High-dose biotin appears to be ineffective and potentially harmful in the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), contradicting an earlier study. A randomized trial from The Lancet of over 600 participants with MS found those who took 100 mg of biotin three times per day (10,000 times higher than the RDA) or placebo failed to…
Dogs not only serve as playful and loving family companions, but now research suggests they also help keep kids’ immune systems healthy. A study found pregnant moms with a dog in the home had children with less immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergies. Adolescents who had prenatal exposure to dogs showed nearly a 30% decrease in IgE…
Immune cells in our gut appear to help protect the brain from infection. A fascinating study in mice suggests that immune cells in the gut are trained to recognize and respond to pathogens and then move to the brain’s surface to protect it. The lining of the gut is rich in immunoglobulin A (IgA), antibodies…
New research adds to our existing knowledge and experience that some medications may inhibit weight loss, even when lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise are prioritized. The Look AHEAD randomized study followed over 5000 middle-aged diabetic participants for 13.5 years and found overweight or obese participants taking obesogenic medications, or drugs that tend to…
Supplementing with omega-3 fats DHA + EPA, with a higher ratio of DHA, may increase physical power output and prolong the time before exhaustion (specifically before reaching the lactic acid threshold) according to a new study. Participants in a recent study of 50 amateur cyclists published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports…
Can including gluten early in an infant’s diet prevent celiac disease (CD)? New data supports this possibility. Analysis of the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) randomized, controlled trial published in JAMA Pediatrics this September reported that none of the 488 children in the early introduction group who consumed around 500 mg of gluten per day (equivalent…
This is a great fall and winter dish to go with your meals or it can be enjoyed just as a dessert. I like to use firm, sweet and tart apples like Pink Lady or Jonathan. These apples hold their shape beautifully, but best of all they contain loads of pectin. Pectin may help heal…
Environmental toxins have been shown in several studies to be a potential trigger for immune dysfunction and autoimmunity. Now new data, from ex-military personnel, adds to that evidence base. In this recent study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, U.S. veterans exposed to military burn pits and waste disposal were found to harbor more antibody markers for rheumatoid…
Dementia risk may be reduced by consuming dietary soy, at least in those who have the right kind of gut microbes to produce a compound called equol from its soy-derived precursors. Equol is a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein that is produced only by specific gut bacteria. A recent study assessed serum levels of equol in…
A new study from Japan suggests people with type 2 diabetes who consume both green tea and coffee (quite a methylation adaptogen cocktail) have a lower risk of death. By a significant amount. Researchers studied nearly 5,000 patients over a five-year period and found that drinking either beverage alone helped reduce the risk of mortality (from any cause): Drinking…
