NUTRITION
Asthma is a product of a well-known overactive immune response that targets the lungs and effects an estimated 300 million individuals.1 Its symptoms include wheezing/shortness of breath/coughing and the understanding of its causes has grown to include genetic and other drivers.1(189) As research has mounted regarding the pathophysiology of asthma, more evidence has suggested that nutritional…
Hyperglycemia is a condition whereby glucose is poorly managed and stored throughout cells of the body. The degree of severity can be defined by multiple measures including fasting glucose tests (FGTs); less than 100 mg/dL is normal, ranges from 100 to 125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes.1 If two separate tests produce 126 mg/dL, or higher,…
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a condition defined as a constellation of risk factors which induce other disease states such as stroke, cardiovascular heart disease (CVD), and diabetes.1 Said biomarkers/risk factors include high blood pressure, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), abdominal obesity, impaired fasting glucose, and elevated fasting triglycerides.2,3 Therefore, proper…
The liver is the largest organ in the body providing vital functions such as energy production, detoxification, as well as storing copper, iron, triglycerides, lipid-soluble vitamins, and glycogen.1 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is condition which threatens said functions and affects as much as 30% of the adult population; a disease now considered a predominant…
Vitamin D (VD) is a micronutrient often associated with bone metabolism and bone disease such as osteoporosis. However, VD has been shown to influence both the structure and function of other organ systems, to include the cardiovascular system.1 Such a submission is supported by observational data indicating lower cardiovascular mortality rates amongst individuals during summer…
The following will consider blood panels with high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), high lipoprotein (a), high free androgen index, high gamma tocopherol, low zinc, low beta-carotene, and high trans fatty acids. As a means of appreciating said markers, associated cardiovascular health consequences, and solutions to optimize said markers, the following will explore the…
Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), a high ratio of total cholesterol/HDL, high alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and a high hemoglobin A1C are common markers on blood chemistry panels. However, left unmanaged, such markers can manifest into conditions unfavorable to health such as cardiovascular heart disease. As a means of appreciating blood…
High concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), particles that transport and deposit cholesterol as well as phospholipids and proteins, have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).1 In particular, LDLs which contain apolipoprotein B (apoB) as part of their cell structure, are also associated with the development of atherosclerosis.1(9.6) Thus, it is imperative to…
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, making it a considerable global health problem with far reaching consequences in terms of morbidity, and mortality and healthcare costs. However, cardiovascular health can be assessed via analysis of blood biomarkers to include (but not limited to) total cholesterol, homocysteine, alkaline phosphatase, and high-density…
Blood biomarkers such as high triglycerides, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratios, high ferritin, high homocysteine, and low alpha-tocopherol levels have been linked to hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) states. Furthermore, such blood markers are also quite common within blood chemistry panels. As a means of appreciating said markers and their relationship to high…