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CLINICAL TOOLKIT REFERENCES

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Background and Context
This Clinical Toolkit was developed through a collaboration between the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health and HEIGHTS, aiming to support and strengthen nutritional practices among healthcare professionals (HCPs).

 

The toolkit highlights key nutrients of concern within the UK context, identified through public health data, including the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), such as iron, vitamin D, vitamin B9 (folate), vitamin B12, and iodine. Additional nutrients, including riboflavin (vitamin B2), magnesium, vitamin A, and probiotics, were included based on findings from NNEdPro’s Nutrition and Supplementation Survey. This survey explored HCPs' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to dietary supplementation.

 

Survey insights directly informed the toolkit’s development, helping ensure it addresses practical needs and supports the evidence-based use of nutrition and supplementation in clinical care.

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Please navigate the menu below to access the list of references.

VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN)

 

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  • National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – Health Professional Fact Sheet. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Riboflavin-HealthProfessional/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025).

  • Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2). The Nutrition Source. Available at: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/riboflavin-vitamin-b2/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025).

  • Mahabadi, N., Bhusal, A. and Banks, S.W. (2023) Riboflavin deficiency. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555943/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025).

  • Aragão, M. Â., Pires, L., Santos Buelga, C., Barros, L. and Calhelha, R. C. (2024) ‘Revitalising Riboflavin: Unveiling Its Timeless Significance in Human Physiology and Health’, Foods, 13(14), Article 2255. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13142255.

  • Buzatu, R., Luca, M.M. and Bumbu, B.A. (2025) ‘The role of vitamin B complex in periodontal disease: A systematic review examining supplementation outcomes, age differences in children and adults, and aesthetic changes’, Nutrients, 17(7), p.1166. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071166.

  • Duffy, B., McNulty, H., Ward, M. and Pentieva, K. (2024) ‘Anaemia during pregnancy: Could riboflavin deficiency be implicated?’, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665124007468.

  • Marashly, E.T. and Bohlega, S.A. (2017) ‘Riboflavin has neuroprotective potential: Focus on Parkinson’s disease and migraine’, Frontiers in Neurology, 8, Article 333. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2017.00333.

  • Dricot, C.E.M.K. et al. (2024) ‘Riboflavin for women’s health and emerging microbiome strategies’, npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00579-5.

  • Jarrett, H., McNulty, H., Hughes, C. F., Pentieva, K., Strain, J. J., McCann, A., ... & Ward, M. (2022) ‘Vitamin B-6 and riboflavin, their metabolic interaction, and relationship with MTHFR genotype in adults aged 18–102 years’, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 116(6), 1767-1778. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac240.

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Vitamin B2

FOLATE (VITAMIN B9)

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  • National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022) Folate – Health Professional Fact Sheet. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/ (Accessed: 15 June 2025).

  • Seyoum Tola, F. (2024) ‘The concept of folic acid supplementation and its role in prevention of neural tube defect among pregnant women: PRISMA’, Medicine, 103(19), e38154. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000038154

  • Kaye, A.D., Jeha, G.M., Pham, A.D., Fuller, M.C., Lerner, Z.I., Sibley, G.T., Cornett, E.M., Urits, I., Viswanath, O. and Kevil, C.G. (2020) ‘Folic acid supplementation in patients with elevated homocysteine levels’, Advances in Therapy, 37(10), pp. 4149–4164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01474-z

  • Li, Y., Huang, T., Zheng, Y., Muka, T., Troup, J. and Hu, F.B. (2016) ‘Folic acid supplementation and the risk of cardiovascular diseases: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials’, Journal of the American Heart Association, 5(4), e003768. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.116.003768

  • Buzatu, R., Luca, M.M. and Bumbu, B.A. (2025) ‘The role of vitamin B complex in periodontal disease: A systematic review examining supplementation outcomes, age differences in children and adults, and aesthetic changes’, Nutrients, 17(7), p. 1166. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071166

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Folate

VITAMIN B12 (COBALAMIN)

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  • Fernandes, S., Oliveira, L., Pereira, A., Costa, M.C., Raposo, A., Saraiva, A. and Magalhães, B. (2024) ‘Exploring vitamin B12 supplementation in the vegan population: a scoping review of the evidence’, Nutrients, 16(10), p. 1442. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101442

  • Niklewicz, A., Smith, A.D., Smith, A. et al. (2023) ‘The importance of vitamin B₁₂ for individuals choosing plant-based diets’, European Journal of Nutrition, 62(3), pp. 1551–1559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4

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Vitamin B12

VITAMIN A

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Vitamin A

VITAMIN D

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Vitamin D

IRON

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Iron

MAGNESIUM

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  • National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022) Magnesium – Health Professional Fact Sheet. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/ (Accessed: 15 June 2025).

  • Metabolic Support UK. (2025) Hypomagnesaemia. Available at: https://metabolicsupportuk.org/condition/hypomagnesaemia/ (Accessed: 15 June 2025).

