Alzheimer's or Brain Diabetes?

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.

A growing body of research suggests there's a powerful connection between your diet and your risk of Alzheimer's disease via similar pathways that cause type 2 diabetes.

Back in 2005, a published medical paper introduced a new disease tentatively dubbed "type 3 diabetes".

The researchers learned that, in addition to the pancreas, your brain also produces insulin.

They discovered that without the insulin your brain cells will die.

A drop in insulin production in your brain may contribute to the degeneration of your brain cells, and studies have found that people with lower levels of insulin and insulin receptors in their brain often have Alzheimer's disease.

Studies since 2005 have continually documented that insulin has a much greater role in the brain than previously expected.

Insulin is directly responsible for neuron glucose-uptake, and the regulation of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, which are crucial for memory and learning.

Scientists have come to understand that cognition is impaired when insulin levels are reduced.

The clinical reseach has made it quite clear that the same pathological process that leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes may also hold true for your brain.

The take away from these studies make a strong point that the over-consumption of sugars and "grains" which are also detrimental to the the development of diabetes may also result in Type 3 Diabetes (brain diabetes).

When the brain becomes overwhelmed by the consistently high levels of glucose, the insulin signaling will eventually become blunted or desensitized. This will lead to impairments in your thinking and memory abilities, eventually causing permanent brain damage.

Healthcare clinicians trained in functional medicine have the training and knowledge to investigate what is at the root of the pathological process that leads to Type 2 diabetes and the new diagnosis of Type 3 diabetes.

The one size fits all approach of prescriptive medications for diabetes, although of some value, will not shut down the physiological cascade of the consequences of poor sugar/insulin control. 

To find a healthcare professional certified in functional medicine, go to www.FunctionalMedicineDoctors.com.These are clinicians who have been trained at Functional Medicine University (www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com)

Reference:

Steen E, Terry BM, Rivera EJ, Cannon JL, Neely TR, Tavares R, Xu XJ, Wands JR, de la Monte SM. Impaired insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression and signaling mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease--is this type 3 diabetes? J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Feb;7(1):63-80.

de la Monte, Wands.Alzheimer's Disease Is Type 3 Diabetes–Evidence Reviewed, J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008 Nov; 2(6): 1101–1113.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769828/

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com for more information on our training in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University's Certification Program (CFMP) www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Grisanti is required.

Stress during pregnancy can impact infant gut microbiota

Science Update Forum

Stress during pregnancy can impact infant gut microbiota

Posted on Thu, Jan 29, 2015 @ 01:10 PM

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According to a recent article in Psychoneuroendocrinology, women who experience stress during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with dysbiosis and with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal issues and allergic reactions.

Stress during pregnancy has been linked to both physical and psychological problems in the child. This study suggests the infant's gut microbiota may be an underlying factor.

In this study, the stress and anxiety levels of pregnant women were measured through questionnaires and by testing salivary cortisol levels. Fecal samples from 5

6 babies were also tested from one week until four months after birth. The researchers discovered a correlation between the mothers who reported high stress levels and presented high cortisol levels and the diversity of intestinal microbiota in the babies' guts.

The moms with high stress levels and elevated cortisol levels had babies with more Proteobacteria and fewer lactic acid bacteria and Actinobacteria in their GI tract, which means they had a low diversity of beneficial bacteria. The presence of these bacteria also correlated with a higher incidence of GI and allergy-related issues among the babies in this group.

The results of this study indicate a possible mechanism for health problems in children of mothers who experience stress while they are pregnant. According to the researchers, giving probiotics would likely benefit these children's development. 

Pregnant women or women preparing for pregnancy know the importance of a good prenatal vitamin and dietary folate, but many may not think of a probiotic as an essential supplement in their nutritional regimen. In addition, pregnant women experiencing stress have a limited number of options for what nutritional supplements they can take. There are great adaptogenic botanical herbs to support stress and adrenal health; however, many botanicals are contraindicated during pregnancy, or there is simply not enough research done on them for this stage of life, so botanicals are typically avoided. Probiotics, on the other hand, may be beneficial in helping to counteract the dysbiosis caused by stress and are safe to use during pregnancy.

Source: Maartje A.C. Zijlmans, Katri Korpela, J. Marianne Riksen-Walraven, Willem M. de Vos, Carolina de Weerth. Maternal Prenatal Stress is Associated with the Infant Intestinal Microbiota. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2015; DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.01.006

Tags: stress, microbiota, pregnancy

ADHD – What Does the Science Say?

