Browse the evidence

Selenium supplementation improves fertility in dairy cows, primarily by reducing embryonic mortality during the first month of pregnancy, with effects not replicated by vitamin E alone.

If you are managing livestock in selenium-deficient areas, standard antioxidant supplementation (like Vitamin E) is insufficient. Targeted selenium supplementation is required to significantly reduce early embryonic loss and improve overall fertility rates.

Aging (immunosenescence) leads to a decline in adaptive immunity, particularly a reduction in naive T cells and thymic involution, increasing susceptibility to infections and reducing vaccine efficacy.

As you age, your immune system naturally changes, making you more susceptible to infections and less responsive to vaccines. While you cannot reverse thymic involution, maintaining optimal nutritional status through diet or targeted supplementation may help mitigate some of these age-related immune declines.

Combining Vitamin D3 with Calcium increases the risk of kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), and active forms of Vitamin D (alfacalcidol and calcitriol) increase the risk of high blood calcium (hypercalcaemia).

Be cautious with combinations. Taking Vitamin D3 along with Calcium supplements may slightly increase your risk of kidney stones. Additionally, active forms of Vitamin D (alfacalcidol and calcitriol) carry a higher risk of causing high blood calcium levels. These risks are statistically significant but should be weighed against potential benefits, especially if you have a history of kidney stones.

Glutathione peroxidase 4 plays a crucial role in male fertility by acting as an anti-oxidative enzyme and serving as a structural component of the sperm midpiece.

For men concerned with fertility, maintaining adequate selenium levels is important for sperm structure and antioxidant defense. This is one specific benefit among many selenium provides.

Antioxidants yield conflicting results and are heterogeneous regarding type, dose, and duration, making them less reliable than weight loss or TZDs.

Antioxidant supplements do not have consistent, reliable results for treating NASH. The evidence is mixed, and they are not as effective as weight loss. Do not rely on them as a primary treatment.

Current elite athlete dietary guidelines, which recommend low fiber intake to minimize gastrointestinal distress, reduce microbiota diversity and functionality, thereby exacerbating exercise-induced stress, gut permeability, and mood disturbances.

Stop following standard low-fiber athlete diets blindly. While fiber might cause short-term bloating, chronic low intake starves your gut bacteria, leading to a 'leaky gut' and higher stress hormones during training. Gradually increase fiber and prebiotic intake to boost Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which strengthen your gut barrier and may improve your mood and stress resilience. Focus on plant polysaccharides and resistant starches to support your microbiome's ability to regulate stress.

n-3 fatty acids may control the cytokine storm in severe respiratory infections like COVID-19 through the metabolism to specialized pro-resolving mediators.

For severe respiratory infections, medical professionals may consider n-3 fatty acids to help manage inflammation, though this is based on evidence from other critical care settings.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from lean donors improves insulin sensitivity in diabetic subjects by increasing butyrate-producing bacteria.

While FMT is not yet a standard treatment, this research highlights that restoring a healthy gut microbiome, particularly butyrate producers, can improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics.

Hydroxytyrosol exhibits significant anticancer effects against various cancer cell lines (colon, breast, prostate, etc.) by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, primarily through ROS generation and modulation of signaling pathways like PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a and NF-κB.

Hydroxytyrosol shows promise in laboratory studies for inhibiting cancer cell growth, particularly in colon and breast cancer models. However, these are preclinical findings. Do not use HTyr as a substitute for conventional cancer therapy. Maintain a diet rich in olive oil for general health benefits.

Hydroxytyrosol improves metabolic health in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity by activating transcription factors (PPAR-α, Nrf2), inhibiting lipogenesis, and reducing hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress.

Hydroxytyrosol may support liver health and metabolic function, particularly in the context of a high-fat diet, by reducing inflammation and fat accumulation. While promising in animal studies, human data is still emerging. Focus on a balanced diet rich in olive oil for best results.

Dietary supplementation with carotenoids (specifically β-cryptoxanthin and astaxanthin) prevents and reverses NASH progression by regulating macrophage/Kupffer cell polarization toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype.

Current research indicates that specific carotenoids, β-cryptoxanthin and astaxanthin, can reverse NASH in mouse models by shifting liver immune cells (Kupffer cells) from a pro-inflammatory state (M1) to a healing state (M2). However, the authors explicitly state there is currently no evidence that these carotenoids exhibit beneficial effects in human patients. Until human trials are conducted, these should be viewed as promising experimental mechanisms rather than established treatments.

Upregulation of SIRT1 activity via STACs or NAD+ boosters (NR, NMN) protects against cardiovascular aging phenotypes including endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulating transcription factors and antioxidant pathways.

