Vitamin Deficiency

This research aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and nutrient absorption of the RELiZORB enzyme cartridge in children aged 2 to 18 years with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) who depend on parenteral nutrition (PN). SBS causes inadequate intestinal absorption due to significant loss of small bowel, requiring intravenous nutrition to maintain hydration and nutrition but leading to complications such as liver failure. The study explores whether predigesting fats with RELiZORB can improve absorption and reduce reliance on PN. The RELiZORB device is an enzyme cartridge connected to enteral feeding tubes that mimics pancreatic lipase to digest fats before they enter the gut, aiming to improve fat absorption without the need for bile acid emulsification. Participants will receive tube feeding through the device daily for 90 days. The study monitors changes in PN calories over time, along with growth, fecal fat, plasma fatty acids, and nutrition intake. Participants will be assessed at multiple time points during the 90-day treatment to evaluate PN calorie reduction and nutritional status. Safety and tolerability will be monitored by recording adverse events. The study involves regular clinical visits, laboratory tests, and nutrition assessments to measure the effectiveness of RELiZORB in improving enteral nutrition absorption and supporting growth while reducing PN dependence.

The global population of older adults is rapidly growing, with a significant increase in those aged 65 and over, especially in China. Frailty, a condition marked by reduced strength and function across multiple body systems, is common among the elderly and can lead to serious health issues such as falls, disability, hospitalization, and increased mortality. This trial aims to explore the characteristics and influencing factors of frailty in community-dwelling older adults in China, as well as to evaluate how nutritional and combined nutrition-exercise interventions affect frailty progression and management in this population. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 3-month intervention period followed by a 9-month follow-up. The first group receives a multifaceted nutrition intervention including anti-inflammatory dietary plans, personalized nutritional management with daily dietary tracking via WeChat, and biweekly health education sessions for participants and caregivers. The second group receives the same nutrition intervention combined with a structured exercise program conducted three times a week, featuring warm-up, aerobic, resistance strength, and relaxation training overseen by professional coaches. The control group will continue with routine community health management including chronic disease education, counseling, and health examinations. During the study, participants will undergo evaluations at baseline, after the 3-month intervention, and at 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up to assess physical performance using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and frailty scores. Additional measures include assessments of frailty trajectories, nutritional risk, intrinsic capacity, quality of life, cognitive function, sleep quality, serum protein and inflammatory markers, and adverse events. Data will be collected via validated questionnaires, clinical exams, and laboratory tests to understand the sustainability and impact of the interventions over time.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a dietary supplement on blood-based nutritional biomarkers in healthy children aged 4 to 15 years. This pilot clinical study aims to gather preliminary data on how the supplement influences serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, and other blood count parameters. The study is conducted by SF Research Institute, Inc. and focuses on understanding nutritional status through biomarker changes. The study involves a single group of participants who will take an investigational gummy dietary supplement called Kids Multi & Omegas. Children will be instructed to take two gummies once daily, with or without food, for a total of 4 weeks. Blood samples will be collected at the start and end of the study to assess changes in selected serum nutritional biomarkers. Participants will also undergo measurements of height, weight, and body mass index, and complete a socioeconomic questionnaire. Participants will attend two clinic visits: one for screening and baseline assessments and another at the end of the 4-week supplementation period. During the study, children or their caregivers will keep a daily diary recording supplement intake, medication use, and any side effects. Researchers will review compliance, collect blood samples, and assess changes in nutritional biomarkers and physical measurements. The total study duration for each participant is approximately 4 weeks.

This research aims to reduce food insecurity by improving access to plant-based healthy foods, enhancing nutrition literacy, and improving health among food-insecure families. It focuses on families living under the federal poverty line and involves both children and adults up to 99 years old. The study evaluates different approaches to increasing consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts or seeds over one year. Participants join one of four study arms based on their eligibility and interest. In the dual intervention arm, participants attend five weekly nutrition classes with age-appropriate interactive activities and receive a food prescription voucher to pick up plant-based meals from a food pantry. Some arms involve nutrition education only, with classes tailored by age, while others provide food without a prescription. Food pickup is expected twice a week for up to a year, providing enough meals for household members. During the study, participants complete surveys and nutrition knowledge tests before and after each class, with additional follow-up surveys every three months and a final knowledge test one year after starting. Researchers monitor servings of healthy plant-based foods consumed and assess food insecurity status and nutrition knowledge changes. The study includes families receiving care from specific primary care clinics, and participation spans up to one year with regular assessments and support.

Researchers are evaluating whether the Alii Supplement can reduce symptoms related to nutritional depletion in women who use hormonal birth control pills. The study focuses on improvements in happiness, digestive health, mood swings, perceived vulnerability to disease, and energy levels. This randomized, double-blind trial involves 68 female university students aged 18 to 25 who have been on hormonal birth control for at least six months. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either the Alii Supplement or a placebo daily for 28 days. Each participant takes three capsules per day, with or without food, and receives daily reminders to help with adherence. The Alii Supplement contains multiple vitamins and nutrients aimed at addressing nutritional depletion, while the placebo contains inactive ingredients. After 28 days, participants complete follow-up surveys to assess changes in the targeted symptoms. Throughout the study, participants will fill out online surveys at the start and end of the 28-day period to measure happiness, mood swings, digestive health, vulnerability to disease, and energy. The research team will compare these measures before and after supplement use to see if the Alii Supplement has an effect. The study includes two visits to the research office for survey completion, and participants are monitored for their adherence to taking the capsules.

