Research and News October 2019

For me, the sun rises and sets on emerging (or reemerging) science- pushing the conversation forward, the outrageous twists and turns of new evidence, of new technology; of new interventions for our patients we can explore, or jump right onto if the safety data are good. The newsletters I open first are ALWAYS my science briefs. And full disclosure, my favorite one is from Scientist Magazine. Being current in the midst of the medical revolution is essential to the practice of FxMed. For this reason, we provide Research and News. A digest of topics we are curious about, we have vetted and found beneficial. Check it out. ~ Dr KF

SLIT may be as effective as OIT for peanut desensitization
New research suggests that sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) may be as effective as oral immunotherapy for peanut desensitization against accidental exposure. 48 peanut allergy patients underwent SLIT for 5 years and were able to tolerate 750mg or more of peanut protein (the equivalent of about 2.5 peanuts) without serious side effects. And unlike OIT, no patient had to leave the multi-year study because of side effects, making it a much safer potential option for allergy sufferers.

3D printers harm indoor air quality
3D printers may be rising in popularity but they also (unintentionally) negatively affect indoor air quality, according to new research. The plastic filaments that are melted to form 3D objects release harmful volatile compounds, especially those that are melted at higher temperatures (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene – ABS). Lower temperature melting polylactic acid (PLA) produced fewer emissions. If you have to use one, we recommend good ventilation, standing away from the machine and using machines and filaments that have been verified to have lower emissions. More about improving indoor air quality here.

Mushrooms offer protection against prostate cancer
Include mushrooms in your prostate cancer prevention strategy! A large (36k+) cohort study conducted in Japan over up to 24.5 years found that men consuming mushrooms 3 or more times per week had 17% lower risk for the disease. Mushrooms have demonstrated anti-cancer properties in several in vivo and in vitro studies. Mushrooms commonly consumed in the study locations include shiitake, oyster, maitake and white button mushrooms.

Cuddling Changes DNA Expression Via Epigenetic Methylation
Babies who are cuddled more have different gene expression than those who are cuddled less. The difference in gene expression was mediated by patterns of epigenetic methylation marks which tend to be associated with more favorable developmental progress. Just amazing how much we can influence gene expression and our health!

Garlic compounds counteract TMAO from meat consumption
While the relevance of TMAO as a cvd risk is still being established…. In fact, an interesting use for a very high dose garlic might be in individuals who have the inability to metabolize TMA – and therefore have to live with a strong fish odor.

Infant Rice Foods and Fruit Juice Are Problematic Sources of Toxic Metals
95% of US baby foods recently tested contain toxic metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. These metals can interfere with normal development. The worst culprits are rice-based foods, including rice cereal, rice dishes, foods with rice syrup, and rice-based snacks and teething biscuits. Fruit juice is also another problem source. Choosing organic doesn’t always help when it comes to avoiding toxic metals. Instead, parents are advised to choose rice-free snacks and non-rice cereals, offer soothing foods for teething such as frozen banana or chilled cucumber, and choose water over fruit juice.

The First-Ever Study of its Kind Proves Functional Medicine Works

Big news! A first-of-its-kind study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), shows that using a Functional Medicine approach to treat chronic disease produces superior health outcomes than a conventional primary care model. The study took place at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine which has experienced “explosive growth” since opening five years ago.