Children who struggle to regulate their emotions often experience difficulties with irritability, frustration, and intense anger. This lack of control can lead to challenges in relationships, academic performance, and overall mental health. A recent study found that micronutrient supplements absorbed in the mouth may offer a safe and effective way to improve emotion regulation in children.

Researchers conducted a three-phase study involving 48 children with moderate to severe irritability. They assigned the children to two groups: one that began taking a micronutrient powder immediately and one that waited four weeks. The powder provided 36 vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, came in various flavors, and was specifically formulated for oral absorption. Over the next five months, both groups alternated between taking the supplements and taking breaks, concluding with three months of continuous supplementation. The researchers measured changes in the children’s emotional and behavioral symptoms.

Children in the immediate treatment group experienced considerable reductions in irritability, with 67% categorized as “much” or “very much” better versus only 8% in the waitlist group. These benefits extended to symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder. Notably, improvements in mood and behavior diminished when children stopped taking the supplements but returned upon resuming treatment. Side effects were rare, with mild headaches and sweating reported slightly more often in the waitlist group.

These findings suggest that supplemental micronutrients absorbed through the mouth may be a promising option for managing emotional dysregulation in children. By offering a safe and non-stimulant alternative, this approach could help address the needs of children who do not respond well to conventional ADHD drugs. Listen as Dr. Andrew Huberman describes how behavioral tools and supplements may replace ADHD medications.

Tobacco use remains a primary contributor to disease, disability, and premature death across the globe. A recent editorial summarizes data demonstrating that smoking reduces life expectancy by approximately 20 minutes per cigarette smoked—17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women.

The estimate, which drew on data from long-term studies such as the British Doctors Study and the Million Women Study, accounts for factors like smoking rates and early death outcomes over several decades. It’s also grounded in better and more up-to-date data, including studies that tracked the effects of smoking for up to 50 years.

While smoking rates have declined in recent decades, the harm caused per cigarette may not have decreased substantially, as smokers may inhale more deeply or compensate for fewer cigarettes smoked. However, urinary cotinine levels—a marker of toxicant exposure—show only modest changes, suggesting that the risks per cigarette remain consistent with earlier estimates.

These findings emphasize that the harm from smoking is cumulative, and quitting earlier can markedly reduce the risk of early death and disease. Smokers who quit at any age can prevent substantial loss of life expectancy, with each cigarette avoided contributing to a longer, healthier life. Smokers in their 60s, for example, may experience health improvements that narrow the gap between their current health and that of a non-smoker several years younger.

Though individual factors like smoking intensity and age of initiation vary, the general conclusion remains the same: Smoking shortens life at every stage, and cessation at any age offers considerable, tangible health benefits. Like many harmful lifestyle behaviors, smoking accelerates epigenetic aging. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Steve Horvath.

Fat is a vital energy source, but when consumed in excess, it can promote obesity. However, the amount of fat the body absorbs may be more related to the brain than the gut. A recent study in mice found that signals from the brain’s vagus nerve regulate fat uptake in the intestine, offering a potential means to moderate obesity.

Researchers manipulated the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), which plays a crucial role in digestion. They inactivated DMV neurons that connect to the jejunum (the middle portion of the intestine), shortening the length of the microvilli in the gut and reducing fat absorption. However, stimulating DMV neurons increased fat absorption and promoted weight gain. Finally, they injected mice with puerarin, a bioactive compound derived from the kudzu plant, and found that the compound mimicked the effect of DMV suppression, further reducing fat absorption.

These findings suggest that controlling the DMV-vagus-jejunum pathway could provide a novel approach to managing fat absorption and weight. They also highlight yet another way the brain-gut axis influences human health.

Puerarin is an isothiocyanate, a class of sulfur-containing compounds known for their potent anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity effects. Sulforaphane, another well-known isothiocyanate, shares many of these beneficial properties. To learn more about the health effects of sulforaphane, check out our overview article.