This article reviews cardiotoxic syndromes in ruminants caused by various toxins, including ionophores, vitamin E/selenium deficiencies, gossypol, Taxus plants, cardiac glycosides, grayanotoxins, and others. It emphasizes that early recognition, thorough history, and diagnostic sampling are crucial for accurate diagnosis. Since no specific antidotes exist, prompt removal of the toxic source and environmental management are key to improving outcomes. Understanding clinical patterns and implementing herd-wide prevention strategies are vital for reducing morbidity, mortality, and long-term health impacts in affected animals.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a complex and clinically significant pathophysiological process that occurs when blood flow is restored to an organ following ischemia. While reperfusion is essential for tissue survival, it paradoxically exacerbates damage through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endothelial injury. This phenomenon contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in various clinical settings, including organ transplantation, myocardial infarction, stroke, and liver and kidney injuries. Despite increasing knowledge of the molecular pathways involved, effective treatment options remain limited. Recent scientific advances have highlighted the potential of natural bioactive compounds to reduce oxidative and inflammatory responses during IRI. Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill.) has garnered considerable attention as a rich source of phytochemicals with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, including carotenoids, tocopherols, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). These compounds may act synergistically to neutralize reactive oxygen species, inhibit proinflammatory mediators, and modulate key cellular pathways involved in IRI. This comprehensive review explores the current evidence regarding the protective effects of Hass avocado bioactive compounds against IRI. We examined their molecular mechanisms of action and discussed the therapeutic implications of incorporating these natural agents into clinical practice. To our knowledge, this is the first review specifically addressing the role of Hass avocado phytochemicals in reducing oxidative damage and inflammation in IRI, offering a novel perspective for future research and clinical application.

Combination-moderate electric field (MEF) processing successfully increases the iron content of kale by ~ 160 × as compared to untreated kale, but it is unknown whether this kale better delivers iron. It is also not known how combination-MEF treatments impact other nutritionally relevant bioactive kale compounds. This study aimed to (1) determine intestinal delivery of iron from the iron-enriched kale leaf following in vitro digestion and (2) assess ascorbic acid (AA), carotenoid, and α-tocopherol (i.e., vitamin E) concentrations in the combination-MEF treated kale. AA, carotenoids and α-tocopherol were separated and quantitated from non-polar kale extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). Iron-enriched kale, hemoglobin, and FeSO4 were digested in vitro, and the digesta was centrifuged, filtered, diluted 16x, and applied to confluent Caco-2 cells. The combination-MEF treated kale increased cell ferritin 4.4 × and 1.8 × relative to FeSO4 and hemoglobin, respectively. The combination-MEF treatment decreased β-carotene and lutein by 3-4 ×, produced no change in α-tocopherol, and increased AA 3 ×, as compared to untreated kale. In conclusion, combination-MEF treated kale is a potentially excellent source of dietary iron for those at risk of iron deficiency, and the combination-MEF treatment merits further investigation for its ability to enrich other vegetables with iron.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) is on a rising trend globally. An approximate 10-20% of those with MASLD have a lean phenotype (lean MASLD) with prevalence higher in Asian population Thin-fat phenotype seen in Asians, increased visceral adipose tissue, insulin resistance and genetic polymorphisms are considered to contribute to this. Atherogenic dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and sarcopenia may commonly co-exist in individuals with lean MASLD. Due to lack of clinical symptoms, it is often detected on routine screening. While the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia are more than lean healthy individuals, it remains lower than non-lean MASLD. However, advanced fibrosis and all cause mortality remain higher in the lean MASLD cohort highlighting they are a high-risk group. Diagnostic tests such as serum fibrosis indices as well as non-invasive imaging are commonly used, but data on its performance among lean MASLD is still emerging. Diet and lifestyle measures remain the cornerstone of treatment with agents like Vitamin E, Saroglitazar and Resmetirom showing beneficial results. Several promising agents are in the therapeutic pipeline. Additional studies investigating disease pathogenesis, performance of diagnostic tests and treatment targets in lean MASLD are needed to improve long-term management of affected individuals.

Over the past century, research on vitamin E has evolved from its initial identification as a fertility factor to the recognition of α-tocopherol (α-TOH) as an essential micronutrient with antioxidant and gene regulatory functions. Despite extensive investigation, controversies persist regarding its precise biological role, clinical efficacy, and classification as a vitamin. This review summarizes scientific milestones in vitamin E (tocochromanol) research. It highlights recent advances in understanding the absorption, metabolism, and molecular mechanisms of vitamin E. The review also outlines unresolved questions and methodological challenges. The focus is on α-TOH and its metabolites, which exhibit biological activities beyond classical antioxidant effects, such as the regulation of inflammation, lipid metabolism, and immune responses. Evidence from genetic, biochemical, and clinical studies supports the essentiality of α-TOH in humans, as demonstrated by ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED). Other tocochromanols and their metabolites exhibit promising biological activities that suggest potential therapeutic applications. However, their physiological relevance must be confirmed. Advances in metabolomic profiling and molecular modeling now allow for a more comprehensive characterization of vitamin E metabolism and function. Understanding the molecular pathways and biological roles of vitamin E and its derivatives is crucial for refining its definition, establishing evidence-based dietary recommendations, and evaluating its potential in disease prevention and therapy.