ADHD – What Does the Science Say?

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a diagnosis that has now been “given” to more than 6.5 million American children. And if that statistic is not compelling enough, please understand that about two thirds of these children are actually receiving mind altering medications to “treat” the disorder. But there are certainly other considerations that parents should make prior to engaging these potentially health threatening medications.

In the well-respected, peer reviewed medical Journal Pediatrics, doctors J. Gordon Millichap and Michelle M. Yee, published a report entitled “The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” In this comprehensive review, the authors reviewed a variety of dietary issues including omega-3 fatty acids, dietary sugar, allergic considerations, iron, and zinc, and produced a very provocative report indicating, at the end of the day, that we are probably significantly missing the boat in terms of what is being done to American children with the mistaken notion that treating them with aggressive pharmaceuticals is going to help them perform and reach academic goals.

Simple ideas like iron deficiency, and zinc deficiency, and how they relate to ADHD are reviewed in the publication with an emphasis on the idea that these are simple treatable issues that can have a profound effect on the diagnosis in question. Similarly, the important role of omega-3 fatty acids is reviewed.

The authors conclude, “Supplemental diet therapy is simple, relatively inexpensive, and more acceptable to patient and parent. Public education regarding a healthy diet pattern and lifestyle to prevent or control ADHD may have greater long-term success.”

And to be sure, I am in complete agreement with their conclusion. Basically, what they have told us is that nutrition plays a role in how the brain works, and in this case specifically, nutrition plays a fundamental role in allowing children to maintain composure and vigilance and that should help them in terms of acquiring academic information.

As I have stated many times, it is, at least in my opinion, critically important to practice medicine under the dictum of primum non nocere – above all do no harm. And in this case, please recognize that this information is written in a journal that is possibly one of the most well-respected pediatric journals in the country, and likely read by most pediatricians.

Dr. Perlmutter

http://www.drperlmutter.com/

Coal and Tar for Halloween?

You know that you are doing something right when just your physical presence causes people to make different food choices. Let me explain. For many years, I have gone to Houston to attend the International Quilt Festival. Typically, it is held over the Halloween weekend. During this time I stay with my best friend and her family. This is something that I have attended since my days of living in Houston way back in the early 1990’s. Since moving away, whenever I go to Houston, I always stay with my best friend, so several times a year, I move into their spare bedroom and set up camp. This has happened for so many years, that I consider it my 2^nd home. On my most recent trip to finalize the dancing in ANNIE, we were eating dinner when 8 year old Noah asked me the following question. “Mikell, are you going to be here for Halloween?” I found this question very odd. I am not a big fan of Halloween for a laundry list of reasons, so it is not like I get caught up in decorations and dressing up in a costume. So for a child, I would not consider myself to be a lot of “fun” for that particular event. With my curiosity peaked, I asked him why? His response was “If you are here, we have to eat healthier and you won’t let me eat my Halloween candy!” Now for the record, I have physically NEVER stopped anyone from eating what they want, however, if my physical presence causes someone to rethink a food choice, then I am all for it. I know I must be leading by example for this little one to associate me with a healthier lifestyle! It was a proud moment for me!

On that note, whether you partake in the Halloween festivities or not, one thing is for sure. You will be surrounded by candy. It is everywhere. In any store, at school, in the work place (not mine of course! Toy and Joetta, this means you!) Many of you will be participating in Harvest Festivals and parties. Each time you pick up a “mini” candy morsel, you need to know what you are ingesting. This is where you need to break out the magnifying glass so you can read the label.  Aside from the high fructose corn syrup, check out all of the different dyes in just one seemingly innocent tidbit. Red, yellow, blue...all the colors that we know, which live up in the rainbow! Hummmm. 

