Tests / Biomarkers
In this author’s most recent posts, IBS was explored with a particular focus upon nutritional support to manage said condition. In the following sections, this author would like to explore other nutritional themes that could prove useful in mitigating the pathophysiology and symptoms underlying IBS. As such, the following will consider digestive enzyme supplementation as…
Constipation is a condition that falls under a broader term known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); a disorder that negatively affects millions of people, globally.1 IBS with constipation (IBS-C) can be caused by multiple factors, ultimately presenting as slowed gut motility, gas, and bloating.1(39),2 Left unmanaged, IBS-C can create psychological burdens, affect relationships, lower physical…
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…
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…
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common aberration in endocrine function, which negatively impacts calcium homeostasis.1 Due to its commonality, approximately 20-30 new cases, per year, are identified for every 100,000 people in the United States.1(564) Furthermore, PHPT is the leading cause of chronic hypercalcemia and has long term negative effects upon bone, cardiovascular, kidney health,…
Kidney stones affect up to 5% of the population while its prevalence is associated with improved standards of living.1 Furthermore, kidney stone disease (KSD) is increasing in women across the age spectrum beginning as early as childhood.2 KSD also has associated risk factors to include obesity, gastrointestinal pathology, insulin resistance, warmer climates, use of medications,…
Sedentary behavior and a general overconsumption of calories, especially from processed foods, are primary drivers for overweight/obesity.1,2 Such changes can be identified and tracked by implementing a measure known as body mass index (BMI); a metric relating weight (kilograms) divided by height (metres2) to normative values.3 Other biomarkers that provide meaningful insight into an individual’s…
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 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…