Vitamin D, Diet and Musculoskeletal Health

Beyond the Surface: Nutritional Interventions Integrated with Diagnostic Imaging Tools to Target and Preserve Cartilage Integrity: A Narrative Review

This narrative review provides an overview of the various diagnostic tools used to assess cartilage health, with a focus on early detection, nutrition intervention, and management of osteoarthritis. Early detection of cartilage damage is crucial for effective patient management. Traditional diagnostic tools like radiography and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences are more suited to detecting late-stage structural changes. This paper highlights advanced imaging techniques, including sodium MRI, T2 mapping, T1ρ imaging, and delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage, which provide valuable biochemical information about cartilage composition, particularly the glycosaminoglycan content and its potential links to nutrition-related factors influencing cartilage health. Cartilage degradation is often linked with inflammation and measurable via markers like CRP and IL-6 which, although not specific to cartilage breakdown, offer insights into the inflammation affecting cartilage. In addition to imaging techniques, biochemical markers, such as collagen breakdown products and aggrecan fragments, which reflect metabolic changes in cartilage, are discussed. Emerging tools like optical coherence tomography and hybrid positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) are also explored, offering high-resolution imaging and combined metabolic and structural insights, respectively. Finally, wearable technology and biosensors for real-time monitoring of osteoarthritis progression, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing diagnostic accuracy through pattern recognition in imaging data are addressed. While these advanced diagnostic tools hold great potential for early detection and monitoring of osteoarthritis, challenges remain in clinical translation, including validation in larger populations and integration into existing clinical workflows and personalized treatment strategies for cartilage-related diseases.

Vitamin D and its relationship to performance and health during a competitive period in elite women's basketball and volleyball players

Vitamin D [25(OH)D] is a key nutrient, although its level is often low in the general population. To investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and muscle performance, and to analyze how vitamin D changes during a 16-week competitive season and its relationship to the performance tests performed. Participant characteristics: age 25.1 ± 4.7 years; height 1.8 ± 0.1 m, and body mass 73.9 ± 15.4 kg. Vitamin D levels (ng/mL) were at T1 (September): 33.7 ± 14.7 (n = 23), and at T2 (January): 26.1 ± 7.3 (n = 23). Over 16 weeks of competition, participants' blood was analyzed to determine their vitamin D levels. Their athletic abilities were evaluated through various tests: vertical jumps (standing jump and countermovement jump); 20-m sprint without direction changes; and intermittent endurance test; the vitamin D level decreased from T1 to T2 by -22. 40% [p < 0.05] but performance improved in all tests performed (SJ: 4.57%; CMJ: 6.94%; VO2max: 4.99% [p < 0.05]; 20 m: -1.83%). There is a relationship between vitamin D levels and physical performance in female indoor athletes. The results suggest that increased training load may also negatively affect vitamin D levels in elite female indoor athletes.

Effects of different supplements on Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Clinicians often consider the use of dietary supplements to assist in lowering thyroid autoantibody titres in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Currently, different supplements differ in their ability to reduce autoantibody levels. The purpose of this article is to compare the ability of different supplements to lower autoantibody titres and restore TSH levels through a systematic literature review. We obtained information from the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases, as well as the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Selected studies included those using selenium, Vitamin D, Myo-inositol, and Myo-inositol in combination with selenium for the treatment of HT patients with euthyroidism. These data were combined using standardised mean differences (SMDs) and assessed using a random effects model. A total of 10 quantitative meta-analyses of case-control studies were selected for this meta-analysis. Compared to the placebo group, the use of selenium supplements was able to significantly reduce the levels of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb) (SMD: -2.44, 95% CI: -4.19, -0.69) and thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) (SMD: -2.76, 95% CI: -4.50, -1.02). During a 6-month treatment, the use of Myo-inositol, Vitamin D alone, and the combination of selenium, and Myo-inositol did not effectively reduce TPOAb (Myo-inositol: SMD:-1.94, 95% CI: -6.75, 2.87; Vitamin D: SMD: -2.54, 95% CI: -6.51,1.42; Se+Myo-inositol: SMD: -3.01, 95% CI: -8.96,2.93) or TgAb (Myo-inositol: SMD:-2.02, 95% CI: -6.52, 2.48; Vitamin D: SMD: -2.73, 95% CI: -6.44,0.98; Se+Myo-inositol: SMD: -3.64, 95% CI: -9.20,1.92) levels. Therefore, we recommend that patients with HT(Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) be given an appropriate amount of selenium as an auxiliary treatment during standard-of-care treatment.

A Snapshot of Vitamin D Status, Performance, Blood Markers, and Dietary Habits in Runners and Non-Runners

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D can influence athletic performance and infection risk. This study aimed to investigate vitamin D status, hematochemical factors, anthropometric and performance parameters, and dietary habits in runners (n = 23) and sedentary healthy individuals (non-runners, n = 22) during the autumn season.

METHODS

Both groups had their serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (ng/mL) levels, blood and performance parameters, and dietary habits measured.

