bims-vitmet Biomed News
on Vitamin metabolism
Issue of 2025–06–01
ten papers selected by
Onurkan Karabulut, Berkeley City College
  1. Lipid Profile Alterations in Pediatric Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency.
  2. The role of vitamin D deficiency in the development and severity of oral lichen planus: a case-control study.
  3. Author Response: High-dose Vitamin D may Have No Effect on Mortality in Vitamin D-deficient Pediatric ICU Patients because the Study Design is Inappropriate.
  4. Effects of Vitamin C Supplementation on Total Antioxidant Status, Inflammation, and Histopathological Changes in Aged Rats.
  5. Vitamin D metabolome in preterm infants: insights into postnatal metabolism.
  6. Sunlight, supplements, and science: vitamin D as a tool for pediatric health care.
  7. Vitamin C in Cardiovascular Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Evidence and Therapeutic Applications.
  8. Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review.
  9. Scurvy, all the faces you can see: our experience and review of the literature.
  10. Extension of an Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-MS/MS Method for the Determination of C3 Epimers of 25-Hydroxyl Derivatives of Vitamin D in Human Plasma.
  1. Children (Basel). 2025 Apr 24. pii: 546. [Epub ahead of print]12(5):
    Lipid Profile Alterations in Pediatric Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency.
    Jasmina Katanić, Dejan Dobrijević.
      Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency in children has been linked to various metabolic disturbances, including dyslipidemia, which contributes to cardiovascular risk. This study aims to investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and lipid profiles in children. Methods: A cohort of 332 children with either normal vitamin D or diagnosed vitamin D deficiency was recruited. Serum vitamin D levels were measured, and lipid profiles, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), and triacylglycerols (TAGs), were assessed. The data were analyzed using statistical methods. Results: This study found that children with higher serum vitamin D concentrations had significantly lower TAG (p = 0.033) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (p = 0.038) levels and higher HDL levels (p = 0.042), indicating a more favorable lipid profile compared to those with lower vitamin D levels. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that vitamin D deficiency can be associated with dyslipidemia in children. These findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation may be an effective strategy for managing dyslipidemia and reducing cardiovascular risk in pediatric populations. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects and optimal dosing of vitamin D in this context.
    Keywords:  dyslipidemia; lipid profile; pediatric population; serum lipids; vitamin D deficiency; vitamin D supplementation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050546
  2. Clin Oral Investig. 2025 May 30. 29(6): 320
    The role of vitamin D deficiency in the development and severity of oral lichen planus: a case-control study.
    Rania Shalaby, Ghada Nabil, Sally Ibrahim, Ali Aw Kotb, Hatem Amer, Salsabeel Afifi.
       OBJECTIVES: Examine the responsibility of Vitamin D (VD) deficit as a risk element in the development and severity of oral lichen planus (OLP) considering dietary habits, sex, sun exposure, socioeconomic class and psychological factors.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples from 35 OLP patients and 35 healthy controls were collected for the analysis of serum VD level (SVDL) by ELISA. Vitamin D deficiency was considered when SVDL was ≤ 20 ng/ml. Additionally, a structured questionnaire was used to analyze other possible confounders.
    RESULTS: SVDL were statistically significant greater in the control group than the OLP group (P ≤ 0.001). There was difference between the 3 types of OLP with statistical significance in which the least values for SVDL were in erosive type (P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found in SVDL between dysplastic and non-dysplastic lesions. In terms of VD deficiency, a statistically significant distinction was noticed between the two research sets (P ≤ 0.001) and was more pronounced in erosive and atrophic types than reticular types. Depression as well as sun exposure significantly affected number of patients having VD deficiency (P = 0.001, 0.027). Results revealed a statistically significant direct relation between SVDL and the OLP (odds ratio = 1.38; 95%CI = 1.18-1.617).
    CONCLUSION: VD deficiency plays a vital role in OLP and the development of more severe forms.
    CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It corroborates that VD deficiency is a probable risk factor of OLP and the development of more severe forms considering many confounders.
    Keywords:  Anxiety; Depression; Oral lichen planus; Serum vitamin D; Severity; Sun exposure; Vitamin D deficiency
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-025-06398-y
  3. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2025 May;29(5): 470-471
    Author Response: High-dose Vitamin D may Have No Effect on Mortality in Vitamin D-deficient Pediatric ICU Patients because the Study Design is Inappropriate.
    Mrityunjay Sakkarwal, Pallavi Pallavi, Urmila Jhamb, Romit Saxena.
      
    Keywords:  Mortality; Pediatric intensive care unit; Vitamin D deficiency
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10071-24964
  4. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2025 Jun;39(6): e70324
    Effects of Vitamin C Supplementation on Total Antioxidant Status, Inflammation, and Histopathological Changes in Aged Rats.
    Mehmet Başeğmez, Abdullah Eryavuz, Hasan Hüseyin Demirel.
