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Coffee & the Microbiome
Nature Microbiology recently published the results of a multi-cohort multi-omic analysis that examined the link between coffee consumption and the gut microbiome. This study builds on work originally published in Nature Medicine several years ago by the same group, which reported that of all the foods examined in a cohort of over 1,000 “deeply phenotyped”…
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Metabolic Psychiatry
Metabolic psychiatry is an emerging field of research revealing robust connections between metabolic dysfunction and psychiatric conditions, with mitochondria suggested to be at the core of these connections. Metabolism impacts every cell, tissue, and organ of the body, with its role in brain health being particularly significant. As the body’s most metabolically active organ, the…
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Carb Restriction for Type 1 Diabetes
The Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners recently published a position statement on therapeutic carbohydrate reduction for type 1 diabetes in the Journal of Metabolic Health. Noting that nearly 80 percent of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the US don’t achieve the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) target hemoglobin A1c goal of <7.0% and that…
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A Restore Diet’s Cardiometabolic Benefits
The results of a randomized and controlled feeding trial were recently published in Cell, detailing the effects of a probiotic and a “restore” diet, designed to restore the microbiome to a non-industrialized state and document the associated cardiometabolic changes. The hypothesis underlying the study’s design was that the symbiosis between the microbiome and human host…
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Coconut Oil & Lipids
A paper published recently in Nutrients makes the case that even though coconut oil contains predominantly saturated fat, the general effects of this oil on lipid panels suggest that “the recommendation to avoid consuming coconut oil due to the risk of heart disease is not justified.” The authors analyzed 984 lipid profile data sets from…
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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. The last couple of decades of research has provided a strong…
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Organofluorines in US Water
An analysis recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) indicates that fluorinated organic compounds are present in the wastewater of many living in the U.S., suggesting that drinking water supplies are a significant risk for exposure to these persistent and toxic compounds. Very little data exists regarding the direct measurement…
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Sleep, the Lymphatic System & the CNS
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis within the body, with an emerging body of research underscoring its role in supporting the central nervous system (CNS). The glymphatic system has further been recognized as being pivotal to these functions, as demonstrated by a 2024 study published in Communications Biology. Composed of lymphatic…
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SGLT2 & Ketoacidosis
A case report published recently in Proceedings of UCLA Health adds to the growing body of evidence indicating that SGLT2 inhibitor medications should not be combined with ketogenic diets owing to the increased risk for euglycemic ketoacidosis (eDKA). A 50-year-old male with type 2 diabetes (T2D) presented to the hospital with numerous symptoms, including a…
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Fertility & Sleep
As reviewed in a previous blog, infertility is a growing global problem, with record low fertility rates reported in the U.S. While there are a number of contributing factors, perhaps most notably exposure to environmental toxins, a systematic review published in BMC Women’s Health examined the association between poor sleep and infertility in women. Nineteen…
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PFAS In Watch Bands
Environmental Science and Technology Letters recently published an analysis of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) content of 22 different “smart” and “fitness” watch bands. These bands are often advertised as resistant to skin oils and sweat in part because they are comprised of fluoroelastomers, which are polymers (longer connected chains) of shorter-chain PFAS that…
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IBS: Low FODMAP & Gluten-Free Diet?
