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.
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.
MS risk nearly double 15 years after concussion for teens
Multiple sclerosis risk almost doubles for teens 15 years after a concussion.
Cytomegalovirus: neglected problem endangers pregnant women, children
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common congenital infection that causes severe disorders but awareness of this and the preventive measures is strikingly low.
Evidence lacking for most common ADHD drug
Evidence is lacking for the most common ADHD drug, and very little is known about long-term effects.
Inhaled steroids may worsen asthma with air pollution
Research recently published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology demonstrates that inhaled corticosteroids may in fact worsen asthma in the presence of CO (carbon monoxide).
Perinatal brain injury and inflammation
Perinatal brain injury involves neuroinflammation with consequences for neuropsychiatric disease extending into adult life...
Blood from children with autism induces autistic features in rats
"One of the most remarkable findings of the current study is the development of several features of autism in young rats whose brains were exposed to sera from autistic children...Remarkably, P6 treatment was able to rescue these structural abnormalities probably via increased BDNF expression."
Iodine deficiency, pregnancy, and autoimmunity
Iodine deficiency is still a serious concern, especially for pregnant women in North America, as reported in a review just published in the journal Thyroid. Despite global improvements since 1990, iodine sufficiency has actually been declining in US adults. Iodine deficiency can be detected with a 24-hour urine collection. Even when supplementation is indicated it must be done cautiously to avoid triggering autoimmune thyroiditis.
Autism spectrum disorders and altered immune function
Autism and autoimmunity have been linked in a number of earlier studies. A paper just published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders sheds more light on the role of immune dysregulation in ASDs.
The human microbiome, breast milk and autoimmunity
A fascinating study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition illuminates how the microbiome of human breast milk changes depending on the mode of delivery (vaginal, elective and nonelective cesarean) and weight of the mother. This has great significance for the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases.
For preschool children at risk for ADHD parent behavioral training beats medications
It might seem counter-intuitive to medicate preschool children at risk for ADHD with drugs like Ritalin®, but a team of investigators tested the assumption and found that parent behavioral training (PBT) yields better outcomes than methylphenidate without risk of side effects by examining the evidence for a variety of treatments in a study just published in the journal Pediatrics.
Adolescent decline in verbal ability can predict psychosis in adulthood
It's well recognized that cognitive deficits in childhood or adolescence typically precede the onset of psychosis, but the studies done up until now have not determined whether the association is prodromal (an early symptom of psychosis itself) or neurodevelopmental (problems with brain development and maturation that set the stage for later psychosis). A study just published in JAMA Psychiatry offers strong evidence that verbal decline in adolescence reflects neurodevelopmental defects that significantly increase the lifetime risk for psychosis.
Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with childhood antibiotic exposure
Inflammatory bowel disease includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease where the immune system attacks the large intestine and small intestine respectively. Considering the emerging science on the profound importance of the human micro biome for immune system maturation, regulation and tolerance, a study just published in the journal Pediatrics offering evidence that antibiotic exposure in childhood is associated with inflammatory bowel disease comes as no surprise.
Nocturnal cough in children relieved by honey
Nocturnal cough in children relieved by honey
Oral magnesium helps asthma in children—reduces inflammation, supports glutathione
Oral magnesium helps asthma in children—reduces inflammation, supports glutathione
Less frequent eating predicts greater weight gain in female adolescents
Less frequent eating predicts greater weight gain in female adolescents
More evidence for an immune/inflammatory imbalance in both bipolar disorder and teenage suicide
More evidence for an immune/inflammatory imbalance in both bipolar disorder and teenage suicide