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.
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).
Antioxidants in excess can increase inflammation and blunt benefits of exercise
Antioxidants, even glutathione, taken in excess can increase rather than ameliorate harmful inflammation...The use of antioxidants must be calibrated with careful consideration of the balance between protective and suppressive effects according to the needs of the individual patient.
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.
Vitamin D when low increases risk of hospital-acquired infection after surgery
Vitamin D is crucial not only for the immune tolerance that opposes autoimmunity and allergy, but also for effective resistance to opportunistic infections. A study just published in JAMA Surgery (formerly Archives of Surgery) shows a link between pre-operative vitamin D levels and hospital-acquired infections.
Magnesium: insulin, brain, heart and inflammation
Magnesium may be the critical nutrient most commonly drained by modern environmental stress to suboptimal levels... Recent studies add evidence to its indication for insulin resistance, diabetes, cognitive impairment, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease, and neurogenic inflammation.
Acute bronchitis: antibiotic no better than placebo
Another study recently published in BMJ (British Medical Journal) offers further evidence that antibiotics are not helpful for uncomplicated acute bronchitis even when the sputum is discolored.
Low 'normal' free T3 thyroid hormone predicts death in older patients even without overt hypothyroid
Low free T3 thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine, FT3), even without overt hypothyroid and still within most 'normal' reference ranges, predicts death from cardiovascular disease and all causes in people over 65 according to a study just published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Wine and histamine intolerance
Wine and histamine intolerance can be associated with an array of symptoms depending the degree of impairment of DAO (diamine oxidase) activity and the characteristics of the wine... For patients whose presentation suggests histamine intolerance aggravated by wine, consider assessing DAO activity and compensating with supplemented DAO for impaired production if indicated; the use of flavonoid compounds, notably quercitin; and a suggestion to seek wines higher in polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds.
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.
Food allergy testing with IgG4 is not recommended
"...food-specific IgG4 does not indicate (imminent) food allergy or intolerance, but rather a physiological response of the immune system after exposition to food components. Therefore, testing of IgG4 to foods is considered as irrelevant for the laboratory work-up of food allergy or intolerance and should not be performed in case of food-related complaints."
Hepatitis C antibody-postive patients need but often don't get confirmatory testing
Hepatitis C infection needs to be confirmed by PCR (RNA or DNA amplification) because antibody levels can remain high for many years after the infection is completely cleared by antimicrobial therapy or innate immunity. This is true for numerous other pathogens as well including Borrelia b. (Lyme disease). A paper just published in The American Journal of Medicine documents that RNA testing for hepatitis C is often not done.
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.
Vagal nerve activity moderates brain-immune relationships and is measured by heart rate variability
An exciting study with tremendous practical significance was just published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology that shows how vagal nerve activity, which can be measured in the clinic by heart rate variability analysis (HRV), is a key moderator of the brain-immune web and determines the immune and physiological responses to acute stress.
Osteoporosis bone loss reversed by prunes
Research just published in PLoS One (Public Library of Science) offers evidence that prunes, now fashionably known as dried plums, not only help to reduce bone loss but stimulate new bone growth.