Vitalspell
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Reviews

Vitamin D plus K2 acts like a drug, not a supplement

An Italian cardiology team's narrative review in IJMS reframes combined vitamin D and K2 as a low-potency pharmacological intervention, arguing that the large neutral RCTs tested the wrong populations and ignored K2 as an essential cofactor.

Wes Calloway7 min read
Flat lay of romaine lettuce and mixed leafy greens, natural folate sources
Nutrition

5-MTHF prenatal trial: what the Ritual-funded RCT actually showed

A 24-week randomized trial in Frontiers in Nutrition compared 5-MTHF and folic acid prenatal multivitamins in 62 second- and third-trimester pregnancies. The methylated form held folate status with about a quarter of the unmetabolized folic acid. Industry-funded, narrowly scoped, and worth reading carefully.

Sera Voss
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Longevity

Aged garlic compound nudges the fat-brain-muscle axis longevity researchers chase

Dean Okonkwo
Top view of a yogurt bowl with mixed berries and granola — probiotic-rich foods
Gut Health

Akkermansia muciniphila: what the evidence actually says about the internet's favorite probiotic

Dr. Kiran Patel
A woman rests on a table surrounded by glass flasks and flowers in a laboratory setting
Nutrition

Magnesium bisglycinate modestly improved insomnia in largest placebo-controlled trial

A four-week randomized trial in 155 adults found that 250 milligrams of magnesium bisglycinate per day modestly reduced insomnia severity compared to placebo. The benefit was largest in people with low dietary magnesium intake.

Sera Voss

Supplements

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Close-up of fish oil capsules spilling from a bottle on white background
Nutrition

Fish oil supplements face mounting evidence of limited benefits and real risks

A growing body of research suggests fish oil supplements may not deliver the broad health benefits consumers expect and could pose risks including increased atrial fibrillation and possible cognitive decline in older adults.

Sera Voss
Cognitive Health

Brain health supplements: what the evidence says about what works

Brain health supplements are a multibillion-dollar market built on promises most products cannot back. Only multivitamins and creatine have consistent trial data, while most other products sell on claims the research simply does not support.

Tess Lindqvist
Ginkgo biloba leaves and herbal capsules arranged on a white surface
Nutrition

Vitamin B12 and muscle mitochondria: what the latest research reveals

New research from Cornell shows vitamin B12 directly affects skeletal muscle energy production at the mitochondrial level. In aged mice, B12 supplementation doubled a key enzyme's activity, raising questions about whether marginal deficiency contributes to age-related muscle decline.

Mira Chen
Close-up of white capsules spilled from a supplement bottle on a dark background
Cognitive Health

Limited evidence links creatine to better cognition in older adults

A systematic review of six studies finds creatine may benefit memory and attention in adults over 55. The evidence is thin, with only one of six studies rated methodologically 'good.' The authors say high-quality trials are needed before clinical recommendations.

Sera Voss
Creatine monohydrate supplement powder in a container on a neutral surface, photographed in natural light
Fitbit Air screenless fitness band and Oura Ring 4 side by side on a dark surface
Fitness

The case for screenless fitness trackers: what a 2019 sleep lab proved

A 2019 sleep study found an Oura ring could detect sleep with 96 percent sensitivity but struggled to tell sleep from wakefulness. Seven years later, that trade-off between convenience and clinical-grade accuracy defines the fastest-growing segment in wearables.

Mira Chen
Runner's legs in motion on a track in Bragança Paulista, Brazil, casting a shadow
Fitness

Carbon-plated shoes alter running biomechanics tied to bone stress injury risk

A new study of 23 elite distance runners found that carbon-plated shoes increased rearfoot eversion and lowered cadence compared to neutral trainers. The biomechanical shifts are small but cumulative, and recreational runners face more exposure than elites.

Rafael Costa
Shirtless man standing in a freezing lake near Ludvika, Sweden, surrounded by snow and ice during winter cold water immersion
Longevity

Cold Plunges and Your Brain: What the Science Actually Shows

Cold plunges trigger a measurable surge of noradrenaline and dopamine, but the RCT evidence for long-term mental health benefits is still thin. Two recent studies clarify what the data do and do not support.

Dean Okonkwo
Close-up of penne pasta with basil on a plate, representing carbohydrate-rich pre-race fuel for endurance runners
Fitness

How Many Carbs Do Runners Actually Need in 2026

A new review in Endocrine Reviews argues runners only need 10 grams of carbs per hour during long efforts, challenging decades of sports nutrition guidelines. Five experts weigh in on what the evidence actually says and what everyday runners should do.

