by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN The digestive system begins in the mouth, which is home to 700+ unique species of bacteria.1 Research has shown that salivary2 and gastrointestinal (GI)3-4 microbiota possess diurnal rhythms; whether these daily patterns are a result of circadian biology and/or eating behaviors is unknown. The composition of one’s habitual diet has been shown to impact human GI microbiota, and emerging research suggests that eating frequency and timing of meals may also play a role,3-4 however,…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Gut microbiota, a community of trillions of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract, play an important role in health and disease in humans. A loss in species richness and diversity in the microbiota has been associated with many metabolic disorders and disease states.1 Nutrition can have a significant impact on the microbiota composition. The Mediterranean diet is known for its various health benefits.2 However, little is known on how the Mediterranean dietary pattern affects the composition…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Body mass index (BMI) is used in the medical community for defining anthropometric height/weight characteristics.1 An individual’s BMI categorizes them as normal, overweight or obese and is often used as a risk factor for various chronic health issues including coronary artery disease (CAD).1 It has become apparent however that BMI is a gross estimate of adiposity; BMI is a poor indicator of percent of body fat and does not indicate site of body fat distribution, an…

by Bianca Garilli, ND In individuals with overweight or obesity, it only takes a 5% reduction in body weight to create potentially significant improvements in LDL and total cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose.1 The challenge in the weight loss field however, is often less about losing this initial 5% but rather maintaining the loss over an extended period of time. In fact, only 20% of people maintain their weight loss over the long-term, with 10-80% of individuals returning to their…

This 12-week study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a nutritional product containing n-enriched tetrahydro iso-alpha acids and undenatured type 2 collagen in participants with chronic joint pain (including pain from symptomatic osteoarthritis and from rheumatoid arthritis). Tetrahydro iso-α acids (THIAAs), derived from Humulus lupulus (hops), have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Undenatured type 2 collagen has been found to be effective in clinical studies in RA and osteoarthritis (OA). OBJECTIVE:…

Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 is a well-characterized and evidence-based probiotic strain. A feeding study led by Fergus Shanahan, MD and his research group at the University College Cork was conducted in patients with ulcerative colitis. This pilot-scale, open-label study aimed to determine the ability of L. salivarius UCC118 to adhere to human enterocyte epithelial cells. The bacterial strain was administered to patients with ulcerative colitis at ~109 CFU/day for 12 days. Biopsy specimen analyses demonstrated that the ingested bacteria effectively adhered to…

Dale E Bredesen, MD, is the director of the Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is also the principal investigator in Alzheimer’s Disease at the center. Dr. Bredesen has taken a novel approach to clinical management of cognitive decline by integrating nutrition and lifestyle medicine into practice. Based on his research and clinical practice, we may be entering the era of treatable Alzheimer’s Disease. He also discusses Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)…

by Lewis Chang, PhD A yearlong lifestyle intervention that utilized a ketogenic diet significantly improved HbA1c, body weight, and multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to data from a clinical study published in two journals.1,2 CVD is the leading cause of death among patients with T2D.3 As the prevalence of T2D continues to increase rapidly worldwide, effective interventions to address T2D and CVD risk are critical. A low-carbohydrate diet is one of…

by Bianca Garilli, ND  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) research has grown rapidly in the past decade as awareness of the high prevalence and its potential devastating consequences have become clearer.1 TBI may result in varying degrees of paralysis, loss of consciousness, amnesia and even death. Death was the most common outcome for those diagnosed with moderate and severe TBI where severity of TBI was classified according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The two most common causes of TBI globally…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Clostridium difficile, or "C. diff", is a bacterium that can cause infection in at-risk individuals, triggering symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to severe pseudomembranous colitis. Major risk factors for C. diff infection include depletion of protective gut microorganisms due to antibiotics use (e.g. fluoroquinolones), compromised immune system, age, healthcare environment, and certain medications. Hospitalized older individuals with recent antibiotic exposure and those admitted to long-term care facilities are particularly susceptible for C. diff infection.1 Two fluoroquinolone-resistant…