What is Biological Aging and What Does it Have to do with Methylation?
Biological age is the gradual accumulation of damage and loss of function of our cells, tissues, and organs. This damage is what turns into disease.
Navigating an Elimination Diet: Creative Solutions to Common Challenges
Callout to clinicians: Yes, we still prescribe the tried-and-true elimination diet for many people, although we’re aware that increased hypersensitivity can occur in a small subset of individuals. Read on to see how we’re identifying and customizing an elimination plan for these vulnerable individuals. – DrKF Have you ever noticed that you feel bloated after…
Epigenetic Reprogramming Restores Age-Related Vision Loss in Mice
Intriguing new research shows that it is possible to reverse age-related cellular dysfunction in vivo, specifically age-related vision loss. This suggests that modifying epigenetic expression is a powerful tool to counteract the damage of aging. The study published in Nature sought to reset the epigenome and DNA methylation patterns by expressing transcription factors, which help…
Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Risk of Severe COVID Infection & Mortality
More research confirms that maintaining optimal vitamin D levels is extremely important for reducing the risk of infection with SARS Cov-2. A six-week observational study of 154 people published in Nature found that 97 percent of individuals with severe COVID-19 had vitamin D deficiency (mean concentration was 14 ng/mL) compared to 33 percent of people…
JAMA Article Attributes Dietary Benefits to Veganism But Misses Other Potential Contributors
The results from a newly-published trial on the effects of a dietary intervention in overweight adults are impressive: 14 lbs weight loss, increased insulin sensitivity, a 19.3 mg/dL reduction in total cholesterol, 15.4 mg/dL reduction in LDL cholesterol, and reduced fat distribution in the liver and muscles (associated with reduced risk for fatty liver and…
Nearly Half of New Cancer Therapies Approved by FDA Lack Randomized Clinical Trial Evidence & Only Prolong Life by Weeks
A large number of cancer therapies are approved by the FDA without randomized clinical trials and only increase median survival by 2.4 months, according to a new review article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This may come as a surprise and disappointment considering the urgent goals of cancer research to…
Best of the Year in Functional and Integrative Medicine – 2020
It goes without saying, although I’ll still say it again, that 2020 has been a year for the books not only in the world of Functional and Integrative medicine, but in all ways possible.
Navigating the Holidays: Voices from Our Clinic Team
Have you thought much about how you and your family are going to navigate the holidays this year?
High-Dose Biotin Not Effective for Treatment of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
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…
Military Environmental Exposure Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis in Veterans
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…