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The Role of B and D Vitamins in Degenerative Diseases
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The Role of B and D Vitamins in Degenerative Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Micronutrients and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2025) | Viewed by 11344

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Martin Veysey

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Interests: medical education; luminal gastroenterology; molecular nutrition; clinical aspects of liver disease; nutrigenomics; B vitamins; vitamin D

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

This Special Issue of Nutrients will explore the critical role of B and D vitamins and their metabolism in preventing and managing degenerative diseases. Recent research continues to highlight the potential of these essential micronutrients in mitigating the progression of various age-related and neurodegenerative conditions.

Key topics may include, but are not limited to, the vitamin B complex and cognitive function, vitamin D and neurodegenerative disorders, B vitamins in cardiovascular health, vitamin D and bone health, the synergisticeEffects of B and D vitamins, nutrigenomics and personalised nutrition, and B and D vitamins in cancer prevention and treatment.

This Special Issue brings together current research and opinions from leading experts in the field, offering valuable insights into the preventive and therapeutic potential of B and D vitamins in the context of degenerative diseases and cancer. The findings presented will have significant implications for clinical practice and public health strategies aimed at healthy aging, disease prevention, and cancer management.

Prof. Dr. Martin Veysey
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • vitamin B
  • vitamin D
  • degenerative disease
  • cognitive decline
  • neurodegeneration
  • cancer
  • cardiovascular health
  • neutrigenomics
  • personalised medicine
  • bone health

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 1580 KB  
Article
Ten-Year Trends in Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Slovenia (2014–2023): Laboratory-Based Data from Tested Individuals and COVID-19-Period Changes
by Joško Osredkar, Darko Siuka, Aleš Jerin, Borut Štabuc and Uroš Godnov
Nutrients 2026, 18(7), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18071168 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 402
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D status is influenced by season, age, and public health messaging. The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by heightened interest in vitamin D, but long-term national data from Central/Eastern Europe remain limited. We aimed to characterize 10-year trends, seasonal variation, and demographic [...] Read more.
Background: Vitamin D status is influenced by season, age, and public health messaging. The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by heightened interest in vitamin D, but long-term national data from Central/Eastern Europe remain limited. We aimed to characterize 10-year trends, seasonal variation, and demographic determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in Slovenia, with particular focus on changes during the COVID-19 period. Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all serum 25(OH)D measurements performed at the Slovenian national reference laboratory between January 2014 and December 2023. The core analytic cohort included 106,875 patients with valid 25(OH)D results, aged 0–100 years. Vitamin D status was classified as deficient (<30 nmol/L), insufficient (30–50 nmol/L), adequate (50–75 nmol/L), and optimal (>75 nmol/L). Temporal trends, seasonal patterns, and age- and sex-specific differences were assessed using non-parametric tests and Kendall’s τ. Results: Mean 25(OH)D concentration over the study period was 61.9 ± 34.2 nmol/L; 16.0% of patients were deficient and 22.8% insufficient. Annual mean 25(OH)D increased from 57.0 nmol/L in 2014 to 67.2 nmol/L in 2023, with a significant upward temporal trend and a 14.6% higher mean level during 2020–2023 compared with 2014–2019. Seasonal variation was pronounced (≈20% higher summer–autumn vs. winter–spring), and vitamin D status declined progressively with age, with the highest deficiency prevalence in patients ≥ 70 years. Females had slightly higher 25(OH)D than males, although absolute differences were small. Conclusions: This laboratory-based analysis of tested patients showed higher 25(OH)D concentrations during and after the COVID-19 period, superimposed on persistent seasonal and age-related gradients. These observations identify older adults and winter testing periods as important contexts for vitamin D optimization, but they should be interpreted as descriptive trends among tested individuals rather than as evidence of causal pandemic effects or population-wide prevalence changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of B and D Vitamins in Degenerative Diseases)
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16 pages, 873 KB  
Article
Dietary Vitamin Intake and Blood Biomarkers in Relation to Muscle Activation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Jose Enrique de la Rubia Ortí, Guillermo Bargues-Navarro, Jesús Privado, Rubén Menarques-Ramírez, Claudia Emmanuela Sanchis-Sanchis, Sandra Sancho-Castillo, Camila Peres Rubio, Luis Pardo-Marin, María Benlloch and Julio Martín-Ruiz
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3345; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213345 - 24 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1348
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motor function, which affects mobility and leads to secondary complications, including altered dietary intake due to dysphagia, fatigue, and hypermetabolism, particularly affecting vitamin consumption, which are essential micronutrients [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motor function, which affects mobility and leads to secondary complications, including altered dietary intake due to dysphagia, fatigue, and hypermetabolism, particularly affecting vitamin consumption, which are essential micronutrients for neuromuscular performance. The specific relationship between vitamin intake and muscle activation is not well understood in patients with ALS; thus, it is relevant to identify blood biomarkers that reflect muscle status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 61 patients with bulbar- or spinal-onset ALS. The dietary intake of B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, folate, and niacin); vitamins C, A, D, and E; and the B6/protein ratio were assessed using a seven-day dietary record and a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Blood concentrations of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), albumin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) were determined. Basal muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior muscles. Two confirmatory predictive models were developed to evaluate the effects of muscle damage and vitamin intake on muscle strength. Results: Arm muscle activation was negatively predicted by the B6/protein ratio (β = −0.33). Leg activation was positively predicted by vitamin B9 (β = 0.39) and B6/protein (β = 0.17) and negatively predicted by vitamin A (β = −0.24). For biomarkers, albumin (β = 0.18) and PON1 (β = 0.28) positively predicted activation. For legs, albumin predicted activation (β = 0.31), whereas BuChE and haptoglobin predicted negative activation (β = −0.32 and β = −0.15, respectively). Conclusions: Weak associations were observed in patients with ALS: vitamin B9 intake showed a modest association with leg activation, the B6/protein ratio exhibited inconsistent associations across muscle groups, and vitamin A showed a negative association with leg activation. Albumin demonstrated the most consistent association as a potential biomarker of muscle function. These findings are exploratory and require validation in larger, longitudinal studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of B and D Vitamins in Degenerative Diseases)
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Review

