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Vitamin D & Pregnancy
In a 2021 double-blind randomized trial which enrolled pregnant women in Northern Ireland, the primary outcome was the effect of vitamin D supplementation on levels of both maternal and umbilical 25-hydroxyvitamin D ([25(OH)D]), as well as the secondary goal of evaluating any impact of obesity. Two hundred and forty women (166 completed the study) were…
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Butyric Acid & Metabolic Health
Results of a randomized clinical trial were published in JAMA Network Open in December 2022, the first trial to examine supplementation with butyric acid as a treatment for obesity in children. Butyrate is among the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) known to have a role in energy metabolism and which are produced by bacterial fermentation (mostly…
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BMI & the Vitamin D Response
Results of a cohort study were recently published in JAMA Network, with the potential to profoundly affect our understanding of vitamin D supplementation. Despite extensive epidemiological data implicating low vitamin D status as a risk factor for many chronic diseases, controlled trials of supplementation have not always been as encouraging. This trial may help to…
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Sleep: Your Night Job
Any health news junkie can see that the importance of sleep has come to center stage. Our collective interest in this shut-eye time grew when studies started linking a lack of sleep to obesity. Ghrelin, an appetite regulatory hormone, became known as the “carb gremlin” with nutritionists reminding us that fewer hours of sleep resulted…
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How Relationships Impact Heart Health
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s an important reminder to think about the influence that relationships and social connections have on the health of the heart. Especially, the important role that the quality of our relationships has on overall well-being, particularly on cardiovascular health.
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B Vitamins & Metabolic Syndrome
Results of a longitudinal prospective cohort study were recently published in JAMA Network, detailing the associations between total B vitamin intake and incidence of metabolic syndrome (Met-S). This analysis used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, comprised of an approximately equal number of black and white individuals (and men…
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Does Alcohol Clash with Keto?
Despite its celebrated antioxidant content, the reality is, alcohol isn’t a health food. However, consuming alcohol is often a part of many people’s social lives and religious and cultural traditions. Abstaining completely would potentially be a dealbreaker if it were required in order to adopt a dietary or lifestyle change. So, where does alcohol fit…
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Making Memories with Huperzine A
Our central hub, the brain, is made up of billions of neurons that communicate to other parts of the body in order to carry out physical and mental activities. Chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) carry out and enhance communication between these neurons and other cells in the body. Billions of neurotransmitters work non-stop to keep our brains…
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Rethinking Protein Intake & Kidney Health
“Good food and dietary variety are some of the great joys of life. […] We believe that given the commitment required of patients, dietary restrictions should only be made when there is clear, conclusive, coherent, and consistent evidence. As we describe, this is not true in any respect.” (Obeid, Hiremath, Topf, 2022)
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Obesity – An Obesogen Review
The second installment in a 3-part series focusing on obesity was recently published in Biochemical Pharmacology, largely devoted to examining the evidence for the obesogen hypothesis, i.e., the proposal that environmental chemicals play a role in the growing overweight/obesity pandemic. This review specifically defines obesogens as chemicals that increase white adipose tissue mass (WAT) after…