Vitamins

Eroglu et al 2012 report that the breakdown products of beta-carotene are mostly vitamin A when breakdown happens centrally. However, if the breakdown takes place decentrally beta-apocarotenoids may be formed. These compounds act in opposition to vitamin A. [1]

A report published by the CDC on April 2012 is based on 58 biochemical indicators of diet and nutrition measured by the CDC, together with NHANES data collected from 1999 until 2006. The concentration of vitamins, fatty acids, trace elements, metabolites, isoflavones, lignans, and acrylamide hemoglobin adducts were measured in blood or urine of demographic subgroups. [1]

Tarawneh et al.2012 report that visininlike protein 1 (VILIP-1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)  may be used as an indicator of ongoing injury to brain cells in patients with Alzheimer's disease. [1]

A diet high in fruits and vegetables provides high levels of phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  Murphy et al. 2011 estimating usual intakes of nine phytonutrients by Americans consuming recommended levels of fruits and vegetables found that such diet is rich in carotenoids and flavonoids. [1]

A study of Khulan et al. 2012 supports the hypothesis that undernutrition during gestation and infancy predisposes to ill health in later life. The  researchers suggest that micronutrient supplementation might be a cause of methylation of foetal genes which control the immune system. [1]

Food choice is increasingly being influenced by health issues, creating opportunities for new product development, say El and Simsek in a 2012 review. Food scientists call for “optimal nutrition,” as the optimization of a daily nutrition model with nutrients and bioactive compounds to prevent diseases an promote healthy life. [1]

Clinical trials focused on vitamin E were not successful to lower cholesterol. Das et al 2012 assessed the LDL reducing  role of isomers of vitamin E, the tocotrienols. Rabbits were submitted to cholesterol-rich diet supplemented with tocotrienols. [1]

The authors report that left ventricular function including aortic flow, the developed pressure, and the myocardial infarct size exhibited significantly improved recovery with tocotrienol-γ and -α, but not with tocotrienol-δ.

The Food Watch report highlights incomplete or not available  data  related to bioavailability, there were no animal feeding trials performed, safety assessment is incomplete; there are no data on stability of the carotinoids during storage conditions; there are almost no data published related to possible formation of undesired contents of the plant; spread of the genetic material to other plants is most probable. [1]

According to Professor Peter Jüni, several thousand deaths per year in Germany may be caused by vitamin supplements consumption. Peter Jüni is the Head of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Director of CTU Bern, the University hospital's clinical trials unit (Switzerland).  He based his projections on studies which focus on vitamin dietary supplementation. [1]

Biehler et al 2011 stress that carotenoids, in order to become bioactive, require micellarization and intestinal uptake. Using an in vitro digestion model, the authors found that the divalent ions Ca and Mg  and Zn and Fe reduced the necessary micellarization and cellular uptake of carotenoids of spinach. Fe and Zn presented the strongest inhibition. [1]