Researchers are studying the effects of arginine supplementation on immune function in infants who have undergone major bowel surgery or have necrotising enterocolitis. This exploratory study will compare gene expression related to immune response in preterm and term infants receiving different nutrition regimens. The goal is to understand how arginine affects genes involved in nutrition and infection in postoperative babies. The study involves 48 infants divided into three groups: one receiving standard parenteral nutrition without added arginine, one receiving parenteral nutrition with added arginine plus oral arginine supplementation, and one receiving standard parenteral nutrition with oral arginine supplementation only. Arginine dosing will begin with the first enteral feeds and adjust based on feeding progress. Treatment lasts up to 30 days post-surgery or diagnosis. Participants will have blood samples collected at specified intervals up to 30 days after surgery to analyze gene expression, amino acid levels, ammonia, and metabolomics. Routine nutritional intake and clinical lab data will also be recorded. Researchers will assess changes in immune-related gene activity, metabolomic profiles, and growth during the study period. The study is conducted across two neonatal centers under a neonatal partnership.

This observational study explores how different diets—vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous—affect brain tissue biomarkers in healthy young adults. The research focuses on measuring the blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) to understand if these dietary patterns influence these brain-related markers. Participants are grouped based on their diet type: omnivore, vegan, or vegetarian. The study does not involve any treatment or intervention but observes participants who have maintained their diet for at least one year. The main measurement is taken once at the start of the study to assess blood levels of NfL and GFAP. During the study, participants provide blood samples at baseline for biomarker analysis. Researchers monitor these levels to assess the impact of diet on brain health indicators. The study includes healthy volunteers aged 18 to 40 years and involves no treatment or follow-up visits beyond the initial assessment. Participation in the study lasts according to the single baseline measurement timeline.

Researchers are investigating the effects of sweet almonds on healing femur and tibia shaft fractures compared to routine vitamin D3 supplements. This study addresses the need for an affordable and safe alternative to bone-strengthening drugs, which often cause side effects and are costly. The trial focuses on patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, assessing the potential of almonds to improve bone healing and vitamin D levels in the blood. The trial is a single-center, open-label, crossover randomized controlled study involving 136 participants aged 18 to 55 with trauma-related femur and tibia shaft fractures. Participants are divided into two groups based on their vitamin D levels and receive treatments including daily whole almonds (5 grams/day) and weekly oral vitamin D3 (200,000 units) in various sequences with washout periods. Group 1 includes vitamin D insufficient patients receiving almonds and vitamin D3 in a crossover design, while Group 2 includes vitamin D deficient patients receiving vitamin D3 alone, almonds alone, or a combination followed by crossover treatments. Participants undergo follow-up visits at 4 and 13 weeks post-treatment, where fracture healing is monitored through routine X-rays and Radiological Union Score for Tibial fractures (RUST). Safety is closely assessed, with adverse events recorded and managed according to international guidelines. The study also tracks treatment adherence with daily diaries and compares costs and changes in blood vitamin D levels. Patients may withdraw at any time without losing their rights, and the study will be completed within 24 months including a close-out period.

Researchers are evaluating whether simple nutrition education can help children and teens with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). UPFs include packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food items that are high in added sugars, fats, and artificial ingredients. The study aims to find an effective and practical way to support healthier eating habits and improve long-term gut health in pediatric IBD patients. Participants are divided into three groups: one group receives written nutrition handouts explaining UPFs and how to choose less-processed alternatives; another group receives both the handouts and a short educational video reinforcing key messages about UPFs and healthy eating; and a comparison group of children and teens with disorders of gut-brain interaction completes dietary assessments without receiving educational materials. The interventions are behavioral and delivered as educational tools. During the study, participants will complete online food recalls to measure what they eat. Researchers will compare changes in UPF intake between groups within a 4 to 12 week window after the intervention. Families will also be asked about the usefulness and acceptability of the materials. The study is sponsored by Connecticut Children's Medical Center and involves children and teens aged 10 to under 22 years, with participation lasting several weeks after enrollment.

Researchers are evaluating how consuming meat and dairy products from different farming methods affects metabolic health in healthy adults aged 45 to 65 years. This age range is linked to changes in metabolism and body fat. The study focuses on key markers like the gene expression of the transcription factor PPAR-b1 in white blood cells, fatty acid metabolism, and the endocannabinoid system. It also examines metabolic flexibility through exercise testing and measures body composition. Participants will take part in a double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover trial involving two types of pecorino cheese: "kent'erbas" from extensive farming and "industrial" pecorino from intensive farming. Each participant will consume 350 grams per week of one cheese type for 4 weeks, followed by an 8-week washout period without cheese consumption. Then, they will switch to the other cheese type for another 4 weeks. Blood samples will be collected at the end of each period to analyze metabolic changes. Throughout the study, participants will maintain their usual lifestyle and diet. Researchers will gather medical history, anthropometric measurements, and blood samples for detailed analysis. Body composition will be assessed by bioimpedance and waist measurements, while metabolic flexibility will be tested using indirect calorimetry during exercise. The main outcome is the change in plasma levels of DHA and acylethanolamides, with secondary outcomes assessing respiratory quotient changes. The total study duration includes treatment, washout, and crossover phases.