Can a low FODMAP diet combined with a gluten-free diet (LF-GFD) be effective in helping reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? The journal Digestive Diseases & Sciences recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis examining this very issue. Both of these diets have separately been used by people with IBS, with only a small…
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Sleep Apnea & Vitamin D
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Sleep & Breathing evaluated the association between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Twenty-four studies were found eligible for this review, including 15 case-control studies and 9 cross-sectional studies, involving a total of 2640 people with OSAS and 933 healthy participants (controls)…
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Coffee & The Microbiome
Compelling evidence has been uncovered outlining the relationship between coffee consumption and the composition of the gut microbiome. Multi-omic analysis of comprehensive dietary data and metagenomic sequencing of stool samples from 22,867 participants across the US and UK revealed 115 distinct microbial strains associated with long-term coffee intake. These findings were then integrated with public…
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T3, T4 & Hypothyroidism
The “gold standard” approach to hypothyroidism is to use levothyroxine monotherapy to restore TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to within the normal range. However, as we covered in a past blog article, the TSH test is not always adequate for identifying hypothyroidism, and some patients only experience resolution of symptoms when levothyroxine is used in combination…
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Probiotics & High Intensity Interval Training
The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition recently published the results of a randomized and double-blind controlled clinical trial evaluating the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and probiotic supplementation, separately and together, on cardiorespiratory fitness and other markers of metabolism among middle-aged women with obesity. Forty-seven women took part in this 8-week…
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Keto & Heart Health
“The pharmacological targeting of ketone body metabolism has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach to improve cardiac efficiency, reduce energy deficiency, and enhance cardiac function in failing hearts.” So states a paper published recently in Frontiers in Pharmacology, which presented the evidence for ketotherapy as a treatment for heart failure. The review covered the ketogenic…
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Simple 3-Step Gratitude Practice
Gratitude is more than a positive personality trait or a willy-nilly feeling. Gratitude has the power to change the lens through which we view the world, bringing us more joy, health and satisfaction. It’s easy to see the problems in life, not because we are cynical, but because we are looking for what we can…
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Postpartum Activity & Mood
The British Journal of Sports Medicine recently published a systematic review that analyzed the effects of postpartum exercise on maternal postpartum depression and anxiety. This meta-analysis included 35 studies, together enrolling over 4,000 women, with data regarding the effect of various types of exercise on symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as the odds…
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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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Well-Being & Health Care Workers
Results of a randomized and controlled clinical trial evaluating the use of a web-based continuing education intervention on the well-being of health care workers were recently published in JAMA Network Open. The intervention, termed Well-Being Essentials for Learning Life-Balance (WELL-B), comprised 5 online guided well-being modules and totaled 5 hours, completed over an 8-day period.…
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Epigenetics & the Gut
Epigenetics, the study of genetic expression influenced by environmental factors, relies heavily on the composition and functioning of the gut microbiome. This emerging field encompasses all factors above genetics that play a role in altering gene expression, without changing the underlying DNA sequence.
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Collagen & Satiety
Results of a randomized and controlled clinical trial were recently published in Nutrients, suggesting a possible satiating effect of collagen supplementation, as well as an improvement in markers of overweight and obesity. This 12-week trial included 64 participants with overweight or obesity who received either two protein bars enriched with collagen (20 g bovine collagen…
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NAC & PCOS
Results of a randomized and controlled trial evaluating the use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on pregnancy outcomes and ovulation induction among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were recently published in the Journal of Ovarian Research. NAC and other antioxidants have been evaluated in a number of PCOS trials, though it is not clear if its…
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Keto & Eating Disorders
People commonly adopt ketogenic diets with the goal of losing weight, but what about the other side of this: can keto help people – particularly those with anorexia – gain needed, healthy weight? Emerging research suggests that keto has the potential to be effective for correcting some of the brain energetics that may be contributing…
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PFAS, Personal Care Products & Infants
Results of a study published in Environment International suggest that the use of personal care products (PCPs) increases plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) among pregnant women, as well as PFAS levels in the milk of lactating women living in Canada. The data for this study was provided by the Maternal-Infant Research on…
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Magnesium, Homocysteine & DNA
Results of a study recently published in the European Journal of Nutrition suggest that low levels of magnesium may increase the susceptibility of DNA to damage, and that elevated homocysteine levels specifically may cause more DNA damage among people with low levels. One hundred seventy-two healthy volunteers (aged 35-65) living in Australia had plasma levels…
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Exercise & the Endocannabinoid System
Widely distributed throughout the body and central nervous system, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a significant modulator of health. This intricate, cellular signaling network is pivotal for governing homeostasis across the body’s systems. A growing body of research underscores the role the ECS has in maintaining health, with emerging findings demonstrating the impact exercise has…
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Flavonoids & Dementia
The protective association between dietary flavonoid intake and the risk of dementia has been the focus of yet another study; this one being published recently in JAMA Network Open. Data from the UK Biobank, a prospective population-based cohort study, was analyzed not only to examine the relationship between flavonoids and all-cause dementia, but also to…
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Influences on Detoxification Capacities
A wide spectrum of detoxification capacity exists in the general population, a result not only of genetic differences but also environmental factors. For example, substantial variation in inter-individual responses to caffeine is well documented; the demethylation of caffeine to paraxanthine, the primary metabolic pathway for elimination, is mediated exclusively by cytochrome P450 isoform 1A2 (CYP1A2),…