levels were among the lowest.

“Vitamin E intake was not associated with a lower mortality risk in current smokers but was associated with lower mortality risk in former smokers and nonsmokers,” Eunjin Bae and colleagues concluded. “This finding suggests the importance of smoking cessation and the potential benefits of antioxidant vitamin E in former smokers.”

—D Dye

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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