Where do these dyes come from? Have you ever wondered that? Well, for the most part, these pretty dyes come from coal or tar. Yes, I mean the stuff you would never consider to eat in its raw form. Now doesn’t that sound yummy? (This could bring a whole new meaning to coal in your stocking at Christmas!) Blue #1 and #2 (Patent Blue and Indigo Carmine) are commonly added to candy. Brilliant black has been known to make the symptoms of asthma worse. Yellow #5 (Tartazine) is known to cause the most allergic types of symptoms. These could include anxiety, migraines, depression, blurred vision, itching, runny nose, general weakness, heart palpitations and trouble with sleep. Well, what is a parent to do? For some families “trick or treating”, or “trunk or treating” is a fun holiday kick off. I am not trying to suggest that you stay at home and not participate. My concern is what happens to all of the “coal and tar” that your little darlings have collected. How about this for an idea? Tell your little ones that after the fun, they will get to pick out 5 pieces of candy to keep. The rest will go into a bag by the front door. After they go to bed, the “candy fairy” will come to pick up the candy and will leave a special toy in its place! How cool is that! It provides a win, win for all! I have found the bigger problem for families is to actually have the courage to throw the candy away. It could be seen as wasteful. I am actually ok with that! Better it go to the garbage (isn’t that where coal and tar belong?) than inside your little darlings tummies!

 Dr Mikell Parsons, The Holistic Detective.

Electronic Cigarettes- The Real Scoop

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.

Electronic cigarettes is the big rave these days.

Many people addicted to regular cigarettes are under the false assumption that these electronic smoking devices are safe.

Wrong!

Unfortunately, the FDA has failed to do their due diligence to do adequate research on its safety.

From a functional medicine perspective, electronic cigarettes may in fact produce a silent but deadly symptom.

I am referring to INFLAMMATION.

With the fact that E-cigs contain diethylene glycol used in antifreeze and carcinogenic nitrosamines, don't believe the innocent looking commercials advertising their safety.

I would challenge the big e-cig companies to have a dozen or more of their electronic consumers get a Cardio-ION test.

Here is what I suspect will be seen:

Their lipid peroxides (serious cell damage), 8-OhdG (cancer gene damage), hsCRP, and other indicators of inflammation and accelerated aging will go up while various nutrient levels go down.

Not good news.

Think twice about the safety of electronic cigarettes.

Reference:

Esteri M, E-cigarettes encounter rising heat, Wall St J, Dec 19, 2013

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com for more information on our training in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University's Certification Program (CFMP) www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Grisanti is required.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sex Hormones

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sex Hormones

A review of the current medical literature shows that sex hormones can actually

block some important mechanisms involved in the development of Rheumatoid

arthritis, including immunoregulation, inflammatory response, cytokine reactions,

and cartilage damage.

In premenopausal women, most studies indicate a strong correlation between

low androgen levels (DHEA, testosterone) and the progression of RA. In a study

of 49 postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis, DHEA levels were

significantly lower than in healthy controls. [Gaby, AR. Holistic Medicine. Spring,

1993: p.22]

Numerous studies have shown that men with RA often present with low

testosterone levels. Several studies have suggested that testosterone may play a

protective role in RA, with initial deficiencies setting the stage for development of

the disease.

If you are concerned or have a family history of Rheumatoid arthritis, get your levels tested. Dr. Lund has taken post graduate classes on this subject. Call her office for an appointment. 209-536-9182

References:

1. Da Silva JA, Hall GM. The effects of gender and sex hormones on

outcome in rheumatoid arthritis. Baillieres Clin Rheumatol 1992; 6(1):196-

219.

2. Masi AT. Sex hormones and rheumatoid arthritis: cause or effect

relationships in a complex pathophysiology? Clin Exp Rheumatol

1995;13(2):227-240.

3. Cutolo M, Balleari E, Giusti M, Monachesi M, Accardo S. Sex hormone

status in women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol

1986;13(60:1019-1023.

4. Benito US, Arnalich FF, Gonzalez-Gancedo P, de Miguel Mendieta E,

Gijon BJ. The hormonal changes in postmenopausal women with

rheumatoid arthritis [In Spanish]. Rev Clin Esp 1992;190(40):181-3.

5. Cutolo M, Balleari E, Giusti M, Monachesi M, Accardo S. Sex hormone

status of male patients with rheumatoid arthritis: evidence of low serum

concentrations of testosterone at baseline and after human chroionic

gonadotropin stimulation. Arthritis Rheum 1988;31(10):1314-1317.

6. Martens HF, Sheets PK, Tenover JS, Dugowson CE, Bremner WJ,

Starkebaum G. Decreased testosterone levels in men with rheumatoid

arthritis: effect of low dose prednisone therapy. J Rheum 1994;21(8):1427-

1431.

7. Spector TD, Perry LA, Tubb G, Silman AJ, Huskisson EC. Low free

testosterone levels in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1988 47(1):65-

68.