      This study aims to determine the effect of orally administered vitamin C (Vit C) supplementation on physiological and histopathological changes in aged rats of different genders. A total of 28 Sprague-Dawley aged male and female rats were randomly divided into four groups of seven animals per group. The study groups included the aged male control (MC), aged male with Vit C (MVC) (500 mg/kg vitamin C, orally) supplementation, female aged control (FC), and female aged with vitamin C (FVC) (500 mg/kg vitamin C, orally) supplementation groups. At the end of the study, which lasted 31 days, blood, brain, heart, liver, and kidney tissues were collected from rats under ketamine (87 mg/kg) and xylazine (13 mg/kg) anesthesia. The results indicated that although Vit C supplementation had no effect on serum Vit C levels, gender had an effect on serum Vit C levels (p < 0.05). However, Vit C supplementation and gender did not affect serum IL-6, IL-1β, TOS, and OSI levels (p > 0.05). Vit C supplementation, without the effect of gender, significantly increased TNF-α levels in MVC groups compared to MC groups (p < 0.05), while it significantly decreased them in FVC groups compared to FC groups (p < 0.05). In addition, Vit C significantly reduced histopathological alterations in brain, heart, and liver tissues associated with aging, including oxidative stress and inflammation. In conclusion, it was observed that orally administered 500 mg/kg Vit C supplementation to old rats is not an effective way to increase the Vit C pool in the body, but gender has an impact on the blood Vit C concentrations.
    Keywords:  gender; pro‐inflammatory cytokines; rat; total antioxidant; vitamin C
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.70324
  5. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2025 May 22.
    Vitamin D metabolome in preterm infants: insights into postnatal metabolism.
    Tomas Matejek, Lukas Prchal, Bara Zapletalova, Veronika Pokorna, Jana Malakova, Vladimir Palicka, Ondrej Soukup.
       OBJECTIVES: To describe the structure of vitamin D metabolome and investigate the possible cause of high serum levels of C3 epimers of 25-(OH)D in preterm infants, we compared the vitamin D metabolites in umbilical cord blood with serum samples taken at 28 days of age.
    METHODS: We analysed 40 preterm infants (29+0-32+6 weeks of gestation). Cholecalciferol, 25-(OH)D, and its C3-epimers were measured using liquid chromatography. A microsomal study with human liver and kidney microsomes was conducted to assess vitamin D metabolism. Identified metabolites were then examined in cord blood and serum samples.
    RESULTS: Cholecalciferol, 25-(OH)D, and its C3-epimers were significantly lower in cord blood compared to serum at 28 days of age (p<0.001 for all metabolites). Conversely, metabolites from the microsomal study (monohydroxylated-, dihydroxylated-, and mono-oxylated dihydroxylated-cholecalciferol and their C3-epimers) were significantly higher in cord blood (p<0.001 for all).
    CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that cholecalciferol, 25-(OH)D, and its C3-epimers increase during the first month of life, suggesting functional biosynthesis and postnatal accumulation of these metabolites. Conversely, based on microsomal study results, it seems that biotransformation responsible for a degradation of vitamin D during the first month of life in preterm infants is functionally impaired.
    Keywords:  LC-MS/MS; metabolome; metabolomics; microsomes; preterm infant; vitamin D
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2025-0311
  6. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2025 May 23.
    Sunlight, supplements, and science: vitamin D as a tool for pediatric health care.
    Clemens Kamrath, Anna Kirstein.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2025-0246
  7. Antioxidants (Basel). 2025 Apr 23. pii: 506. [Epub ahead of print]14(5):
    Vitamin C in Cardiovascular Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Evidence and Therapeutic Applications.
    Yichen Xu, Huabo Zheng, Ioana Slabu, Elisa Anamaria Liehn, Mihaela Rusu.
      Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that humans cannot synthesize, making its intake crucial for health. Discovered nearly a century ago, vitamin C is widely recognized for its ability to prevent scurvy and has become one of the most commonly used supplements. Beyond its antioxidant activity, vitamin C is pivotal in regulating lipid metabolism, promoting angiogenesis, enhancing collagen synthesis, modulating remodeling, and stabilizing the extracellular matrix. While preclinical studies have shown promising results, clinical trials have yielded inconsistent findings, due to suboptimal study design, results misinterpretation, and misleading conclusions. This review provides a holistic overview of existing evidence on the pleiotropic role of vitamin C in cardiovascular diseases, identifying both the strengths and limitations of current research and highlighting gaps in understandings in vitamin C's underlying mechanisms. By integrating molecular insights with clinical data and evaluating the pleiotropic role of vitamin C in cardiovascular disease management and prevention, this review aims to guide future research toward personalized, evidence-based therapeutic strategies in clinical practice.
    Keywords:  ECM remodeling; antioxidant; cardiovascular diseases; collagen synthesis; myocardial infarction; vitamin C
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14050506
  8. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 May 07. pii: 861. [Epub ahead of print]61(5):
    Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review.
