Modulatory role of vitamins A, B3, C, D, and E on skin health, immunity, microbiome, and diseases

Emerging insights into the role of natural products and miRNAs in psoriasis: from pathophysiology to precision medicine

Psoriasis is a sustainable skin disease characterized by inflammation resulting from the interaction between immune cells and keratinocytes. Significant advancements have been achieved in studying the molecular process behind noncoding and coding genes, leading to valuable insights for clinical therapy. Nevertheless, our comprehension of this intricate ailment remains ambiguous. Natural products such as curcumin, vitamin D, omega-3, vitamin E, psoralen, gallic acid (GA), and resveratrol offer a promising alternative or adjunct therapy for psoriasis by modulating multiple pathways and exhibiting fewer side effects compared to conventional treatments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNAs that are involved in regulating gene expression after transcription, namely by suppressing gene activity. Recent research on miRNAs has uncovered their significant significance in the development of psoriasis. In this review, we examined the latest developments in the investigation of miRNAs in psoriasis. Previous studies have revealed that imbalanced miRNAs in psoriasis have a significant impact on the processes of keratinocyte differentiation, proliferation, and the progression of inflammation. Furthermore, miRNAs exert an impact on the activity of immune cells involved in psoriasis, such as Langerhans cells, dendritic cells, and CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, we explore potential miRNA-focused treatment options for psoriasis, including the localized administration of external miRNA mimics, and miRNA inhibitors. The effectiveness of natural products and miRNAs in treating psoriasis, as well as the signaling pathways that may be involved, are summarized in this article.

Vitis vinifera L. Leaf Extract, a Microbiota Green Ally against Infectious and Inflammatory Skin and Scalp Diseases: An In-Depth Update

The skin microbiota, with its millions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, plays a key role in balancing the health of the skin and scalp. Its continuous exposure to potentially harmful stressors can lead to abnormalities such as local dysbiosis, altered barrier function, pathobiont overabundance, and infections often sustained by multidrug-resistant bacteria. These factors contribute to skin impairment, deregulation of immune response, and chronic inflammation, with local and systemic consequences. In this scenario, according to the needs of the bio-circular-green economy model, novel harmless strategies, both for regulating the diverse epidermal infectious and inflammatory processes and for preserving or restoring the host skin eubiosis and barrier selectivity, are requested. Vitis vinifera L. leaves and their derived extracts are rich in plant secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties that can be further exploited through microbe-driven fermentation processes. On this premise, this literature review aims to provide an informative summary of the most updated evidence on their interactions with skin commensals and pathogens and on their ability to manage inflammatory conditions and restore microbial biodiversity. The emerging research showcases the potential novel beneficial ingredients for addressing various skincare concerns and advancing the cosmeceutics field as well.

Elucidating the Phytochemical Landscape of Leaves, Stems, and Tubers of Codonopsis convolvulacea through Integrated Metabolomics

Codonopsis convolvulacea is a highly valued Chinese medicinal plant containing diverse bioactive compounds. While roots/tubers have been the main medicinal parts used in practice, leaves and stems may also harbor valuable phytochemicals. However, research comparing volatiles across tissues is lacking. This study performed metabolomic profiling of leaves, stems, and tubers of C. convolvulacea to elucidate tissue-specific accumulation patterns of volatile metabolites. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified 302 compounds, belonging to 14 classes. Multivariate analysis clearly differentiated the metabolic profiles of the three tissues. Numerous differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected, especially terpenoids and esters. The leaves contained more terpenoids, ester, and alcohol. The stems accumulated higher levels of terpenoids, heterocyclics, and alkaloids with pharmaceutical potential. The tubers were enriched with carbohydrates like sugars and starch, befitting their storage role, but still retained reasonable amounts of valuable volatiles. The characterization of tissue-specific metabolic signatures provides a foundation for the selective utilization of C. convolvulacea parts. Key metabolites identified include niacinamide, p-cymene, tridecanal, benzeneacetic acid, benzene, and carveol. Leaves, stems, and tubers could be targeted for antioxidants, drug development, and tonics/nutraceuticals, respectively. The metabolomic insights can also guide breeding strategies to enhance the bioactive compound content in specific tissues. This study demonstrates the value of tissue-specific metabolite profiling for informing the phytochemical exploitation and genetic improvement of medicinal plants.