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30 pages, 824 KB  
Review
Vitamin D-Mediated Immunoregulation in Degenerative Diseases: Insights into Cardiovascular, Neurodegenerative and Musculoskeletal Disorders
by Ga Young Lee, Chan Yoon Park and Sung Nim Han
Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040629 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 687
Abstract
Degenerative diseases are characterized by the gradual loss of cellular integrity, tissue function, and regenerative capacity. Cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and musculoskeletal deterioration are considered major categories of degenerative diseases, and vitamin D deficiency has been linked with an increased risk of these [...] Read more.
Degenerative diseases are characterized by the gradual loss of cellular integrity, tissue function, and regenerative capacity. Cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and musculoskeletal deterioration are considered major categories of degenerative diseases, and vitamin D deficiency has been linked with an increased risk of these conditions. Vitamin D has the potential to modulate neurogenerative process by influencing the progression of neuronal survival, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity through both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms mediated by vitamin D receptors, which are widely distributed across brain regions and cell types. Additionally, vitamin D regulates brain immunometabolism by modulating microglial and astrocytic inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Vitamin D has long been recognized as essential for bone health. Beyond its classical role, vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of bone–muscle homeostasis, enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP production while reducing oxidative stress, and facilitates bidirectional bone–muscle crosstalk through myokines and osteokines to coordinate bone remodeling and muscle regeneration. However, despite these mechanistic insights, the beneficial effects of vitamin D on these diseases—such as reduced risk or mitigation of progression—remains inconclusive. This review explores the relationships between vitamin D and cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and musculoskeletal diseases, with a focus on the underlying immunological and metabolic mechanisms of actions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of B and D Vitamins in Degenerative Diseases)
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Other

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19 pages, 1914 KB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Vitamin D on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
by Samira El Kababi, El Mokhtar El Ouali, Jihan Kartibou, Abderrahman Lamiri, Sanae Deblij, Rashmi Supriya, Ayoub Saiedi, Juan Del Coso, Ismail Laher and Hassane Zouhal
Nutrients 2025, 17(17), 2794; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172794 - 28 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 8137
Abstract
Background and Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by widespread inflammation and multisystem involvement, leading to substantial morbidity. Given the immunomodulatory role of vitamin D and its association with disease activity in SLE, supplementation has emerged as a [...] Read more.
Background and Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by widespread inflammation and multisystem involvement, leading to substantial morbidity. Given the immunomodulatory role of vitamin D and its association with disease activity in SLE, supplementation has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy. However, findings across individual studies remain inconsistent, underscoring the need for a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize the current evidence on vitamin D supplementation for this disease. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on disease activity among patients with SLE. Methods: Systematic searches were carried out in four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct) with only studies published after 2013 as a restriction for the search strategy. An assessment of the included studies was conducted according to the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, using the risk of bias assessment tool in Review Manager (Revman) version 5.3. Included studies were randomized trials with vitamin D supplementation in patients with SLE and with pre–post intervention measures of disease activity. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models to estimate mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 test, and sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment were also performed. Results: A total of 186 articles were retrieved, of which 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies had a combined sample size of 3177 adult participants and were conducted across 16 different countries. Regarding the impact of vitamin D supplementation on SLE patients, twelve (n = 12) studies reported positive associations, including reduced disease activity and improvements in clinical and laboratory parameters such as inflammatory markers, fatigue, and bone mineral density. In contrast, nine (n = 9) studies found no significant effects. In terms of meta-analytical data, our results indicate that, at the end of the supplementation, participants with vitamin D supplementation had significantly higher serum vitamin D levels compared to participants that receive a placebo (MD: 13.11 ng/mL; 95% CI: 8 to 19; p < 0.00001) despite comparable values before the onset of the supplementation. In addition, participants with vitamin D supplementation had lower scores in the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) compared to participants who received a placebo (MD: −1; 95% CI: −2 to −0.43; p = 0.002) despite comparable values before the onset of the supplementation. Conclusions: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that vitamin D supplementation leads to a statistically significant reduction in SLEDAI scores, reflecting a meaningful decrease in disease activity. Given its immunomodulatory effects and favorable safety profile, vitamin D supplementation represents a simple and accessible adjunctive strategy that could support SLE management and improve patient outcomes in clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of B and D Vitamins in Degenerative Diseases)
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