RESULTS

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly lower in non-runners (runners: males 30.0 ± 5.6, females 31.2 ± 5.2 vs. non-runners: males, 22.8 ± 6.5, females 24.7 ± 6.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001). White blood cells, monocyte, and neutrophil levels were higher in non-runners for both males and females. Among the subjects, 23 had optimal vitamin D levels (>29 ng/mL), while 22 had insufficient/deficient levels (<29 ng/mL), with a higher prevalence of insufficiency in non-runners compared to runners (63.6% vs. 34.8%; p = 0.053). Maximal isometric force and jump height were equal in both groups, but VO2max was higher in runners. Linear regression analysis identified monocyte count as the only predictor of vitamin D levels for both males (y = -24.452 x + 40.520; R2 = 0.200; p = 0.015) and females (y = -33.409 x + 45.240; R2 = 0.368; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights significant differences in vitamin D status between runners and non-runners, with runners exhibiting higher serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels, although this finding is likely due to the increased sun exposure that runners receive. It also provides valuable insights into the vitamin D status of healthy young sedentary individuals and runners, enhancing the understanding of how physical activity influences vitamin D levels.

Children's Diets and Planetary Health: A Study in Wroclaw, Poland, and Sydney, Australia

Meals served to children should not only satisfy hunger and taste preferences but also be nutritionally adequate. Nutrition in early childhood is critical, as children spend a significant portion of their day in kindergarten or preschool, making these settings key contributors to their overall dietary intake. With the rising prevalence of nutrition-related health conditions among children, early interventions are essential for developing and establishing lifelong healthy eating habits. This study assessed the nutritional value and quality of children's diets in two distinct settings: kindergartens in Wroclaw, Poland, and preschools in Sydney, Australia, evaluating their alignment with the planetary health diet. The research analysed 10-day menu cycles from five kindergartens in Wroclaw and the contents of lunchboxes from five preschools in Sydney's Upper North Shore area. A total of 100 menus were reviewed in Poland, while 100 children's lunchboxes were assessed in Australia. Different analytical methods were employed: the Diet 6D software program for the Polish menus and the Food Consumption Score for the Australian lunchboxes. Both methods revealed dietary imbalances, such as excessive intake of protein, vitamin A, salt, and sugar, alongside deficiencies in calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin D. The study concluded that children's diets should adhere to nutritional guidelines, meeting both Polish and Australian standards, and align with the principles of the planetary health diet. To achieve this, nutritional education is essential for kindergarten staff in Poland, while targeted educational interventions are needed for parents and children in both Poland and Australia, promoting health and environmental sustainability through better nutrition.

Engineering Innervated Musculoskeletal Tissues for Regenerative Orthopedics and Disease Modeling

Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders significantly burden patients and society, resulting in high healthcare costs and productivity loss. These disorders are the leading cause of physical disability, and their prevalence is expected to increase as sedentary lifestyles become common and the global population of the elderly increases. Proper innervation is critical to maintaining MSK function, and nerve damage or dysfunction underlies various MSK disorders, underscoring the potential of restoring nerve function in MSK disorder treatment. However, most MSK tissue engineering strategies have overlooked the significance of innervation. This review first expounds upon innervation in the MSK system and its importance in maintaining MSK homeostasis and functions. This will be followed by strategies for engineering MSK tissues that induce post-implantation in situ innervation or are pre-innervated. Subsequently, research progress in modeling MSK disorders using innervated MSK organoids and organs-on-chips (OoCs) is analyzed. Finally, the future development of engineering innervated MSK tissues to treat MSK disorders and recapitulate disease mechanisms is discussed. This review provides valuable insights into the underlying principles, engineering methods, and applications of innervated MSK tissues, paving the way for the development of targeted, efficacious therapies for various MSK conditions.

Using a Topical Formulation of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Vitiligo: A Systematic Review

Vitamin D is one significant prohormone substance in human organ systems. It is a steroidal hormone produced in the skin upon exposure to UVB rays. This paper presents a systematic review of the utilization of topical vitamin D, specifically cholecalciferol, calcipotriol, and tacalcitol, in the treatment of vitiligo. It considers the role of vitamin D in stimulating the synthesis of melanin and melanogenesis, which can help with the process of repigmentation. The inclusion of calcipotriol or tacalcitol in Narrowband Ultraviolet Phototherapy (NB-UVB) has shown the potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes for vitiligo. However, their effectiveness in combination with Psoralens Long Wave Ultraviolet Radiation (PUVA) and Monochromatic Excimer Light (MEL) treatment for vitiligo is limited. In contrast, combining topical corticosteroids with vitamin D analogues has demonstrated superior efficacy in treating vitiligo compared to using vitamin D analogues alone, while also providing the added benefit of reducing corticosteroid-related adverse effects. In addition, treating stable vitiligo with topical cholecalciferol and microneedling has shown success. Future studies are needed to ascertain an efficient method of administering vitamin D topically as an anti-vitiligo agent.