Past News Items - May 2023
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In the News
MitoQ Wins Award for Best Heart Health and Longevity Support Supplement Product Line for 2023
1 in 101 people and 1 in 2 diabetics2 suffer from Peripheral Neuropathy while 80% of patients remain undiagnosed3
Researchers develop model for how the brain acquires essential omega-3 fatty acids
Do vitamin D levels affect the body’s response to anti-cancer immunotherapy?
Study finds stool transplants more effective than antibiotics for treating recurring, life-threatening gut infections
Rates of Autism Climb to New Highs in the U.S., With California Setting Record Numbers
The Institute for Functional Medicine 2023 Annual International Conference: Advancements in Clinical Research and Innovative Practices in Functional Medicine
THORNE HEALTHTECH SHARES RESULTS OF COLLABORATIVE CLINICAL TRIAL WITH MAYO CLINIC AND HEALTHTECH CONNEX, INC. - "THE EFFECTS OF A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT ON BRAIN FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE IN JUNIOR A ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS"
Helfgott Research Institute Receives Major Funding to Test Mind-Body Practices for Reducing Benzodiazepine Medications
Omni-Biotic,® to join the Fullscript™ online dispensary platform.
MitoQ Wins Award for Best Heart Health and Longevity Support Supplement Product Line for 2023
HealthXWire announced today that it has awarded New Zealand-based MitoQ its highest honors for the company's breakthrough technology in cell health, featuring an innovative bio-engineered antioxidant in its 2023 line of health supplements. MitoQ's proprietary CoQ10 https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-coenzyme-q10/art-20362602 molecule is uniquely bioavailable in its neutralization of damaging free radicals and relief of oxidative stress.
CoQ10 is one of the most consumed dietary and nutritional supplements in the U.S. and is the most recommended supplement by cardiologists. Factors such as growing geriatric populations and increasing adoption of dietary supplements have increased demand for CoQ10; market revenue is expected to cross $1.15 billion by 2027. Healthcare applications to promote heart health are expected to drive market statistics over the forecast period, increasing demand for MitoQ's heart health supplement, MitoQ+heart.
CoQ10 is a powerful https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/antioxidants/ - introductionantioxidant that helps prevent damage to cell membranes and DNA caused by free radicals. Current CoQ10 supplements, however, cannot effectively penetrate the impermeable walls of the cells' energy-producing mitochondria.
In contrast, MitoQ is a unique molecule clinically proven to be absorbed directly into the mitochondria, accumulating at levels hundreds of times higher than standard CoQ10 supplements, leading to speculation that MitoQ may replace CoQ10 supplementation in the future.
The scientific community has taken note of the product's potential. Leading institutions around the world are currently studying MitoQ, with over 600 peer-reviewed scientific papers published, 14 clinical trials completed, and over 60 patents attained.
MitoQ recently debuted its new heart health formulation, https://www.mitoq.com/journal/scientists-still-have-one-trick-up-their-sleeve-mitoq-heartMitoQ+heart, which includes vitamin D3, magnesium, and L-carnitine.
In addition, the company features an array of products that blend its unique molecule with research-backed supplement ingredients, each aimed toward specific health issues, including MitoQ+joint, MitoQ+liver, MitoQ+eye, and MitoQ+brain. [See full press release.]
MitoQ products are available direct from the manufacturer and via e-commerce outlets.
About HealthXWire is a digital infomedia and news magazine featuring articles about health, wellness and longevity.
1 in 101 people and 1 in 2 diabetics2 suffer from Peripheral Neuropathy while 80% of patients remain undiagnosed3
As part of Neuropathy Awareness Week 2023, P&G Health, brought together globally renowned health experts with 6000 Healthcare Professionals from across Asia, India, Middle East, and Africa at the 'Demystifying Neuropathy Forum'. Hosted out of Mumbai and simulcast to 8 countries, the signature event saw deliberations on the latest clinical guidance on screening and management of the growing public health concern of Peripheral Neuropathy.
Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is a chronic clinical condition, wherein the peripheral nervous system is damaged. Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy include numbness, tingling, prickling, and burning sensations in the hands and feet. Sufferers of PN report impacts on their quality of life including reduced physical abilities and poor sleep. Besides Diabetes Mellitus, obesity, alcohol misuse, and B vitamins deficiencies are other high-risk factors leading to peripheral nerve damage.
Aalok Agrawal, Senior Vice-President, P&G Health, Asia, India, Middle East & Africa said, "1 in 10 people and 1 in 2 diabetics are suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy. Yet many are unaware that early diagnoses can enable successful treatment outcomes, and damaged nerves can be regenerated if nerve damage has not progressed too far.[4] A leader in Nerve Health, P&G Health has been committed to enabling improved treatment outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for consumers since 1962. Our 'Demystifying Neuropathy Forum' saw a multidisciplinary panel of experts from across the globe and the region come together to share their clinical recommendations on assessment and etiology of Peripheral Neuropathy, and holistic treatment approach including role of B vitamins in supporting healthy nerve functions."
