Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a disorder characterized by an excessive concentration of bacteria in the small intestine (exceeding 105 organisms/mL). Patients with SIBO commonly report abdominal pain, flatulence, bloating, and diarrhea, and may experience malabsorption and weight loss in more severe cases.1 The standard regimen to manage SIBO has been antibiotic therapy, but this may disrupt the normal balance of the gut microbiota and can increases the risk of developing antibiotic resistance. Further, the antibiotics used are often bacteriostatic, not…

It is estimated that by 2050, 1 in 3 U.S. individuals will have type 2 diabetes(T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death for in these patients.  Prevention of CVD among individuals with T2D is therefore of great public health importance. The scientific statements from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) regarding CVD prevention for patients with T2D, and risk factors for CVD, were recently synthesized and published in…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN The latest findings from the landmark Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) trial demonstrate that bariatric surgery significantly reduces the incidence of female-specific cancers, with the most pronounced cancer risk reductions seen for endometrial cancer and in women with high insulin levels pre-surgery.1-2 The health and economic burdens of obesity in the US, and globally, are immense. Based on the latest 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey findings from the Centers for Disease Control and…

A retrospective cohort study found that infertility in women was associated with an increased risk of death from certain endocrine related disease such as diabetes and breast cancer [1]. As infertility in women may be a sign of endocrine or inflammatory disruption, scientists have had concerns about its long-term effects on women’s health. Researchers from the Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA) set out to study the link between infertility and mortality in women in the PLCO…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Obesity is an established a predisposing factor for chronic disease processes including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These sequelae of obesity results from the relationship between excess adiposity, underlying inflammation and insulin resistance at the population level.1 More recently, however, research indicates there is more to learn about obesity as a risk factor for these disease processes on the individual level since the number of lean phenotypes suffering the same health conditions…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Recent research from three well-known cohorts, The Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), NHS2 and Health Professionals’ Follow-Up Study (HPFS), reveals that higher magnesium intake is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly in diets with poor carbohydrate quality.1 Green leafy vegetables, unrefined whole grains, and nuts are richest in magnesium, while meats and milk contain a moderate amount.2 Refined foods, like carbohydrates (carb), are poor sources of magnesium. Diets with poor carb quality are characterized by…

Most women spend more than 1/3 of their lives in the postmenopausal phase, and one of the major health concerns for postmenopausal women is breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimated that 1 in 8 US women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life.1 Currently there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the US.1 Some of the risk factors for breast cancer are unavoidable, such as age, family history, and being female. Other lifestyle factors can be…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP Within the past few decades the rates of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes throughout the world have risen dramatically.  Although there are many potential causes for this rise, one such contributor may be increased antenatal intake of sugary drinks.1 Intake of as little as 0.6 servings per day (standard deviation of 0.9 servings) of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) during pregnancy has been associated with adiposity in mid-childhood (median age of 7.7 years) with the greatest association being…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP Across the world autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rates vary greatly; making it difficult to confirm definitive numbers particularly in many countries that do not actively track rates or publicly report their statistics. However, data from countries such as Poland where it is reported that 3 in 10,000 children are diagnosed with ASD, or Hong Kong where ASD afflicts 327 in 10,000 children and in the US where in 2015 there were 222 in 10,000 children…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Cellular oxidative stress, the balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants, may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases.1 A nutrient-dense dietary pattern, particularly one containing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, confers antioxidant activity in the body. This is important because prior research has demonstrated that increasing the amount of antioxidants in the diet is associated with reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and all-cause mortality.1 However, data linking antioxidant intake and effects…