The Decline in Vitamin Research Funding: A Missed Opportunity?

Abstract

Background: The National Nutrition Research Roadmap has called for support of greater collaborative, interdisciplinary research for multiple areas of nutrition research. However, a substantial reduction in federal funding makes responding to these calls challenging. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine temporal trends in research funding and to discuss the potential consequences of these trends. Methods: We searched the NIH RePORTER database to identify NIH research grants and USASpending to identify National Science Foundation and USDA research grants awarded from 1992 to 2015. We focused on those that pertained to vitamin research. For the years 2000 to 2015, we examined funding trends for different vitamins, including vitamins A, B (one-carbon B-vitamins were considered separately from other B-vitamins), C, D, E, and K. Results: From 1992 to 2015, total federal research spending increased from ∼$14 to $45 billion (2016 US dollars). Although vitamin research spending increased from ∼$89 to $95 million, the proportion of grants awarded for vitamin research declined by more than two-thirds, from 0.65% in 1992 to 0.2% in 2015. Federal agencies awarded 6035 vitamin research grants over the time period, with vitamin A associated with the most research projects per year on average (n = 115) and vitamin K the fewest (n = 8). Vitamin D research projects were associated with the greatest average yearly project value ($34.8 million). Conclusions: Vitamin research has faced a disproportionate decline in research funding from 1992 to 2015. Insufficient federal research funding streams risk stalling progress in vitamin research and leaving important advancements unrealized.

Vitamin K and the Visual System: A Narrative Review

“…Likewise, the 2022 funding levels for the National Eye Institute was one-third of that of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders And Stroke for example, at $833,012 million vs. $2,503,517 million [239] Despite a recognition that nutrition is the most powerful intervention to reduce disease across the life span, and that correction of micronutrient deficiencies yields substantial returns on investment [10], vitamin research in general, and VK research specifically, has lagged. Chambers et al reported in 2017 that U.S. federal funding for vitamin research declined between 1992-2015 as a percentage of total federal research grant spending [13], from 0.6% to 0.2%, or to $95 million (2016 US dollars). Between the years 2000-2015, VK research had the fewest average projects funded at 8/yr., compared to 115/yr.…”

“…Interestingly, in a companion paper reporting on the same individuals [48], brain retinol mean pmol/g and (SD) levels were 691. 97 (305.56) and α-tocopherol mean pmol/g and (SD) levels were 66,917 (13,676). The ratios of retinol to MK4 and PK were thus 140 and 1730 respectfully, and that to α-tocopherol were 13,491 and 167,293, both highlighting and reaffirming the low relative tissue levels of VK compared to other fat-soluble vitamins [19].…”

“…Though evidence exists that nutritional inputs can delay such diseases as macular degeneration and cataracts, public health measures related to functional losses are lacking, and fresh approaches to conduct both rapid and rigorous dietary interventions in diverse populations are needed [12]. The relative lack of research with respect to vitamin K in general [13], and with respect to the visual systems in particular, is striking, and deserving of particular attention.…”