Effects of a novel hops extract & undenatured collagen combination in a case series of subjects with chronic arthritic joint discomfort According to the National Health Interview Survey, 30% of US adults have reported experiencing some type of joint pain during the preceding 30 days. Hops-derived tetrahydroiso-alpha acids (THIAA) –a mixture of co-, n-, and ad-congeners –have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and to reduce bone cartilage degradation in a mouse model of RA. This case series provides…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP A common concern in peri- and postmenopausal years is weight gain, typically 1.5 pounds per year during the fifth and sixth decades of life and shown to be independent of a woman’s initial body size or race/ethnicity. It was previously believed that the increase in weight coincided with the onset of menopause most likely due to the drop in estrogen levels. Although declining estrogen levels has, in fact, been shown to lead to an increase…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a common complication of diabetes, leads to pain and loss of feeling in the hands, arms, feet and legs. The incidence of neuropathy is approximately 45% for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and is responsible for more hospital admissions than all other diabetic complications combined; as well as accounting for 50-75% of non-traumatic amputations.1-2 The most common pharmaceutical treatments utilized in DPN cases include analgesics and anti-depressants along with physical therapy,…

A meta-analysis including 12 studies that included > 280,000 participants found that both obesity and underweight are associated with an increased risk for migraines.1 Prior research had indicated an association between higher weight and migraines and while exact mechanisms are not known, it has been postulated that overweight individuals may have increased adipose tissue secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased adipocytokines, and increased circulating sex hormones all of which may play a role in migraine development and severity. Studies have also shown patients…

A review published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics showed alcohol consumption adversely altered gut microbiota and could lead to negative impacts on the liver. It is well known that alcohol intake directly and adversely affects the liver, but more recently, it has also been clinically shown to impact the gastrointestinal microbiota. To better elucidate this relationship the authors utilized the PubMed data base, to identify and review data from research articles addressing this topic. The studies that the authors identified showed alcohol…

Inflammation, pathogenic gut bacteria, and Candida species and markers of disease severity where analyzed in adults with stable mild, moderate and severe congestive heart failure (CHF). High levels of pathogenic bacteria including Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Candida species were discovered in CHF patients when compared to normal control. Intestinal permeability (IP), right arterial pressure (RAP) and markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP) was also greater in the CHF group. These results suggest that people with CHF have higher levels of gut dysbiosis and…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death for men and women in the US.1 Chronic inflammation contributes to cancer development.2 Pro-inflammatory conditions, such as obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, have been associated with CRC risk.3-4 It is plausible that a dietary pattern that induces more inflammation could impact CRC risk. The relationship between dietary inflammatory potential and CRC risk was investigated by Dr. Frank Hu of Harvard University and his colleagues, evaluating data…

by Bianca Garilli, ND An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine  reviewed data collected from 1998-2012 from adults in the Swedish National Diabetes Register with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).  Information was analyzed for various end points including overall mortality rate and incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Results from the study showed that during the observed time period the incidence rates of CVD and overall mortality rates decreased in both…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Anxiety comes in a myriad of forms from social anxiety to post traumatic stress disorder with an average onset at 11 years of age. Anxiety is estimated to affect 18% of the US population or 42 million Americans with 4% of the population suffering with severe anxiety.1,2 The more common and easily identifiable symptoms of anxiety include a feeling of dread, edginess or irritation, fear, worry, difficulty with concentration and focus; somatic symptoms may include increased…

by Lewis Chang, PhD  An editorial written by three well-known cardiologists advocates for a paradigm shift in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD). They post: dietary saturated fat is not dangerous. The real danger, they propose, lies in the inflammatory processes that contribute to plaque buildup, plaque rupture, and the formation of blood clots.1 Aseem Malhotra, MD of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (Stevenage, UK), Rita Redberg, MD of UCSF School of Medicine (San Francisco, CA), and Pascal…