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…

Women who enter natural menopause before 45 years old have increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and overall mortality compared with women whose onset of menopause is at 50-54 years of age. However, it remains uncertain whether early onset of menopause influences levels of CVD risk factors leading to increased CVD risk. One of the major CVD risk factors is type 2 diabetes (T2D). Researchers at the Department of Epidemiology at Erasmus University Medical Center (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) set out…

Diet and exercise interventions during pregnancy helped women minimize excess gestational weight gain and lower the odds of caesarean section (C-section).1 Multiple clinical trials have previously demonstrated that diet, physical activity or the combination of both during pregnancy are beneficial in limiting excessive gestational weight gain. However, due to the relatively small sample sizes of these earlier trials, it remained unknown whether there were differential treatment effects in certain subgroups of women who may need additional support. To address these…

Ketone bodies (including acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetone) are produced mainly by the liver from fatty acids during fasting, prolonged physical activity, starvation, or ketogenic diets (diets that restrict carbohydrates to usually < 50 g/day). The metabolic state in which ketone bodies are utilized as the main energy source for the body instead of glucose is called ketosis. Physiological or nutritional ketosis has been shown to lead to several metabolic advantages including weight management and improvements in glycemic control and blood lipids.1 An…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by fat accumulation in the liver not caused by alcohol consumption, affects up to 25% of people in the US.1 This is typically a silent disease, often not producing symptoms until its later stages when there is chronic liver injury; complaints can include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, itching, edema and sometimes mental confusion.1 NAFLD is most commonly diagnosed in overweight and obese individuals, particularly…