Speaking at the forum, Prof. Rainer Freynhagen, Head of Department, Anaesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine & Pain Medicine at Benedictus Hospitals Tutzing & Feldafing Germany stated, "Peripheral Neuropathy and pain with neuropathic components are highly prevalent in the general population. Doctors around the globe see millions of patients suffering daily of these conditions which are relatively easy to diagnose but challenging to treat, particularly in advanced stages. Around 10% of the general population worldwide is affected by neuropathic pain and 50% of these patients are not sufficiently managed[1]. Although identifying a patient with PN is not rocket science, currently published studies across different countries confirm that up to 80% of patients remaining undiagnosed and untreated. Many people may report their painful sensations only after they become unbearable but for me much more important is the fact, that only less than 1/3rd of physicians are confident to recognize symptoms and signs of PN accordingly. To me it's appalling that for many physicians' neuropathic pain has often the lowest importance in comparison to other symptoms, even though it's one of the most burdenful problems with a tremendous impact on our patients quality of life."
Prof. Dr Satish V Khadilkar, Renowned Neurologist, Professor and Head of Department of Neurology at Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences in Mumbai, India stated, "Diagnosing Peripheral Neuropathy is an unmet need. If PN is not diagnosed and treated in early stages, it usually progresses into neuropathic pain which can lead to several comorbidities which significantly impact the patient's quality of life, social life and working life[5]. These include depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety which also require treatment adding to the economic burden of the patient. Painful diabetic PN is significantly associated with disruptions in employment status and work productivity. Of working patients, 59% reported being less productive at work[6]."
According to Dr Ankia Coetzee, Endocrinologist, University of Stellenbosch Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa, "Each contact with a patient is an opportunity and primary care physicians can play a key role in diagnosing neuropathy[7]. As some patients might have difficulties in describing their symptoms properly, proactively probing for characteristics of PN such as numbness, pins and needles and tingling sensation, lancinating, stabbing or electric shock like pain can be a good starting point. Easy to perform sensory tests such as vibration perception testing, pin prick test, monofilament test etc. take no longer than a few minutes and guide the diagnosis, while laboratory tests can help refine the diagnoses."
Dr Inna Eiberger, Global Medical Director, P&G Health Nerve Care Franchise shared, "Neurotropic B vitamins are essential for nerve health and support nerve regeneration. Vitamin B1 provides energy to the nerves, vitamin B6 helps with signal transmission in nerves, while vitamin B12 supports nerve regeneration. An in-vitro study initiated by P&G Health showed that when Vitamin B1, B6, and B12 were added to nerve cultures with healthy nerve cells, there was an increase in total neurite length of 124% and an increase in the total cell body area of 55%. Nerve network of cells nourished with B1, B6, and B12, also doubled. Further in-vitro experiments have proven that Vitamins B1, B6, and B12 support nerve cell recovery after nerve cell damage."
P&G Health also announced its collaboration with EcoMatcher, a social enterprise to plant a 'Global Forest of Care' with 2000 trees across India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia to mark the tireless efforts of the collective ecosystem of healthcare professionals (HCP), medical associations and health authorities towards research, awareness, and holistic management of peripheral neuropathy.
References:
1. Attal N et al, Lancet Neurol 2018; 17: 456–66
2. Kumar S, et al. Laser Therapy 2016;25: 141–144
3. Ponirakis G et al, J Diabetes Investig 2019; 10: 1558–1564
4. Smith P O et al, Int J Phys Med Rehabil, Vol.11 Iss.4 No:1000667
5. O'Connor AB. Pharmacoecon. 2009;27: 95–112.
6. Allemann CJM. Diab Res Clin Practice. 2015;109: 215–225.
7. Malik RA, et al.J Diabetes Investig 2020 Vol. 2 No. 5
SOURCE P&G
Researchers develop model for how the brain acquires essential omega-3 fatty acids
Researchers at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at UCLA and the National Institutes of Health have developed a zebrafish model that provides new insight into how the brain acquires essential omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and linolenic acid (ALA). Their findings, published in Nature Communications, have the potential to improve understanding of lipid transport across the blood-brain barrier and of disruptions in this process that can lead to birth defects or neurological conditions. The model may also enable researchers to design drug molecules that are capable of directly reaching the brain.
