FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BLOG
Includes over 800 monographs reporting on emerging studies in the medical and scientific literature of practical clinical importance, easily searched for content.
Insulin levels change before weight loss or obesity
High insulin levels, provoked by spikes in blood glucose due to high glycemic foods or stress chemistry, block the metabolism of calories for energy and force them to be stored as visceral fat. This process precedes weight gain.
Non-specific symptoms occur years before multiple sclerosis diagnosis
Diffuse, non-specific symptoms are experienced years before the diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS) are satisfied. This illustrates the ‘prodrome’ that is typical of a wide variety of autoimmune disorders. It highlights the importance of investigating antibodies to self-tissue (autoantibodies) classified as ‘predictive’ when they occur before any symptoms.
Hepatic stellate cells suppress natural killer cells allowing cancers cells to ‘wake up’
Natural killer (NK) cells are specialized white blood cells crucial for fighting cancer and a first line of defense against infection. Robust activity of NK cells is necessary to keep cancer cells dormant and oppose metastasis. New evidence has emerged showing how metabolic factors that promote liver fibrosis result in the suppression of healthy NK cell activity.
Maternal autoimmunity associated with ADHD in children
The biology of autoimmunity during pregnancy can have numerous consequences for the health of both mother and offspring; these include such conditions as childhood tics and OCD, autism, congenital heart block; infertility, miscarriage and preterm birth; placental abruption, numerous consequences of antithyroid antibodies, etc.
Probiotics: use caution with autoimmune disease
Probiotics may promote immune disease in a predisposed host.
Induction of autoimmunity by infection
Autoimmune conditions are on the rise. They can be triggered by infection. We are very likely too see an even steeper increase in autoimmune symptoms in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Balancing immunity and inflammation in lung disease
Resources for both preventing serious infection and preventing damage to the lungs by the inflammation that fights infection in COVID-19 are considered.
Cannabinoids promote HPV-related head and neck cancer
THC can promote progression of HPV positive head and neck cancer.
MS risk nearly double 15 years after concussion for teens
Multiple sclerosis risk almost doubles for teens 15 years after a concussion.
Flu vaccination response weakened by antibiotic effects on gut microbiome
Microbiome loss from antibiotics weakens the response to flu vaccination, perturbs bile acid metabolism, and promotes pro-inflammatory signals.
Hip fracture risk predicted by red blood cell width
Hip fracture risk can be predicted by RDW, a biomarker commonly included in a complete blood count (CBC).
Adolescent oral contraceptive use predicts lasting risk for adulthood depression
In this study, the authors found that women who had used oral contraceptives during adolescence show an increased risk for depression in adulthood, even years after that exposure.
Probiotics may impair post-antibiotic gut microbiome recovery
Probiotics taken after antibiotics may impair recovery of the gut microbiome and its functions.
Antigliadin antibodies harmful for brain at low levels
Antigliadin antibodies (AGA), a subset of anti-gluten antibodies, have been shown to be harmful to the brain at levels below the standard reference range in an important study on gluten ataxia (GA) published in the journal Nutrients. Gluten ataxia is a condition characterized by loss of balance due to cerebellar damage due to neuroinflammation provoked by gluten. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) can cause inflammation in the brian and central nervous with antibodies at lower levels than in celiac disease and in the absence of abdominal symptoms.