Current research suggests that maintaining NAD+ levels and sirtuin activity may support cardiovascular health and delay age-related decline. While human trials are ongoing, strategies that naturally support NAD+ (like exercise and lean diets) are supported by this mechanism. Be cautious of unproven high-dose supplements, as excessive SIRT1 activation in certain contexts (like high-fat diets) may have adverse effects on lipid metabolism.

SIRT1 plays a complex, context-dependent role in atherosclerosis where tissue-specific overexpression can be protective, but whole-body overexpression in the context of high-fat diets may exacerbate the disease.

Do not assume that boosting SIRT1 (e.g., via high-dose resveratrol or NMN) is always beneficial for heart health, especially if you have existing metabolic issues like high cholesterol or obesity. The paper warns that whole-body SIRT1 activation can worsen lipid profiles in high-fat diet contexts. Consult a physician before using sirtuin activators if you have metabolic syndrome.

NAD+ boosters (specifically NMN and NR) and SIRT1 activators (like resveratrol) improve angiogenesis and endothelial function in aging models by restoring the NAD+-SIRT1 axis.

Aging is associated with reduced blood flow and capillary density. This research suggests that boosting NAD+ (via precursors like NMN or NR) or activating SIRT1 (via exercise or STACs) may help restore blood vessel growth and function. This could potentially improve endurance and mobility in older adults, though human clinical results are still pending.

Maternal intake of methyl-donating nutrients (folate, vitamin B12) during pregnancy can counteract the negative epigenetic effects of environmental toxins like Bisphenol A (BPA), preventing adverse offspring phenotypes such as obesity and cancer susceptibility.

If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, prioritize foods rich in methyl donors like leafy greens (folate), eggs, and liver (B12/choline). This helps protect the developing fetus's epigenome from environmental toxins like BPA, potentially reducing long-term risks of obesity and metabolic disease. Focus on whole foods rather than supplements alone.

Plant-based drinks are not nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk and should not be recommended as full substitutes without further evidence, as they often lack protein and may contain harmful additives or inorganic calcium.

Do not assume plant-based drinks are healthy substitutes for milk. They often have less protein and more added sugar or oil. If you use them, check the label. They are not nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk.

Combined Vitamin D and Calcium supplementation is associated with an increased risk of renal and urinary tract stones.

If you take combined Vitamin D and Calcium supplements, be aware that it may slightly increase your risk of developing kidney stones, particularly if you are a postmenopausal woman. Stay hydrated and discuss your personal risk factors with your healthcare provider.

Curcumin, a dietary polyphenol, acts as both a direct and indirect epigenetic factor by inhibiting Histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP and GATA4, reducing nuclear acetylation and myocardial cell hypertrophy.

Curcumin inhibits enzymes that promote histone acetylation and cell hypertrophy. While mechanistic data exists, specific dosing protocols for humans are not provided in this review.

High body iron stores (indicated by high serum ferritin) are positively correlated with an increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and insulin resistance, likely due to oxidative stress.

If you have high ferritin levels, discuss with your doctor whether reducing iron intake or therapeutic phlebotomy might help lower your diabetes risk. High iron stores can contribute to oxidative stress and insulin resistance, so managing iron levels is a valid strategy for metabolic health.

Targeting tryptophan metabolism, specifically by inhibiting TDO or boosting de novo NAD+ synthesis, may extend lifespan and improve metabolic health in animal models.

Current research suggests that modulating tryptophan metabolism (e.g., boosting NAD+ synthesis) might improve metabolic health and potentially extend lifespan in animals. However, this is not yet a recommended human intervention due to potential risks like aggravated inflammation. Focus on healthy lifestyle factors that naturally support metabolic health.

Fish consumption is not significantly associated with the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Unlike ischemic stroke, there is no significant link between how much fish you eat and your risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain). This suggests that eating fish is safe for this specific type of stroke risk, as the protective effects likely balance any potential bleeding risks from omega-3s.

Chronic exposure to organic pesticides (organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyls) is associated with a dose-dependent increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

High levels of organic pesticides in your body are linked to a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes, especially if you are overweight. This risk is dose-dependent, meaning higher exposure leads to higher risk.

Exposure to air pollutants, specifically particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), is associated with a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, predominantly in women.

Living in areas with high air pollution (particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide) increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially if you are a woman. This risk increases with higher exposure levels.

Sodium (Na+) and Potassium (K+) levels in iontophoretic sweat are positively correlated within individuals, but across a population, individuals with higher sodium levels tend to have lower potassium levels.

If you are monitoring electrolytes, be aware that your body's balance of sodium and potassium in sweat is individual. High sodium excretion might correlate with lower potassium excretion for you specifically, but this pattern may not hold true when comparing you to others.