  • Bird, J.K., Barron, R., Pigat, S. and Bruins, M.J. (2022) ‘Contribution of base diet, voluntary fortified foods and supplements to micronutrient intakes in the UK’, Journal of Nutritional Science, 11, e51. https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2022.47

  • Fatima, G., Dzupina, A., Alhmadi, H.B., Magomedova, A., Siddiqui, Z., Mehdi, A. and Hadi, N. (2024) ‘Magnesium matters: A comprehensive review of its vital role in health and diseases’, Cureus, 16(10), e71392. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.71392

  • Veronese, N., Demurtas, J., Pesolillo, G., Celotto, S., Barnini, T., Calusi, G. et al. (2020) ‘Magnesium and health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational and intervention studies’, European Journal of Nutrition, 59(1), pp. 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01905-w

  • Sadeghi, N., Sadeghi, N., Heshmati, J., Mirmiran, P., Azizi, F. and Salehi-Abargouei, A. (2021) ‘Effect of magnesium supplementation on women's health and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, Heliyon, 7(1), e06079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06079

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Magnesium

PROBIOTICS

 

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  • National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2025) Probiotics – Health Professional Fact Sheet. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Probiotics-HealthProfessional/ (Accessed: 23 June 2025).

  • Das, T.K., Pradhan, S., Chakrabarti, S., Mondal, K.C., and Ghosh, K. (2022) ‘Current status of probiotic and related health benefits’, Applied Food Research, 2(2), 100185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2022.100185

  • Maftei, N.-M., Raileanu, C.R., Balta, A.A., Ambrose, L., Boev, M., Marin, D.B. and Lisa, E.L. (2024) ‘The potential impact of probiotics on human health: An update on their health-promoting properties’, Microorganisms, 12(2), Article 234. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020234

  • Gul, S. and Durante-Mangoni, E. (2024) ‘Unraveling the puzzle: Health benefits of probiotics—a comprehensive review’, Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(5), Article 1436. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13051436

  • Bodke, H. and Jogdand, S. (2022) ‘Role of probiotics in human health’, Cureus, 14(11), e31313. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.31313

  • Fernández-Alonso, M., Aguirre Camorlinga, A., Messiah, S.E. and Marroquin, E. (2022) ‘Effect of adding probiotics to an antibiotic intervention on the human gut microbial diversity and composition: a systematic review’, Journal of Medical Microbiology, 71(11), Article 001625. https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001625

  • Satish Kumar, L., Pugalenthi, L.S., Ahmad, M., Reddy, S., Barkhane, Z. and Elmadi, J. (2022) ‘Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: A review of their therapeutic role’, Cureus, 14(4), e24240. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.24240

  • Dockterman, J. and Rabinowitz, L. (2024) Can probiotics help calm inflammatory bowel disease? Harvard Health Publishing. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-probiotics-help-calm-inflammatory-bowel-disease-202411133081 (Accessed: 24 June 2025).

  • Goodman, C., Keating, G., Georgousopoulou, E., Hespe, C. and Levett, K. (2021) ‘Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, BMJ Open, 11(8), e043054. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043054

  • Kopacz, K. and Phadtare, S. (2022) ‘Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea’, Healthcare, 10(8), p.1450. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081450

  • Al Sharaby, A., Abugoukh, T.M., Ahmed, W., Ahmed, S. and Elshaikh, A.O. (2022) ‘Do probiotics prevent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea?’, Cureus, 14(8), e27624. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.27624

  • Zhang, Y. et al. (2024) ‘Probiotic interventions in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review’, Nutrition Reviews, 83(2), e25. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuad103

  • Ong, T.G., Gordon, M., Banks, S.S.C., Thomas, M.R. and Akobeng, A.K. (2019) ‘Probiotics to prevent infantile colic’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(3), CD012473. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012473.pub2

  • Mei, Z. and Li, D. (2022) ‘The role of probiotics in vaginal health’, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, Article 963868. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.963868

  • National Eczema Society. Diet and eczema. Available at: https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/living-with-eczema/diet-and-eczema/ (Accessed: 24 June 2025).

  • Jiang, L., Zhang, L., Xia, J., Cheng, L., Chen, G., Wang, J. and Raghavan, V. (2024) ‘Probiotics supplementation during pregnancy or infancy on multiple food allergies and gut microbiota: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, Nutrition Reviews, 83(2), e25–e41. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae024

  • • Huang, R., Xing, H.Y., Liu, H.J., Chen, Z.F. and Tang, B.B. (2021) ‘Efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials’, Translational Pediatrics, 10(12), pp. 3201–3213. https://doi.org/10.21037/tp-21-511

  • Yang, Z., Zhou, Y., Han, Z., He, K., Zhang, Y., Wu, D. and Chen, H. (2024) ‘The effects of probiotics supplementation on Helicobacter pylori standard treatment: an umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses’, Scientific Reports, 14, Article 10069. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59399-4

  • Kumar, A., Sivamaruthi, B.S., Dey, S., Kumar, Y., Malviya, R., Prajapati, B.G. and Chaiyasut, C. (2024) ‘Probiotics as modulators of gut-brain axis for cognitive development’, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 15, Article 1348297. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1348297

  • Ferrari, S., Mulè, S., Parini, F., Galla, R., Ruga, S., Rosso, G., Brovero, A., Molinari, C. and Uberti, F. (2024) ‘The influence of the gut-brain axis on anxiety and depression: A review of the literature on the use of probiotics’, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 14(3), pp. 237–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2024.03.011

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Probiotics

Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals for their roles in the design, implementation, and analysis of the KAPL survey and the development of this toolkit:

  • Sarah Armes

  • Priyanka Kotak

  • Matheus Abrantes

  • Dr Jenneffer Tibaes

  • Dr Harry Jarrett

  • Professor Sumantra Ray

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