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.
Thyroid autoimmunity affects cognitive and emotional function
Autoimmune thyroiditis is "associated with cognitive and affective disorders also in the euthyroid [normal thyroid hormone level] state. Thereby thyroid antibodies might play a direct role or indicate an autoimmune process."
Gut-Brain connection and autoimmunity
This brief video on the gut-brain connection from Cyrex Laboratories is a succinct introduction to the expanding role of autoimmunity in a wide range of disorders and the importance of predictive antibodies.
Multiple sclerosis, TH17 and vitamin A
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies shed light on its autoimmune component and offer evidence for the use of vitamin A in consideration of the premiere importance of Treg and Th17 or Th40 balance.
Epilepsy as an autoimmune disorder
Epilepsy should be evaluated in case management for neuroinflammation that reduces neuronal thresholds of excitability, and more evidence that this can be due to autoimmunity was just published in JAMA Neurology.
Thyroid in heart, metabolism, brain, kidney; vital importance of T3
Thyroid disorders have widespread impact and although subclinical hypothyroidism and low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome are common they are frequently overlooked in practice.
Vitamin C modulates gene expression to control inflammation
A fascinating study reveals that vitamin C supplementation in a non-deficient, normal physiologic state has no significant effect. But in the presence of an inflammatory trigger vitamin C modulates gene expression to control inflammation.
Allergy symptoms made worse by altered neuromodulation
"Among the constellation of symptoms that characterize the allergic reaction, many, if not most, are secondary to changes in the nervous system..In this sense allergy is an immune-neuronal disorder...therapeutic strategies should target the nervous system and work synergistically with anti-inflammatory strategies."
Flu: most cases are without typical symptoms
Flu contagions include many more people whose immune systems are managing the virus without expressing recognizable flu symptoms.
Type 2 diabetes - autoimmune aspects
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) causation is not restricted to metabolic factors but can include loss of immune tolerance for components of the glucose and insulin regulating systems. A paper published recently in the journal Gerontology reminds that interventions that ameliorate autoimmune inflammation can help to lower blood sugar.
Bipolar disorder and neuroinflammation
There is a massive amount of evidence supporting the importance of assessing and treating neuroinflammation in bipolar disorder and other neuropsychiatric illnesses. This makes necessarily the comprehensive examination of autoimmunity and its numerous underlying contributory causes.
Multiple sclerosis and gluten
Additional evidence that loss of tolerance to gluten can be a contributing cause in multiple sclerosis is offered in a study published in Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. This deserves reflection because many clinicians seem to disregard that non-celiac gluten sensitivity may present with no other symptoms.
Cognitive impairment associated with low but still 'normal' TSH
A study just published JCEM (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism) offers evidence that TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels when low but still 'normal' are associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.
Interstitial cystitis, an autoimmune condition
Interstitial cystitis, also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome (IC/PBS), can feel just like a bladder infection with urinary frequency and discomfort or pain. The symptoms can range from mild to intense. I find this to be a fairly common, undiagnosed condition that is often not recognized as an autoimmune disorder. A study recently published in PLOS One (Public Libary of Science) presents an autoimmune mechanism for interstitial cystitis and reminds clinicians to be alert to the diagnosis.
Migraine and histamine intolerance, with a link to MS
Histamine is involved in the pathogenesis of both migraine and multiple sclerosis (NS).
Atrial fibrillation risk increased by non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs
NSAIDs increased the risk for atrial fibrillation. Practitioners must bear in mind the potential for all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to cause atrial fibrillation by aggravating or triggering latent autoimmune inflammation due to gut barrier compromise.
Cognitive decline: major overlooked causes
Cognitive decline is fueled by that have not received adequate attention but have great practical, clinical significance.
Hyperexcitable brain syndrome and gluten
Hyperexcitable brain, with potentially severe consequences, is recognized as among the gluten-related autoiimmune neurological disorders... Practitioners should not underestimate the potential severity of gluten-associated neuroinflammation.
Quercetin may protect against LPS-induced inflammation
Quercetin, a flavonoid compound known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties, may help to prevent inflammation induced by reactions to lipopolysaccharides (LPS)...quercetin may help protect patients from autoimmune flare-ups while treating associated gut infections.
Metabolic health status and aging determined by inflammation, not weight
Metabolic health is not reliably determined by weight or BMI (body mass index). Lean individuals can suffer from cardiovascular and other diseases involving metabolism, and evidence has been mounting that supports the notion of a subtype of obesity that is metabolically healthy. Inflammation can determine metabolic health in both obese and non-obese populations.
Histamine intolerance
Histamine intolerance is a widespread phenomenon that can mimic allergy. It plays a role in many diverse conditions including IBS and inflammatory bowel diseases, asthma, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), complications of pregnancy, drug hypersensitivity, and intestinal permeability (by means of which it contributes to autoimmunity). It can be objectively evaluated with serum DAO activity. HI can be ameliorated by supplementation with DAO. Practitioners need to be astute in its diagnosis and management.