Oxidation of n-3 PUFA-rich oils in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract leads to the formation of potentially harmful compounds such as 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), and malondialdehyde (MDA). This study investigated the interplay between fatty acids release, tocopherol concentration, and formation of hydroperoxides, HHE, HNE, and MDA during simulated digestion of Schizochytrium sp. oils, in comparison with cod liver and linseed oils. Free DHA showed a stronger correlation with tocopherol consumption than esterified DHA. Hydroperoxide formation showed non-linear relationship with tocopherol amounts and free PUFAs, though also bound PUFAs correlated to hydroperoxide formation. Key fatty acids explaining increases in oxidation markers other than DHA, such as 20:3n-6, were identified. While HHE formation correlated with oil unsaturation and esterified DHA, MDA had linear relationship with hydroperoxide formation. These findings enhance the understanding of lipid oxidation mechanisms during digestion, providing valuable insights for improving the stability of n-3-rich oils in food applications.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with dyslipidemia and overweight. Vitamin E has been suggested to improve lipid metabolism, but clinical evidence in MASLD remains inconsistent. This meta-analysis evaluates the effects of vitamin E on serum lipid profiles and body mass index (BMI) in adults with MASLD. A literature search was conducted across databases through January 2026 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Outcomes included triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C & HDL-C), and BMI. Pooled effect estimates were calculated as weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. The pooled analysis of 12 RCTs showed that vitamin E in patients with MASLD significantly reduced TG (-12.74 mg/dL, 95% CI: [-22.78, -2.70], p = 0.013), whereas no significant change was observed in TC (-2.11 mg/dL, 95% CI: [-4.89, 0.67], p = 0.137) and LDL-C (-5.32 mg/dL, 95% CI: [-11.15, 0.51], p = 0.074), HDL-C levels (0.23 mg/dL, 95% CI: [-0.48, 0.94], p = 0.527), and BMI (0.36 kg/m2, 95% CI: [-0.86, 1.58], p = 0.563). Subgroup analyses revealed that TG was significantly reduced in low-dose, more prolonged supplementation and in overweight patients. For TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C, only a slight, significant improvement was observed in patients with obesity. Vitamin E in patients with MASLD selectively modulates lipid metabolism, predominantly reducing TG levels. Modest improvements in TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C were observed primarily in patients with obesity. These findings support the potential role of vitamin E as an adjunctive therapy for MASLD-associated dyslipidemia.

Biodiversity loss threatens human health and welfare through the degradation of ecosystem services like pollination[1-3]. However, without clear mechanistic links between ecosystems and people, these services can remain abstract and intangible. Consequently, it is challenging to predict the effects of environmental degradation on human welfare or to identify effective ecological interventions that improve human lives. Here we record individual-level diets, crop yields, farming income and crop-pollinator interactions in replicate smallholder communities in Nepal to quantify the links among insect pollinators, crop plants and nutrient intake and income of individual families. Insect pollinators were directly responsible for 44% of people's farming income and more than 20% of their vitamin A, folate and vitamin E intake. We show how declines in local pollinator species are anticipated to exacerbate rates of poverty and micronutrient deficiency in vulnerable communities such as the ones studied here. However, our results demonstrate that management of local pollination services can improve human nutrition and household income. Indeed, abundant pollinators like native honeybees, bumblebees and hoverflies are the most important for sustaining and enhancing nutrient flows. Applied more widely, this approach of linking biodiversity to human health and livelihoods could reveal sustainable new pathways for improving the lives of millions of smallholders worldwide.

Dynamic changes in the structure of lipid lyotropic liquid crystals upon mixing of different lipid systems were investigated using simultaneous low-frequency Raman (LFR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) at a synchrotron facility. Monoolein and phytantriol were investigated as lipids with broadly highlighted potential for drug delivery. Their dispersed cubic phase structures were perturbed by mixing with a vitamin E acetate emulsion, known to modify the mesophase structures formed by monoolein and phytantriol, in the presence or absence of a lipophilic drug (cinnarizine). This mixing strategy enabled the exploration of structurally distinct and compositionally complex scenarios to establish direct correlations between LFR spectral features and mesophase structural parameters determined by SAXS, thereby assessing how LFR can be used to sensitively track composition-driven mesophase transformations. Crucially, the concurrent LFR-SAXS approach also allowed the evaluation of the affinity for cinnarizine to favorably interact with these lipids and form specific nanostructures leading to increased drug solubilization. These results illustrate how combined LFR-SAXS measurements can inform and expand the future use of LFR as a partially independent, structure-sensitive probe of lipid mesophase dynamics.