Articles

A Long History of Mistreatment Led to Justified Skepticism Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women has a long and controversial history. In the 1940s and 1950s, estrogen was found to effectively relieve troublesome menopausal symptoms, which on average last 7-10 years, as well as reduce the risk of heart disease, the #1 killer of women.…

The Growing Burden of Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This results in a lack of insulin production and an inability to control blood glucose levels. The incidence of type 1 diabetes has doubled since the 1960s,…

The Evolving Landscape of Prostate Cancer Screening Prostate cancer screening and early detection methods have advanced considerably in recent years. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test revolutionized screening in the 1990s, enabling detection of prostate cancer at earlier stages. However, PSA screening also led to overdiagnosis and overtreatment of indolent cancers. Today, more sophisticated approaches…

Introduction Orthopedic injuries can severely impact our strength, mobility, and quality of life as we age. Understanding the common causes of joint and back pain and learning prevention strategies early on is key to maintaining an active lifestyle into older age. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of insights from an orthopedic surgeon on…

The Promise of Metformin as an Anti-Aging Therapy Metformin, a common diabetes medication, has shown considerable potential as an anti-aging therapy in recent research. Studies in animals have demonstrated lifespan extension with metformin treatment. Evidence is also building from human epidemiology and clinical trials that metformin may confer health and longevity benefits. The UKPDS trial…

The Discovery of Lipoproteins In the 1940s, scientist John Gofman made a pivotal discovery – that fats and cholesterol do not travel solo through the bloodstream. Instead, they ride along inside spherical particles called lipoproteins. Gofman uncovered lipoproteins' existence using an ultracentrifuge, which spins blood plasma at high speeds to separate its components…

Why Focus on Methylation and Related Pathways? Methylation refers to the addition of a methyl group to various substrates like DNA, proteins, neurotransmitters etc., an essential process occurring billions of times every second in the human body. The transulfuration pathway is closely linked, funneling essential sulfur from methionine to produce antioxidant glutathione. Together, these pathways…

Examining the Potential of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators Fibromyalgia is a perplexing condition characterized by widespread muscle pain, profound fatigue, sleep dysfunction and cognitive difficulties. It affects up to 6% of the general population and is much more prevalent in women. Despite decades of research, the underlying mechanisms behind fibromyalgia remain unclear. As a result, treatment…

The Developmental Origins of Disease Risk Emerging research over recent decades has revealed that the nine months a baby spends in the womb are the most critical for long-term health. Environmental factors during this developmental period can change how genes are expressed and have consequences that echo into adulthood and even across generations. This field…

An Introduction to Stem Cell Therapy Stem cells have emerged as a hugely promising option for regenerative medicine. Often derived from a patient's own fat tissue, these intrinsically versatile cells possess the ability to develop into whatever cell types are required to carry out repairs in the body. Early research tracking stem cells shows they…

Introducing the DUTCH Test Assessing hormone balance and detoxification pathways is an important part of functional and integrative medicine. The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) provides a detailed urinary analysis of key hormones and metabolites to help practitioners personalize treatment approaches. Rather than relying on serum, saliva, or 24-hour urine collection, the DUTCH…

Introduction Hormone testing is an essential part of functional medicine practice. Being able to accurately assess a patient's hormone levels allows practitioners to identify imbalances and customize treatment plans. However, choosing the right testing medium – serum, urine, or saliva – is key to getting reliable results. The Limitations of Serum Testing Blood serum testing…