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 Kara Fitzgerald, ND It is plain myth that there is nothing that can be done to prevent, slow or even reverse the progress of cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s Disease. The Institute for Functional Medicine held a 3-day international conference earlier this month, attended in droves, diving into the body of evidence that demonstrates this, and we also just really appreciate the work of Dr. Dale Bredesen and his team from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging who are showing that mild-to-moderate…

by Bianca Garilli, ND A Presidential Advisory on brain health was recently released by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in September 2017. The goals of the publication were to provide a definition of “optimal brain health” in adults, and guidance on how to maintain brain health through the years. From these data, the following 7 metrics were brought forward as steps to implement for improving brain health where ideal brain health was defined as “having an optimal capacity to…

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…

What tools exist to help prevent chronic inflammation and disease? In his talk “Start the Resolution: Stopping the Progression of Chronic Disease,” Robert Martindale, MD, PhD, Professor and Chief for the Division of GI and General Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University, explores the newest paradigm in metabolic mediation: inflammation resolution physiology. Dr. Martindale differentiates between anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution actions in the body. He delves into the unique roles that polyunsaturated fatty acids and a novel lipid mediator class,…

Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD is the Medical Director of the Obesity Clinical Program at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hamdy  works in the inpatient clinic at Joslin and is the creator of the Joslin’s "Why Wait program." This presentation entitled “The Reality of Carbohydrate Intolerance” by Dr. Hamdy focuses on the clinical management of obese and diabetic patients. The video reviews the day to day practices that cause the epidemic…

Menopausal transition represents a critical period in women’s lives that marks an increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Traditional CVD risk factors, such as reduced glucose tolerance, increased blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction, tend to become very present during menopausal transition and post-menopausal years which can partly explain the augmentation in CVD risk among women. The natural decline in oestrogen levels during menopause has been associated with the increase in CVD risk among post-menopausal women. Similarly, VMS are postulated to…

Inflammation plays key role in many chronic conditions including IBD, arthritis, diabetes etc. Curcumin, as an active ingredient present in turmeric has long been known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. However, due to its poor bioavailbility in humans (1-2%), there was a need for developing formulations that increased its bioavailability. Curcuminoids in plasma exist in free and conjugated forms. Recent literature suggests that conjugated curcumin metabolites possess low bioactivity and permeability compared to free curcuminoids. Measurement of free curcuminoids…