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.
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.
TSH elevation associated with pregnancy problems
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) when elevated even within the 'normal' range at preconception, can result in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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.
Thyroid autoimmunity and iron deficiency in pregnancy
Thyroid autoimmunity and iron deficiency are linked in pregnancy, posing a risk for numerous adverse fetal and maternal outcomes, including miscarriage.
Postmenopausal vaginal atrophy relieved by fennel cream
Fennel cream effectively treats postmenopausal vaginal atrophy without side effects.
Silicone breast implants and risk of lymphoma
Patients with an inflammatory response against silicone implants should be monitored carefully.
Breast cancer, autoantibodies and autoimmune inflammation
"In this study, detection of autoantibodies in the sera from practically all women with breast cancer provides compelling evidence that an antigen-driven autoantibody response takes place in BC."
Allergic inflammation may promote breast cancer metastasis
A study recently published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology reveals a mechanism by which allergic inflammation can promote breast cancer metastasis.
Breast cancer, oxidative stress and NF-κB
A paper just published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment highlights how reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate pro-inflammatory NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa beta, also an oncogenic transcription factor) to promote more aggressive breast cancer, and that this can be ameliorated by NAC.
Magnesium protects against preeclampsia seizures
...magnesium raises the threshold for seizures in preeclampsia by reducing neuroinflammation...and prevents hypertension in the last weeks of pregnancy.
Women's heart risk lower with exercise 2-3x/week than daily
A large study using data from 1.1 million women recently published in the journal Circulation offers evidence that strenuous physical activity 2-3 times per week significantly lowered their coronary heart disease risk while more frequent strenuous exercise actually increased it.
Hormone replacement in menopause and ovarian cancer risk
Hormone replacement in menopause must be evaluated thoroughly on an individual basis with careful attention to the important benefits and risks. This includes of course objective measurements of bioactive hormone levels before and during hormone replacement at appropriate intervals, including analysis of benign versus troublesome estrogen metabolites. Regarding adverse effects that must be weighed, an important study just published in The Lancet brings to light a significant risk for ovarian cancer in current and past users of hormone replacement.
Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy
Subclinical hypothyroidism has been associated with multiple adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes...On the basis of current evidence, we believe it is reasonable to recommend treating women with new onset subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy.
Stroke risk reduced by magnesium
Stroke risk is reduced by higher plasma magnesium levels according to data from 32,826 women in the Nurses’ Health Study presented in a paper just published in the journal Stroke.
Fatigue commonly caused by iron deficiency without anemia
Fatigue, often accompanied by depression and anxiety, frequently has iron deficiency shown by suboptimal levels of serum ferritin but occurring without anemia. This often goes unrecognized in clinical practice.
Bra wearing not linked to breast cancer
Bra wearing does not seem to be associated with breast cancer in postmenopausal women according to a study just published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Calcium supplementation and abnormal calcium in blood and urine
Calcium supplementation is often recommended without careful determination of individual need and tolerance. Conflicting studies have raised the suspicion of an increase in cardiovascular risk associated with calcium (which may occur when the anti-inflammatory effects of magnesium are opposed). A study just published in the journal Menopause offers evidence that for a significant percentage of women modest calcium supplementation produces abnormally high levels in blood (hypercalcemia) and urine (hypercalciuria).