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by Lewis Chang, PhD A century ago, the global average life expectancy of humans was around 32 years. Today, it is 73. Because we live much longer, aging is now a major risk factor for a myriad of modern-day chronic illnesses. For scientists to study aging-related health issues, one must find a scientific way to measure aging, a quantifiable biochemical marker that reflects our biological age, so to speak. Having the ability to detect changes in such a biomarker will…

by Noelle Patno, PhD The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Viruses that cause colds include more than a hundred different kinds of rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and many more. No wonder adults get colds 2-3 times a year on average and with even higher frequency for children and college students. As the most common human illness that leads to missed work and school, colds stay prevalent due to the many variants…

by Molly Knudsen, MS, RDN It’s no secret: The United States is getting grayer. More gray hair, that is. In 2018, the number of Americans 65 years and older reached 52 million.1 That number is projected to practically double to 95 million, or nearly one in every four Americans by 2060.1,2 This rise in an aging population will result in some unique challenges such as strain to the elder care resources, additional healthcare costs, and the need of addressing chronic…

by Cassie Story, RDN Abstract: Although it was not identified and isolated until the 1930s, vitamin C has been known to protect against and treat certain disease states since the 18th century. Ask any health care practitioner to recall the first nutrient deficiency they learned about, and vitamin C will likely top the list. Images of sailors in the 1700s returning to shore with bleeding gums, fatigue, and even death due to a deficiency in this potent, water-soluble, antioxidant micronutrient…

by Melissa Blake, ND Immune resilience has never been more important or desired than in the past year. As a result of a global pandemic, patients and practitioners alike are seeking effective solutions to ensure a robust immune defense. Outside of the current COVID-19 concerns, respiratory tract infections (RTIs) pose a significant burden and are, in children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, the most prevalent diseases globally.1 A well-balanced gut microbiota is associated with protection against various diseases, including respiratory infections,…

by Anu Desai, PhD Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule of genetic code found in all living cells. As a chemical intermediary, mRNA carries instructions from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in our chromosomes to cellular machinery in the cytoplasm of the cell to make proteins.1 Over the past decade, research and technological innovations progressed rapidly in the field of vaccine development enabling mRNA as a promising therapeutic tool. There has been research on mRNA vaccines for infectious agents, such as…

by Michael Stanclift, ND Many of us have been using omega-3 fats, such as fish oil, for managing inflammatory conditions. Interestingly, fish oil and special molecules made from them called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) have big impacts on our immune system and play an important role in the activity of immune cells. The key lies in how fats such as the ones found in fish oil influence the behavior of the white blood cells (WBCs) of our immune system. Our…

by Anu Desai, PhD Pollution and toxic elements Environmental pollution and toxins from plastics, pesticides, smoke, contaminated water, and food have the potential to greatly impact human health.1 These toxic loads cause inflammatory and autoimmune responses, including neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS).2-4 More recently, some efforts have been made to minimize the exposures to pollutants in the long run, such as: using BPA-free plastics, attempting to reduce greenhouse gasses, and incorporating clean-energy…

by Noelle Patno, PhD What is lactoferrin? Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in most body fluids (including saliva, tears, bile, small intestine secretions, vaginal secretions, and more) and highly similar across species. First identified in bovine milk in 1939, it was later isolated from human milk in 1960 and other fluids as well as blood plasma (specifically, the immune cells called neutrophils). The highest concentration may be found in human colostrum at 8 mg/mL with breast milk levels at…

by Noelle Patno, PhD Lactoferrin (LF) has been advocated by researchers1–3 as a potential method to prevent or treat COVID-19. These recent reviews promote a hypothesis that the natural, endogenous compound which has shown antiviral capabilities for other viruses including SARS-CoV may be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus as well. With over 70 years since the discovery of this glycoprotein, this iron-scavenging milk protein now deserves greater attention. The current literature demonstrates that LF has many anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and even…