    Mohamad Hisham Hashim, Nik Nasihah Nik Ramli, Siti Nur Atiqah Zulaikah Nasarudin, Maisarah Abdul Mutalib, Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi, Aswir Abd Rashed, Rajesh Ramasamy.
      Background and Objectives: Depression is a multifactorial mental health disorder involving inflammation, oxidative stress, neuroplasticity deficits, and metabolic dysfunction. Emerging research suggests that vitamin K, beyond its classical roles in coagulation and bone metabolism, may influence neurobiological processes relevant to mood regulation. This systematic review evaluates the association between vitamin K and depressive symptoms and explores potential underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included human or animal research examining associations between vitamin K status (dietary intake or serum levels) and depression-related outcomes. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria: eleven observational studies, one randomized controlled trial (RCT), and two preclinical animal studies. Results: Most observational studies reported an inverse association between vitamin K intake or serum levels and depressive symptoms across diverse populations. One small RCT demonstrated modest improvements in depression scores following vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Two preclinical studies using non-depression models reported behavioral improvements and reduced oxidative stress following vitamin K2 administration. Conclusions: While preliminary findings suggest a potential role for vitamin K in pathways relevant to depression, the current evidence is limited by cross-sectional designs, lack of isoform-specific analyses, and the absence of depression-focused preclinical models. Mechanisms including inflammation reduction, oxidative stress modulation, sphingolipid regulation, and vitamin K-dependent protein signaling (e.g., GAS6 and osteocalcin) were discussed based on indirect evidence and require further investigation in depression-specific contexts.
    Keywords:  depression; neuroinflammation; osteocalcin; oxidative stress; vitamin K
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61050861
  9. Ital J Pediatr. 2025 May 28. 51(1): 159
    Scurvy, all the faces you can see: our experience and review of the literature.
    Fabio Toscano, Giuseppina Zirilli, Simone Foti Randazzese, Mariagrazia Carlino, Romina Gallizzi, Malgorzata Wasniewska, Mariella Valenzise.
       BACKGROUND: In the recent past an incremental incidence of scurvy has been reported in the pediatric population, especially in children with neuropsychiatric disorders and a selective diet. Musculoskeletal manifestations, such as limp and refusal to walk, usually represent the main causes of access in the emergency room. Nowadays, new patterns of manifestations have been demonstrated, such as hematological and cardiological changes including pulmonary hypertension, rarely resulting in potential lethal complications.
    CASE PRESENTATION: We describe five pediatric patients affected by developmental delay or autism, with a restrictive diet, diagnosed with scurvy during the hospitalization: 3 pre-school aged boys presenting with typical clinical presentation, due to severe malnutrition; a 6-year-old girl with refusal to walk and a very high titre of inflammatory markers, without typical signs of scurvy; a 4-year-old boy with severe pulmonary hypertension, rarely related to vitamin C deficiency. In all the cases, a prompt resolution of the symptoms after the administration of vitamin C has been observed, confirming the diagnosis.
    CONCLUSION: At present, scurvy is a more contemporary condition than previously thought. It is fundamental to recognize both typical and atypical manifestations to avoid delay of diagnosis or rarely life-threatening complications.
    Keywords:  Anemia; Children; Inflammatory markers; Pediatrics; Pulmonary hypertension; Scurvy; Vitamin C
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-02014-7
  10. J Chromatogr Sci. 2025 May 07. pii: bmaf031. [Epub ahead of print]63(5):
    Extension of an Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-MS/MS Method for the Determination of C3 Epimers of 25-Hydroxyl Derivatives of Vitamin D in Human Plasma.
    Mohamed Abouzid, Julia Kerner, Aniceta Mikulska-Sauermann, Dorota Filipowicz, Matylda Resztak, Franciszek Główka, Leonid Kagan, Marta Karaźniewicz-Łada.
      Current vitamin D quantification methods do not account for 25-hydroxyl epimers, which can falsely increase concentrations and mask actual deficiencies. Previously, we developed an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to measure 25(OH)D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2; here, we extended this method to include 3-epi-25(OH)D2. Analytes were separated using a Shimadzu UPLC with a Kinetex F5 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 μm). The mobile phase contained 0.1% formic acid in methanol and water (70:30, v/v). The internal standard, deuterated 25(OH)D3 and analytes were extracted with hexane. Detection was performed by a mass spectrometer equipped with a triple quadrupole after prior electrospray ionization. It demonstrated sufficient precision and spike recovery within and between days, with a coefficient of variation ≤15% and an error of determination ≤18%. The method exhibited linearity in the 2-100-ng/mL concentration range. The limits of quantification and limits of detection were 2 and 1 ng/mL, respectively. Extraction recoveries ranged from 70.05% to 97.13%. The matrix effect, carryover and dilution integrity were evaluated and met the FDA acceptance criteria. The stability of all metabolites in plasma was confirmed after 3 h of storage at room temperature and after three cycles of freezing at -80°C and thawing. Applying the method to clinical samples showed a high 25-hydroxyl epimer derived from vitamin D.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/chromsci/bmaf031
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