As human life expectancy is rising, the incidence of age-associated diseases will also increase. Scientific evidence has revealed that healthy diets, including good fats, vitamins, minerals, or polyphenolics, could have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, with antiaging effects. Recent studies demonstrated that vitamin K is a vital cofactor in activating several proteins, which act against age-related syndromes. Thus, vitamin K can carboxylate osteocalcin (a protein capable of transporting and fixing calcium in bone), activate matrix Gla protein (an inhibitor of vascular calcification and cardiovascular events) and carboxylate Gas6 protein (involved in brain physiology and a cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease inhibitor). By improving insulin sensitivity, vitamin K lowers diabetes risk. It also exerts antiproliferative, proapoptotic, autophagic effects and has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Recent research shows that protein S, another vitamin K-dependent protein, can prevent the cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 cases. The reduced activation of protein S due to the pneumonia-induced vitamin K depletion was correlated with higher thrombogenicity and possibly fatal outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Our review aimed to present the latest scientific evidence about vitamin K and its role in preventing age-associated diseases and/or improving the effectiveness of medical treatments in mature adults ˃50 years old.

Aging is a complex process and a significant risk factor for chronic diseases. Menopause, a component of aging in women, is associated with several important cardiometabolic conditions including metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Menopausal women could benefit from preventative strategies that may decrease morbidity and mortality and improve their quality of life. Vitamins D and K are essential nutrients required for bone health, immune function, and reducing cardiovascular risks, yet their synergistic effect is less understood in aging women. This is the first comprehensive review to summarize the evidence found in randomized clinical trials of the beneficial effects of vitamin D and K co-treatment in postmenopausal women. In our literature search across key electronic databases such as Cochrane, PubMed, and Ovid, we identified 31 pertinent studies. Overall, significant findings indicate that the combined intake of vitamins D and K may positively affect cardiovascular and bone health in postmenopausal women, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fermented dairy products. Given the challenges in obtaining all necessary nutrients solely through the diet, vitamin D and K supplements are recommended for postmenopausal women to promote healthy aging and well-being.

The Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) was designed to reflect adherence to the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The study aims to examine the association between HEI-2015 and grip strength in a nationally representative sample of the U.S. adult population. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys of 2011–2014. Low grip strength was defined as <35.5 kg for men and <20 kg for women. HEI-2015 was computed from two days of 24-h dietary recalls and comprised 13 components. Each component was scored on the density out of 1000 calories and summed to a total score divided into quartiles. Weighted logistic regressions examined the study aim while controlling for associated covariates. The sample included 9006 eligible participants, of those, 14.4% (aged 20+ years), and 24.8% (aged ≥50 years) had low grip strength. Mean (±SD) HEI-2015 total score was 54.2 ± 13.6 and in the lowest and highest quartiles 37.3 ± 5.1 and 72.0 ± 6.5, respectively. In the multivariable model, participants in the highest vs. lowest HEI-2015 quartile had 24% lower odds of having low grip strength (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60–0.96). Specifically, participants who met the DGA for protein intakes, whole grains, greens and beans, vegetables, or whole fruits had 20–35% lower odds of having low grip strength than those who did not. Higher compliance to the DGA might reduce the risk for low grip strength as a proxy measure for sarcopenia among U.S. adults, particularly adequate intakes of proteins, whole grains, greens and beans, vegetables, and whole fruits.

Background/Objectives: Long COVID-19 is characterized by persistent symptoms lasting three months or more following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nutrition has emerged as a modifiable factor influencing recovery trajectories and symptom burden; however, existing evidence remains fragmented across diverse study designs and populations. This scoping review synthesized global evidence on the role of diet and nutrition in managing long COVID-19 symptoms and supporting recovery. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews, we searched major biomedical databases for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies examined dietary intake, nutritional status, or nutrition-related interventions in adults with long COVID-19. Results: After duplicates were removed, 1808 records were screened, resulting in 50 studies that met the inclusion criteria—27 intervention studies and 23 observational studies. Nutritional exposures included micronutrients (e.g., vitamins D, K₂), amino acids (e.g., L-arginine), multinutrient formulations, microbiota-targeted therapies (e.g., probiotics, synbiotics), nutritional status, diet quality, and whole-diet patterns (e.g., the Mediterranean diet). Approximately 76% of studies reported improvements in long COVID-19-related symptoms such as fatigue, mood disturbances, physical function, and markers of inflammation. Conclusions: Diet and nutrition may support long COVID-19 recovery by targeting inflammation and the gut microbiome to alleviate symptoms and improve functional outcomes. Well-powered trials of whole-diet approaches, combined with targeted supplementation, are needed to confirm their potential as scalable, accessible tools for post-COVID-19 recovery and management.