Low Vitamin K Status in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris: A Pilot Study

Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a disease characterized by skin manifestations and systemic inflammation. There are no published studies to date on vitamin K status assessed by extrahepatic vitamin K-dependent proteins [e.g., osteocalcin (OC) and matrix Gla protein (MGP)] in patients with PV, even if vitamin K was found to promote wound contraction and decrease the healing time of the skin. Metabolic syndrome (MS), a comorbidity of PV, was found to influence vitamin K status, and vitamin D was found to be involved in the pathogenesis of PV. Therefore, our aim was to assess the status of vitamins K and D in subjects with PV. We enrolled 44 patients with PV and 44 age- and sex-matched subjects as a control group (CG), of which individuals with MS were designated the CG with MS subgroup. Furthermore, the PV patients were stratified into two subgroups: those with MS (n = 20) and those without MS (n = 24). In addition to the quantification of vitamin D and MGP in all subjects, the uncarboxylated OC/carboxylated OC (ucOC/cOC) ratio was also assessed as an inversely proportional marker of vitamin K status. We found an increased ucOC/cOC ratio in the PV group compared to CG but also a greater ucOC/cOC ratio in the PV with MS subgroup than in the CG with MS subgroup. MGP was decreased in the PV with MS subgroup compared to CG with MS subgroup. There was no difference in the vitamin D concentration between the groups. This is the first study to report decreased vitamin K status in patients with PV, independent of the presence of MS.

Associations of single and multiple vitamin exposure with childhood eczema: data from the national health and nutrition examination survey

Aim

The association between vitamins and eczema has garnered attention, yet few studies have evaluated the effects of co-exposure to multiple vitamins on this condition. This study aims to assess the association of vitamin mixtures with eczema in children.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2,244 children aged 6-17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Eczema served as the primary outcome. Six serum vitamins, namely, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, and E, were the main variables. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was adopted to analyze the association between each serum vitamin and eczema. Odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) analysis and the quantile g-computation (qgcomp) model were used to evaluate the association of co-exposure to multiple vitamins with eczema.

Results

In total, 10.83% of children (n = 243) developed eczema. After adjusting for confounding factors, we observed that compared with the reference group (vitamin B12 with second quartile), the OR for eczema was 0.604 (95% CI: 0.373-0.978, P = 0.041) for the first quartile of vitamin B12. Both BKMR analysis and the qgcomp model consistently showed that co-exposure to the six vitamins was positively correlated with the risk of eczema, with vitamin B6 contributing most to the overall effect. In BKMR analyses, we observed an interaction between vitamins B6 and B12 concerning eczema risk.

Conclusion

Co-exposure to vitamins A, C, B6, B12, D, and E was found to be associated with an increased risk of eczema in children, with vitamin B6 as the greatest positive contributor driving the overall effect.

Unveiling the Nuances of Adult Female Acne: A Comprehensive Exploration of Epidemiology, Treatment Modalities, Dermocosmetics, and the Menopausal Influence

Previously considered a skin disease exclusively affecting adolescents, characterized by inflammatory and non-inflammatory skin lesions, acne vulgaris is now increasingly observed in adult life, including post-menopause. Today, adult female acne (AFA) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, with polymorphic lesions presenting as open or closed comedones, papules, pustules, and even nodules or cysts, often with the presence of sequelae. AFA may persist from adolescence or manifest de novo in adulthood. Its etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic, hormonal, dietary, and environmental factors, yet still incompletely understood. Increased sebum production, keratinocyte hyper-proliferation, inflammation, and reduced diversity of Cutibacterium acnes strains are the underlying disease mechanisms. During menopausal transition, a relative increase in androgen levels occurs, just as estrogens begin to decline, which can manifest itself as acne. Whereas most AFA exhibit few acne lesions with normo-androgenic serum levels, baseline investigations including androgen testing panel enable associated comorbidities to be eliminated, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or tumors. Another interesting feature is AFA's impact on quality of life, which is greater than in adolescents, being similar to other chronic diseases like asthma. The therapeutic approach to AFA depends on its severity and associated features. This review investigates the intricate facets of AFA, with a specific focus on incidence rates, treatment modalities, and the curious impact of menopause. Utilizing insights from contemporary literature and scientific discussions, this article seeks to advance our understanding of AFA, offering new perspectives to shape clinical practices and improve patient outcomes.

Association of vitamins with bone mineral density and osteoporosis measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to assess the associations of vitamins intake with osteoporosis based on a national sample from US adults.

METHODS

A total of 1536 participants were included in this cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between vitamins intake and osteoporosis from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including vitamin A, C, D. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between dietary vitamin intake and osteoporosis.

RESULTS

We found that vitamins intake were negatively associated with osteoporosis. For vitamin A, compared with the first tertile, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidential intervals (CIs) were 0.93 (0.81-1.04) for the second tertile and 0.85 (0.78-0.96) for the third tertile (P < 0.01). For vitamin C, compared with the first tertile, the ORs and 95% CIs were 0.89 (0.78-1.05) for the second tertile and 0.79 (0.67-0.93) for the third tertile (P < 0.01). For vitamin D, compared with the first tertile, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidential intervals (CIs) were 0.94 (0.82-1.07) for the second tertile and 0.88 (0.75-0.98) for the third tertile (P < 0.01). And the negative association between vitamins intake and osteoporosis were more evident for female, aged ≥ 60, and BMI > 30, including vitamin A, C and D.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence that vitamins intake is linked with decreased prevalence of osteoporosis, including vitamin A, C, D. Further large-scale prospective cohort studies are needed to verify our findings.