Vitamins & Supplements

Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation that can increase risk for atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and poor outcomes with COVID-19. The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids known as EPA and DHA, plentiful in fatty fish, have been associated with lower chronic inflammation. A small randomized study led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers regarding 46 specific weight loss and male enhancement products. Laboratory analysis of these products found active pharmaceutical ingredients not listed on the labels. Many of these hidden ingredients are approved for use by prescription only and could cause potentially serious side effects […]

A recent large, randomized controlled trial (coauthored by Friedman School Dean and Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter editor-in-chief Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH) evaluated the impact of a new omega-3 fatty acid supplement on cardiovascular health. The researchers tested the high-dose (4 grams/day) prescription-only formulation of omega-3 fatty acids in patients who were on statins, had […]

Turmeric, the golden-orange spice commonly known for imparting a yellow hue to curries and mustards, is now trending in golden milk lattes, juice bar boosts, and dietary supplements. This plant rhizome, which resembles ginger root, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Today, curcumin, a polyphenol compound partly responsible for turmeric’s color, is getting […]

A. Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, executive editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “Optimal health is dependent on consuming the appropriate quantity of nutrients and energy (calories). When scientists learned how to separate nutrients from foods or synthesize them in a laboratory, there was hope we could prevent malnutrition and maximize health simply by […]

Researchers from Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center have found that taking vitamin D3 supplements has no effect on serum cholesterol. Their randomized controlled trial, published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, does not support results from observational studies that found an association between serum levels of vitamin D and LDL or HDL […]

A study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine found that vitamin D supplementation during the prenatal period alone did not influence...

A. Kelly Siverhus, a dietetic intern at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center, answers: “Adequate iron intake is essential for the transport of oxygen from...

While observational studies have suggested that low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a clinical trial recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that supplementation with vitamin D3 had no effect on insulin action in people with prediabetes.

Q. Are prunes high in vitamin K? I am on blood thinners and was told I need to limit vitamin K intake.