Obesity, Comorbidities & Weight Change Patterns: Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD Obesity is on track to be the #1 killer in the US. Concurrent with the obesity epidemic is the rapidly growing diabetes epidemic. Environmental impact and lifestyle choices contribute to the high “diabesity” prevalence. Furthermore, epigenetic changes across generations are also playing a role. In this presentation “Obesity, Comorbidities & Weight Change Patterns,” Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD, FACE, of the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard, explores the evolution of dietary…

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 Bianca Garilli, ND Strokes are responsible for 1 out of every 20 deaths in the US – that’s ~ 140,000 Americans’ lives lost each year.1 Stroke is also a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.2 Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke, a form of stroke caused by inadequate blood supply (and therefore insufficient oxygen and nutrients) to a particular area of the brain. Ischemic strokes account for the majority of strokes (87%) in the US.2 Another subtype…

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…

by Bianca Garilli, ND  During the first years of life, an infant’s gut microbiota undergoes rapid colonization, and the microbial diversity of the growing infant results from exposure to a variety of sources.1 These microbiota sources are impacted by a variety of factors, including but not limited to: genetic underpinnings, the mother’s microbiota composition, method of delivery (vaginal vs. cesarean section), hospital and birthing environment, feeding sources (breast vs. bottle), sanitation of environments exposed to, and antibiotic use.1 By 2-5 years…

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…

Consumption of non-caloric artificial sweeteners (NAS) commonly found in diet sodas had a deleterious impact on postprandial glycemic response in healthy subjects, a  double-blind randomized trial found.1 Artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) are thought to be healthier than sugar sweetened beverages because they contain little or no sugar. However, an increasing number of large-scale epidemiological studies have reported an unfavorable association between the consumption of ASBs and increased risks of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even neurocognitive disorders (click…

Artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) are non-caloric soft drinks sweetened by non-nutritive sweeteners instead of sugars. For consumers interested in losing weight, improving glycemic control, or simply reducing sugar consumption, ASBs are thought to be healthier alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages. However, epidemiological evidence has begun to show that ASBs are by no means harmless. For example, the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study—two large-scale cohort studies conducted by the School of Public Health at Harvard University—found that consumption of ASBs…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Recent research continues to support the idea that both a genetic and environmental component may be potentially associated with the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Heritability is high in ASD as can be seen from family and twin studies. It is most certainly polygenic (multiple genes may contribute to ASD risk rather than there being just “one ASD gene”), and may be associated with both conserved mutations (inherited from parents) but also de novo mutations.1 The genetic risks related to ASD are highly complex…