Rafael Costa

Longevity

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Longevity

Naked mole rat longevity gene extends mouse lifespan via HMW-HA transfer

University of Rochester researchers transferred the naked mole rat HMW-HA longevity gene to mice, extending median lifespan by 4.4% and reducing cancer incidence through high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid production.

Dean Okonkwo
Longevity

Naked mole rat longevity gene extends mouse lifespan — Rochester team transfers HMW-HA pathway

Ten years after discovering that naked mole rats produce unusually long hyaluronic acid chains, University of Rochester researchers transferred the same mechanism to mice, achieving measurable lifespan gains and reduced cancer incidence.

Dean Okonkwo
Naked mole rat standing in natural habitat, showing the species' distinctive characteristics
Longevity

The molecule that lets naked mole rats live 41 years, and what Rochester did with it

A 2023 Nature paper transferred the naked mole rat's hyaluronan synthase 2 gene into mice, extending median lifespan by 4.4% and cutting cancer incidence in half. The findings point toward a pharmacological route, and raise more questions than they answer.

Dean Okonkwo
Close-up of a naked mole rat showing wrinkled pink skin, prominent incisors, and hairless snout
Longevity

Longevity supplement NOVOS Core improved vascular aging markers in first human trial

A six-month randomized controlled trial at the University of Surrey found NOVOS Core, a 12-ingredient supplement, improved endothelial function, arterial flexibility, and blood pressure in 61 healthy adults over 40. The effect sizes rival those of structured exercise programs, but the study is modest, single-center, and not yet peer-reviewed.

Dean Okonkwo
Abstract representation of molecular structures and biological pathways in vibrant colors

Cognitive Health

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Senior man walking alone along a forest pathway, capturing the everyday gait that the Apple-Michigan cohort study tracked.
Cognitive Health

Hearing loss slows the walk before it dulls the mind

A 57,183-person Apple-Michigan cohort confirms hearing loss tracks with slower walking. Layered with the ACHIEVE trial and the Lancet Commission, hearing is now a leading indicator of how older adults age.

Tess Lindqvist
Laboratory glassware and coffee samples arranged for caffeine content analysis
Cognitive Health

Caffeine improves attention by small but real margins, finds largest meta-analysis to date

A meta-analysis of 31 randomised trials and 1,455 participants found that acute caffeine intake produces modest but reliable improvements in both attention accuracy and reaction time. The dose-response curve tells a more nuanced story: more caffeine keeps speeding you up, but accuracy peaks and then declines.

Tess Lindqvist
Vibrant Bacopa monnieri plant with small white flowers growing in a garden
Cognitive Health

Bacopa monnieri outperforms Ginkgo biloba for working memory, analysis finds

A 2026 network meta-analysis of 29 trials found high-dose Bacopa monnieri substantially outperformed Ginkgo biloba for working memory in healthy adults, though the comparison relies on indirect evidence with no head-to-head trials.

Tess Lindqvist
Radiologist pointing at brain MRI scans on a lightboard in a clinical setting
Cognitive Health

Oral citicoline combination linked to cognitive gains in prodromal dementia patients

A two-centre observational study of 100 patients with prodromal dementia found that a daily combined citicoline supplement was associated with improvements across multiple cognitive domains and mood over six to nine months, though the observational design cannot establish causation.

Tess Lindqvist

Nutrition

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Close-up of vitamin D3 capsules and box on a clean white surface
Science

Vitamin D at 5,000 IU reduced depression symptoms most in new dose-response analysis

A 2026 meta-analysis of 15 RCTs finds vitamin D supplementation significantly reduces depressive symptoms, with 5,000 IU per day showing the greatest effect. Reductions in PTH and TNFα point toward anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Mira Chen
Sleep

Magnesium did not improve sleep or prevent night cramps, major cohort study finds

A new analysis of the population-based CoLaus cohort, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, found no evidence that magnesium supplements improve sleep quality. Magnesium users actually reported a higher likelihood of nocturnal leg cramps.

Margot Ellis
A restless man lying awake on his bed in a dimly lit bedroom at night
Nutrition

Berberine derivative lowered HbA1c by 1% in 12-week diabetes trial

A phase 2 randomized trial published in JAMA Network Open found that HTD1801, an oral compound combining berberine with ursodeoxycholic acid, reduced HbA1c by 1.0 percentage point over 12 weeks. The drug also improved insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and liver enzyme levels, with two phase 3 trials now completed and an NDA submission planned.

Sera Voss
Close-up of yellow herbal powder and dried flowers on a warm-toned surface, representing natural medicinal compounds under scientific investigation
Sleep

What Experts Want You to Know About High-Carb Fueling

High-carbohydrate fueling remains the most evidence-backed strategy for endurance performance, despite periodic low-carb diet marketing claims to the contrary.

Margot Ellis