Ketone bodies (including acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetone) are produced mainly by the liver from fatty acids during fasting, prolonged physical activity, starvation, or ketogenic diets (diets that restrict carbohydrates to usually < 50 g/day). The metabolic state in which ketone bodies are utilized as the main energy source for the body instead of glucose is called ketosis. Physiological or nutritional ketosis has been shown to lead to several metabolic advantages including weight management and improvements in glycemic control and blood lipids.1 An…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by fat accumulation in the liver not caused by alcohol consumption, affects up to 25% of people in the US.1 This is typically a silent disease, often not producing symptoms until its later stages when there is chronic liver injury; complaints can include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, itching, edema and sometimes mental confusion.1 NAFLD is most commonly diagnosed in overweight and obese individuals, particularly…

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a type of apolipoprotein involved in various biological processes, including lipoprotein transport, immunoregulation, and even cognition. The gene that encodes APOE is called APOE gene and is polymorphic, with three major alleles (ε2, ε3 and ε4) producing 6 common genotypes (ε2/ε2, ε2/ε3, ε2/ε4, ε3/ε3, ε3/ε4, and ε4/ε4). The ε3 allele is the most common allele, and the ε3/ε3 the most common genotype in humans. The ε4 allele is a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and for…

Results from a supplementation trial demonstrated that the combination of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk for steatosis (fatty liver) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)1. Previous research has shown that modulation of the gut microbiota via probiotics supplementation may have beneficial effects on the gut-liver axis and metabolic and immunologic responses, and omega-3 supplementation may improve liver lipid metabolism and adipose tissue function. 2,3 Seeing the potential, researchers from the Bogomolets National Medical University (Kiev, Ukraine)…

A 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that, compared with metformin, myo-inositol had beneficial effects on multiple parameters related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) 1. PCOS, an endocrine disorder characterized by infertility, menstrual dysfunction and metabolic disturbances such as insulin resistance and androgen excess, affects many women of reproductive age. Because insulin resistance has been shown to have a key role in the development of PCOS, insulin sensitizers such as metformin have been used as a therapeutic option for PCOS. Recently, the combination…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Ultra-processed foods, or highly-processed foods, are food products manufactured via multiple chemical or mechanical processes that are designed to make them convenient, affordable, palatable, and hygienic. Nutritionally, they tend to be loaded with added sugar, salt, and fat, and devoid of high-quality macronutrients, micronutrients, and fiber. Many ultra-processed foods also contain flavoring agents, artificial colors, cosmetic additives, and preservatives, some of which have exhibited carcinogenic potential in experimental models.1 The packaging may also contain chemicals (such…

This downloadable article discusses the relationship between bacterial infections and acute inflammation. Underlying mechanisms for how bacterial infections contribute to active resolution of acute inflammation are unknown. Here, we performed exudate leukocyte trafficking and mediator-metabololipidomics of murine peritoneal Escherichia coli infections with temporal identification of pro-inflammatory (prostaglandins and leukotrienes) and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). In self-resolving E. coli exudates (10(5) colony forming units, c.f.u.), the dominant SPMs identified were resolvin (Rv) D5 and protectin D1 (PD1), which at 12 h were…

Acute inflammation is normal and protective to the host, but when inflammation becomes chronic, it can damage tissues and be destructive to health. The resolution of inflammation involves several key steps: the termination of neutrophil recruitment, counterregulation of proinflammatory mediators, stimulation of macrophage-mediated clearance, and tissue remodeling. This review of the evidence by leading experts explains how the failure of inflammation resolution contributes to metabolic diseases and the pivotal role that specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), resolvins, protectins, and maresins, play…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Hormone therapy may be the most effective treatment for reducing vasomotor symptoms. But for many symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, the risk of hormone therapy outweighs the benefit. One of the non-pharmacological options that many women consider is acupuncture. However, there has not been a systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing acupuncture’s effectiveness in the past few years. Researchers from the Center of Integrative Medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, NC) and…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Data from a recent epidemiological study revealed the bidirectional, pathogenic relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension (HTN).1 Both T2D and HTN are important risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Previous epidemiological studies have shown that the presence of HTN predicts future T2D. An international team of researchers from Italy, Mexico and the US were interested in whether the presence of T2D predicted future HTN. Two cohorts were included in this study. The first was the…