Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a mainstay for treating menopause, but more and more women are searching for non-hormonal therapies. An extract from Siberian Rhubarb (latin name Rheum rhaponticum) has been in use treating menopause for decades, and is now gaining popularity in more markets worldwide. Recently (2021) another clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy and safety of this extract, ERr-731, in treating menopause in Indian women.1 In this Indian trial researchers found a 4 mg once daily dose led to…

Our protective skin is constantly facing environmental insult such as solar UV radiation. Oxidative stress can damage skin components and accelerate skin aging. Learn how we may support our skin by boosting skin’s antioxidant capacity via a phytonutrient-rich diet.

by Noelle Patno, PhD L. plantarum 299v is a probiotic globally recognized for having Level 2 evidence for the improvement in severity of abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome and a large study preventing C. diffficile-associated diarrhea in antibiotic-treated patients.1 A new review2 on the 30-year anniversary of the isolation of this strain was recently published summarizing the current knowledge on this unique probiotic strain. This article features the main highlights of the reviewed science on probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum 299v.  Characteristics of the strain: 2  Plant-derived. L. plantarum 299v belongs to the group of lactic acid bacteria, and these types are commonly…

Prebiotics are types of food ingredients that are nondigestible by humans and broken down by human gut bacteria into compounds that are beneficial for humans. Human breast milk contains a rich source of prebiotics called “human milk oligosaccharides” or “HMOs,” which act as the very first prebiotics taken in by a nursing infant.1 Among the HMOs, 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) is the most abundantly produced.2 The effect of 2’-FL was recently studied in adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel…

Single-strain and multistrain probiotics can be beneficial for specific clinical applications.1,2 Potential advantages of multistrain probiotic supplements are a broader spectrum of health benefits (compared to intake of a single probiotic strain) and synergistic effects of the individual probiotic strains.2 Clinical trial results on a new, high colony-forming units (CFU) count combination of 8 strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotics were recently published in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal.3 The study evaluated the short-term impact of consumption of one capsule…

by Molly Knudsen, MS, RDN It’s no secret: The United States is getting grayer. More gray hair, that is. In 2018, the number of Americans 65 years and older reached 52 million.1 That number is projected to practically double to 95 million, or nearly one in every four Americans by 2060.1,2 This rise in an aging population will result in some unique challenges such as strain to the elder care resources, additional healthcare costs, and the need of addressing chronic…

by Cassie Story, RDN Abstract: Although it was not identified and isolated until the 1930s, vitamin C has been known to protect against and treat certain disease states since the 18th century. Ask any health care practitioner to recall the first nutrient deficiency they learned about, and vitamin C will likely top the list. Images of sailors in the 1700s returning to shore with bleeding gums, fatigue, and even death due to a deficiency in this potent, water-soluble, antioxidant micronutrient…

by Noelle Patno, PhD What is lactoferrin? Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in most body fluids (including saliva, tears, bile, small intestine secretions, vaginal secretions, and more) and highly similar across species. First identified in bovine milk in 1939, it was later isolated from human milk in 1960 and other fluids as well as blood plasma (specifically, the immune cells called neutrophils). The highest concentration may be found in human colostrum at 8 mg/mL with breast milk levels at…

In this Clinical Minute, Nikky Contractor, PhD discusses the most important factors for healthcare provider to consider when selecting a probiotic for their patient. Important strategies include: Make sure that the probiotic has been identified by its genus, species, and strain. Ensure that probiotics are used in a targeted way for a particular condition. Understand the clinical research that supports the use of a particular probiotic for a specific condition.    

by Lewis Chang, PhD Introduction “Damned if I don’t get more tired every day. Tired of what I do. Following arcs, like lobbed rocks. The inevitability of truth. But the complexity and the grey lie not in the truth, but what you do with the truth once you have it.”—Detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig, in the 2019 film Knives Out) The current pandemic is not showing any sign of slowing in the US and many parts of the…