Immune / Lymphatic
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease, which effects the connective tissues of the body with a particular locus about the joints.1 RA is characterized as a chronic, disabling, and deforming condition affecting multiple joints, especially along the hands and feet.1(731) The onset of RA is known to be driven by environmental and genetic…
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a condition characterized by chronic and inflammatory episodes, which can affect any section of the digestive tract.1 Furthermore, 30-65% of CD patients exhibit a secondary condition known as intestinal permeability (IP); a pathophysiological aberration in tight junction (TJ) integrity.1(1000) TJs represent the space between intestinal cells (enterocytes) that, in normal and…
Chronic diarrhea is also known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with a predominant symptom of diarrhea (IBS-D). IBS-D is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. The pathogenesis may be linked to factors such as visceral hypersensitivity, brain-intestine axis disorders, intestinal flora alternations, and intestinal motility abnormalities.1(888) In the following sections, this author will…
In this author’s latest posts, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was explored with a particular focus upon nutritional support (i.e., removal of triggering foods) to manage said condition in addition to use of digestive enzymes when and where indicated. In the following sections, this author would like to explore other nutritional themes that might be efficacious…
Costochondritis is a self-limited condition defined by inflammation of the costochondral junctions of the ribs near the anterior region of the chest.1 Generally, neoplastic (abnormal tissue growth)/rheumatologic (inflammation of joints)/infectious processes can induce said condition. Duodenal cancer is characterized by abnormal and malignant tissue growth within the regions of the duodenum (intestinal component directly attached…
Chronic diseases continue to grow in number, now extending their reach into developing countries who have adopted Westernized foods and habits.1 Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), stroke, osteoarthrosis, obesity, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are but a sample of conditions associated with Westernized foods and culture, which have now migrated into other…
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent behavioral disorder in children, which has been estimated to affect 4-5 million children within the United States.1 Pharmacological and behavioral interventions have been the primary means of medical management of ADHD. However, the former approach has induced side-effects amongst approximately 65-70% of patients, and as many…
Weatherall2(116) stated that migraines are the most common of cause severe and recurrent headaches. Furthermore, such headaches are experienced by over 10% men and 20% of women.2(116) Finally, migraines tend to have a genetic origin, yet individual attacks can be triggered by external and/or internal influences.2(116) As such, the latter has the potential to be…
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder where neurons that make the neurotransmitter dopamine, responsible for human movement, are destroyed.1,2 Furthermore, such a condition has reached and affected approximately 4 million individuals, worldwide.1(120) Said condition is progressive in nature and characterized by a multisystem disorder affecting vulnerable populations, suspected to double in…
Asthma is a condition induced by underlying inflammatory events, which affects as many as 300 million people causing as many as 300,000 deaths to date.1 Emerging evidence has suggested that nutrition, or lack thereof, has been implicated with asthma signs, symptoms, and underlying inflammation.1(1) One micronutrient, zinc (Zn), has been implicated/associated with inflammation and free…