8. Spector TD, Ollier W, Perry LA, Silman AJ, Thompson PW, Edwards A.

Free and serum testosterone levels in 276 males: a comparative study of

Insulin Sensitivity and Sleep, or Lack Thereof

Posted on Thu, Aug 21, 2014 @ 01:42 PM

  

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Study after worldwide study (and there were many this year) correlate the ramifications of sleep deprivation on insulin sensitivity. The jury was clear – sleep loss affects the body’s ability to match up the glucose-insulin response.
Sleep isn’t always made a priority, especially in the young population. Loss of slow wave sleep (SWS), the deepest and most restorative sleep, and loss of sleep hours in general, is connected with insulin resistance without insulin secretion. Both types of sleep loss have been shown to increase brain activity in areas associated with food stimulus. This makes sense since evidence shows hunger, appetite and ghrelin levels increase while leptin levels decrease.
The relative risk (RR) of developing diabetes from less than or equal to 5 or 6 hours of sleep ranges from 1.57 to 1.84, as reported by meta-analyses of several population-based studies. Meanwhile, RR of developing type 2 diabetes with a family history ranges from 1.7 to 2.3. Five hours a night for just one week causes significant reduction in insulin sensitivity. A Penn State Cohort followed 1,000 men for 14 years and 741 women for 10 years, and found the risk of mortality was 21 percent for men and 5 percent for women. Insomniacs’ risk of type 2 diabetes, with polysomnogram verified sleep of less than 5 hours, was “nearly threefold highe.”
The connection between partial sleep restriction and alterations in glucose metabolism has been established for quite some time. The definition of partial sleep restriction, however, may need to be redefined. Sleep with less than 5 hours, not less than 6 hours like some studies use, is the parameter that is most strongly associated with negative outcomes, yet this represents only a small fraction of the population_.
If you think this means that missing one night or one hour of sleep is okay, then think again. A 2010 study published in Diabetes Care shows how 7 type 1 diabetics suffered peripheral insulin resistance after just one night of four hours sleep. Also, 19 healthy, normal-weight young men lost an hour and half sleep daily for 3 weeks and saw changes in insulin sensitivity, leptin level variation and body weight.A cross-section of 771 Danish participants showed just one-hour increase in sleep correlated with 25 percent risk reduction of impaired glucose regulation. It also showed 0.3 mmol/mol reduction in HbA(1c).
There are misconceptions regarding burning more calories for time awake. The difference per hour compared to sleep averaged about 17 kcal. Risk of increased hunger and food intake, as well as reduction in overall physical activity from fatigue, needs to be considered.
The question is how much of this propensity for insomnia, or desire to stay up late, perhaps even work night shifts, is genetic?
In 2013, a study in Finland involving over 4,000 participants found that those who considered themselves “evening types” had a 2.5-fold odds ratio for type 2 diabetes, as compared to those who are morning people. Neither sleep duration or sleep sufficiency are apparently of any influence. Specific circadian gene variants with evening preference have also shown weight loss resistance and susceptibility to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Not only that, but it has been found that “the heritability of body mass index is increased in short sleepers.”
This doesn’t mean you should sleep more. Apparently “long sleep,” or more than 9 hours of sleep, can bring along “higher fasting and 120-min. insulin, 120-min. glucose, and HOMA and lower Insulin Sensitivity Index.” Of course sleep in most of these studies is self-reported, but the idea here seems to be that long sleepers are actually poor sleepers who stay in bed longer in an attempt to compensate for poor sleep quality. Fatigue from another undiagnosed condition has also been surmised, but it is also noted that long sleepers are usually less physically active. In addition, there is evidence that long sleep predicts the incidence of diabetes. This should be of consideration. After all, just “a 1-point increment in sleep quality was associated with a 2% increase in both the insulin sensitivity index (0,120) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity, as well as a 1% decrease in homeostasis model assessment of B-cell function.₉
So, when changing sleep habits, consider quality. Refreshingly, some of the damage done with sleep deprivation (such as decreased insulin sensitivity and other metabolic issues) can be reversed with recovery sleep. If sleep habits need to be improved, start by going to bed a half-hour earlier every day, or just jump in, and tuck in by a reasonable hour every night.

For information on a related topic, please listen to our Clinical Rounds from May 30, 2012 on Sleep Anea with Roschelle Banks, DDS.