Over 75% of overeating can be attributed to emotional factors. Lifestyle habits can translate into an obese phenotype, but understanding the psychological underpinnings of food choices and obesity is crucial to effective obesity management. Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP is a Functional Medicine-trained clinician and researcher with a unique approach that combines physiology and psychology. In this talk titled “Scientific Understanding and Clinical Strategies for Eating Issues Related to Obesity,” Dr. Minich explores the role of mood in food…

Inflammation & Resolution Physiology in Obesity: Joan Clària, PhD Unresolved, low-grade chronic inflammation triggers adipose dysfunction and is the culprit of obesity comorbidities. In this presentation “Inflammation & Resolution Physiology in Obesity,” Joan Clària, PhD explores how the resolution phase of the inflammatory response can be leveraged to resolve inflammation chronicity. He discusses in vitro and in vivo research demonstrating the distinct biological properties, pathways and actions of omega-3 PUFAs vs. specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in targeting unresolved, inflamed adipose tissue.…

by Kara Fitzgerald, ND Precision medicine, which encompasses the concepts of individual uniqueness and personalized healthcare solutions, has to-date been most focused on genetics. Genetic-based differences in tumor cells, for instance, is one example of how precision medicine has started to play out. Recently the team from the Microbiome Center at the University of Chicago have argued that this definition is too narrow, and that the microbiome is another key factor in understanding and applying personalized healthcare. In their published commentary they…

A large population-based study of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) indicates that achieving a greater number of “ABC” targets (A: HbA1c; B: blood pressure; C: LDL-cholesterol) incrementally reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, not all ABC risk factors were of equal importance in CVD risk reduction.1 For adults with T2D, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends maintaining optimal levels of all three ABC risk factors: HbA1c < 7%, blood pressure < 130/80 mm Hg, and LDL-C < 100 mg/dL.2 This…

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) recently compiled their joint guidance that outlines 7 factors to be implemented in maintaining optimal brain health in adults. The joint advisory board notes that a healthy lifestyle benefits the brain as much as the body. Both the brain and the heart need adequate blood flow but atherosclerosis – narrowing and blocking of the arteries—can occur with aging and is the root of heart attacks and strokes. The 7…

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)…

Sedentary behaviors have been linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. In terms of potential mechanisms, research has revealed associations between sedentary time and cardiometabolic risk factors, including higher waist circumference, higher blood pressure, unbalanced glucose and insulin metabolism, and unfavorable blood lipid profile.1 Television watching and its negative impact on health have been well-documented. A recent research study examined whether other types of sedentary behaviors netted a similar, deleterious impact on health. Specifically, the group of public…

In the first part of an interview series, Charles Serhan, PhD, DSc answers the question “How and when did you determine the significant of resolution physiology to human health?” Dr. Serhan shares an edifying history of resolution physiology: from early microscope observations of leukocytic infiltration, to the turning point lipoxin discoveries in the 1990s, to the latest research insights and inquiries today. Once thought to be a passive event mediated by chemokines, resolution is now known to be an active…

In the 2nd part of a new SPM interview series, Charles Serhan, PhD, DSc answers the question: “Can you describe some therapeutic areas where specialized pro-resolving mediators are currently being investigated for clinical use?” Dr. Serhan discusses the most current therapeutic research assessing SPM efficacy, including pulmonary, cardiometabolic, vascular, joint and cognitive health, as well as pain and wound healing. Charles Serhan, PhD, DSc is Director of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury at Brigham and Women’s Hospital…

In the 3rd part of a new SPM interview series, Charles Serhan, PhD, DSc answers the question: “Are there any recent findings or results in resolvins research that have surprised you?” Dr. Serhan discusses the recently discovered resolution role of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in the adaptive immune response, including the regulation of B cell function and facilitating antibody production. Charles Serhan, PhD, DSc is Director of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury at Brigham and Women’s Hospital…