Folate News and Research

RSS

Gut-derived metabolites regulate immune cells in complex ways

Published on March 23, 2026, in Volume 2, article number 18 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation, the review begins by systematically outlining the sources and synthetic pathways of immune-relevant microbial metabolites, including bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, amino acid derivatives, vitamins, trimethylamine/trimethylamine N-oxide, and odd-chain fatty acids.

31 Mar 2026

How gut imbalance may drive obesity, diabetes, and heart disease

A new review argues that gut dysbiosis is closely linked to metabolic dysfunction through intertwined effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, gut barrier integrity, microbial metabolites, and epigenetic regulation. It also highlights microbiome-targeted strategies such as high-fiber diets, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, exercise, and fecal microbiota transplantation as promising ways to support metabolic health.

30 Mar 2026

Benefits from food fortification, yet global nutrient gaps persist

While food fortification reduces micronutrient inadequacies, additional interventions are necessary to ensure balanced nutrition and prevent excess intake.

30 Mar 2026

U.S. study links ultra-processed foods to lower odds of fertility

A cross-sectional NHANES study of 2,582 U.S. women found that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with lower odds of being classified as fertile based on self-reported infertility history. Greater Mediterranean diet adherence was linked to higher odds of fertility in adjusted models, but that association was no longer significant after accounting for obesity.

22 Mar 2026

New nanomaterial enhances bioimaging and targeted cancer drug delivery

The Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology Group (GNano) at the University of São Paulo's São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP) in Brazil has discovered a way to transform hydroxyapatite, a bioceramic material, into a nanoparticle with enhanced intrinsic luminescence.

18 Mar 2026

Study tracks surge in leucovorin after White House promotion

A White House briefing in September 2025 that raised concerns about acetaminophen use during pregnancy and promoted the drug leucovorin as a potential autism treatment was followed by sharp changes in how doctors prescribed those medications nationwide, according to a new study.

6 Mar 2026

Can aquaculture reduce global malnutrition or is nutrient trade widening inequality?

Global aquaculture produces substantial essential nutrients, but international trade patterns often shift these nutrients away from nutritionally vulnerable countries. Modelling suggests alternative trade and fishmeal use strategies could improve micronutrient equity while highlighting important food system trade-offs.

11 Feb 2026

Turning everyday eggs into powerful nutrient delivery systems

Eggs as functional foods: this review explores enrichment techniques that enhance nutrient bioavailability and support health through precision nutrition.

30 Jan 2026

Nitrate source matters more than nitrate amount

Findings suggest that plant-sourced nitrates may reduce dementia risk, while animal and water sources are linked to increased risk, emphasizing diet quality.

29 Jan 2026

Can dietary supplements support nutrition security as climate change disrupts food systems?

Environmental change is reshaping food availability, nutrient quality, and health risks, exposing major gaps in how nutrition science addresses climate-related stressors. This perspective argues that dietary supplements may have a context-dependent role but require rigorous, interdisciplinary research before informing public health action.

19 Jan 2026

Folate deficiency drives genetic changes linked to lung cancer

Genetic alterations lie at the heart of cancer development, but scientists may have been overlooking a powerful driver of these changes—the everyday nutrients that feed our cells.

18 Dec 2025

Unnecessary gluten-free diets may put children at risk

Understanding gluten-related disorders is crucial for pediatric nutrition, as gluten-free diets can pose health risks without appropriate medical supervision.

15 Dec 2025

Plant-based diets support healthy growth when properly planned for children

Vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth when carefully planned with appropriate supplementation, finds a major new meta-analysis – the most comprehensive study to-date of plant-based diets in children.

12 Dec 2025

White bread vs wholegrain: which one is actually better for your health?

This review dispels common myths about white and wholegrain bread by examining their composition processing and health effects. It concludes that while wholegrain breads offer added benefits white bread remains a safe affordable and nutritionally meaningful staple when fortified.

11 Dec 2025

Why potatoes and grains can’t replace each other in a healthy diet

White potatoes are nutrient-rich, offering potassium and vitamins. Replacing grains with them may reduce essential nutrients like iron and folate.

1 Dec 2025

Which plant-based diet is healthiest and most sustainable

Vegan and vegetarian diets deliver nutrient adequacy on par with Mediterranean diets, while lowering carbon footprints and promoting environmental health.

13 Nov 2025

What makes truffles more than a delicacy? They’re packed with bioactive compounds

Italian researchers reviewed the chemical composition and biological potential of truffles, identifying them as rich sources of antioxidants, polysaccharides, sterols, and vitamins. The review highlights their promise as functional foods and natural therapeutics, while emphasizing the need for sustainable cultivation and clinical validation.

11 Nov 2025

Eating peanuts while pregnant may influence how a child’s genes respond to breastfeeding

Maternal peanut and peanut butter consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding shaped DNA methylation patterns in children, particularly in genes regulating neurodevelopment and inflammation. These findings suggest maternal diet can prime offspring epigenetic sensitivity to breastfeeding duration.

27 Oct 2025

Review reveals how paternal lifestyle shapes sperm epigenetics and offspring health

A new review in Clinical Epigenetics synthesises growing evidence that paternal lifestyle and environmental exposures such as diet, obesity, smoking, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and stress alter sperm epigenetic marks (DNA methylation, histone retention, and small non-coding RNAs).

17 Oct 2025

Thousands of ‘healthy’ Brits are unknowingly low on iron

A study reveals 6% of health-conscious UK adults have anemia, primarily due to iron deficiency, often without noticeable symptoms, especially in women.

9 Oct 2025