Category Archives: Functional Medicine for Professionals

Past, Present, and Future of “Biological Aging” with Dr. Fitzgerald

Team DrKF sat down with Dr. Fitzgerald to pose some questions about the “state of the state” of longevity research, current controversies and future directions, and where she sees her work fitting into it. When it comes to defining and using measures of biological age, where does the science currently stand? To understand where we currently stand, and why changes are afoot, we have to first consider where we’ve come from. When Steve Horvath at UCLA released the first epigenetic biological age clock in 2013 it marked the entry of longevity medicine into the mainstream (referred to as biogerontology in science, anti-aging medicine in some clinical circles).

Spermidine & other polyamines: Important players in longevity? Yes… with a few caveats

As the name implies, spermidine was first characterized in sperm, and while there is a high concentration present in semen (and it appears important for fertility), it’s everywhere- in all eukaryotic cells. In fact, wind the evolutionary clock back to the earliest endosymbiotic happenings, you’ll find spermidine and the broader family of polyamines on center stage, playing a central role in the development of… life. Indeed, bacteria, archaea and plants (and even viruses) all rely on polyamines. These facts alone illustrate the obvious: polyamines are important. Attribution for the discovery of spermine (the polyamine metabolite of spermidine) is given to Anton Leeuwenhoek, the father of microscopy, in 1678.

Holiday Stress – What’s in Your FxMed Toolbox?

We’ve made it successfully through the Thanksgiving rush. But do you or your patients need a set-and-refresh to make it through the rest of the holidays? The holidays are supposed to be full of cheer, family, friends, good food and good feelings, but that’s often not the case. Beyond the specter of seasonal colds and flu, patients may seek our help for another reason in December: stress. Stress can affect a multitude of biological systems, from cardiovascular to the respiratory system—but for the acute seasonal stressors like travel, family, and dietary changes, we most often see its effects on the central nervous system and the digestive system. Tension headaches, occasional trouble sleeping, indigestion and irregularity are common culprits that we can easily address with small lifestyle changes and supplementation.

A Step-Change in Our Approach to Mitochondrial Care with Urolithin A

Over the last decade, there has been an explosion of research looking at bioenergetics (energy metabolism) and the role our energy generators – the mitochondria – play in human health and longevity. In functional medicine, we’ve long been aware of bioenergetics – the need to “tend to our patient’s mitochondrial health,” and as such, we readily employ a litany of nutrients – from CoQ10 to carnitine and lipoic acid and others – whenever we deem them indicated. There have not been, however, many nutrients to blast onto the bioenergetics center stage with quite the impressive force as the postbiotic rock star Urolithin A. With studies published in top-tier journals such as Nature and Cell – and with 11 (yes, eleven) compelling human clinical trials – if this compound hasn’t made it to the top of what you’re using for patients (and taking yourself), read on.