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential because the body cannot make them and must obtain them through foods, such as fish, nuts and seeds. DHA levels are especially high in the brain and important for a healthy nervous system. Infants obtain DHA from breastmilk or formula, and deficiencies of this fatty acid have been linked to problems with learning and memory. To get to the brain, omega-3 fatty acids must pass through the blood-brain barrier via the lipid transporter Mfsd2a, which is essential for normal brain development. Despite its importance, scientists did not know precisely how Mfsd2a transports DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids.
In the study, the research team provides images of the structure of zebrafish Mfsd2a, which is similar to its human counterpart. The snapshots are the first to detail precisely how fatty acids move across the cell membrane. The study team also identified three compartments in Mfsd2a that suggest distinct steps required to move and flip fatty acids through the transporter, as opposed to movement through a linear tunnel or along the surface of the protein complex. The findings provide key information on how Mfsd2a transports omega-3 fatty acids into the brain and may enable researchers to optimize drug delivery via this route. The study also provides foundational knowledge on how other members of this transporter family, called the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), regulate important cellular functions.
The study was led by Tamir Gonen, Ph.D., of UCLA and Doreen Matthies, Ph.D., of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Additional funding for the study was provided by NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Do vitamin D levels affect the body’s response to anti-cancer immunotherapy?
New research indicates that for patients with advanced skin cancer, it may be important to maintain normal vitamin D levels when receiving immunotherapy medications called immune checkpoint inhibitors. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
Vitamin D has many effects on the body, including regulation of the immune system. To see whether levels of vitamin D might impact the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, investigators analyzed the blood of 200 patients with advanced melanoma both before and every 12 weeks during immunotherapy treatment.
A favorable response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors was observed in 56.0% of patients in the group with normal baseline vitamin D levels or normal levels obtained with vitamin D supplementation, compared with 36.2% in the group with low vitamin D levels without supplementation. Progression?free survival—the time from treatment initiation until cancer progression—in these groups was 11.25 and 5.75 months, respectively.
“Of course, vitamin D is not itself an anti-cancer drug, but its normal serum level is needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, including the response that anti-cancer drugs like immune checkpoint inhibitors affect,” said lead author ?ukasz Galus, MD, of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, in Poland. “In our opinion, after appropriately randomized confirmation of our results, the assessment of vitamin D levels and its supplementation could be considered in the management of melanoma.”
Source: CANCER?is a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society integrating scientific information from worldwide sources for all oncologic specialties.
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cncr.34718
Study finds stool transplants more effective than antibiotics for treating recurring, life-threatening gut infections
A new Cochrane Review led by an Upstate Medical University professor has found that, compared with standard antibiotic treatment, stool transplantation can increase the number of people recovering from Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection, a condition which causes potentially life-threatening diarrhea. 77 percent of people who received a stool transplant did not experience reinfection within eight weeks, compared to 40 percent of those who received antibiotics alone.
C. diff is a bacterium that can cause life-threatening diarrheal illness in individuals with an unhealthy mixture of gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis. The most common cause of dysbiosis is treatment with antibiotics, and while antibiotics can be very effective against bacterial infections, they can also harm the beneficial bacteria colonizing the gut, known as the intestinal microbiome. Usually this ecosystem of “good” bacteria recovers quickly, but occasionally “bad” species like C. diff take over and cause serious diarrhea.
The standard treatment of C. diff infection includes antibiotics, which may further exacerbate dysbiosis. This can lead to a vicious cycle of brief treatment effect followed by a recurrent infection. This happens in nearly a third of infected individuals. According to the CDC, every year there are around a quarter of a million C. diff infections in the US alone, causing approximately 12,000 fatalities.
Transplanting healthy donor stool into a gut with dysbiosis is intended to balance the gut microbes and reestablish a healthy microbiome, thus significantly reducing the risk of C. diff recurring. Stool donation operates much the same way as blood donation. Donors are screened for diseases and infections before they can donate their stool. The stool can be transplanted via colonoscopy, nasogastric or nasoduodenal tube, enema or via a capsule. The US Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a stool transplant product for prevention of recurrence of C. diff that can be administered as enema.
The new Cochrane Review, led by pediatric gastroenterologist Aamer Imdad MBBS, examined data from six clinical trials with a total of 320 adults that assessed the efficacy and safety of stool transplantation for the treatment of repeated C. diff infection. Two studies were conducted in Denmark, and one each in the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, and the United States. Most of the included studies compared stool transplantation with a standard antibiotic treatment using vancomycin, which is commonly used for this kind of infection.
The review found that stool transplantation leads to a larger increase in resolution of repeated infections of C. diff than other treatments studied, as well as a decrease in side effects when compared with standard treatment using antibiotics.
“After a person with a C. diff infection gets treated with antibiotics, there is about a 25 percent chance that they will have another episode of C. diff infection in the next 8 weeks”, Imdad said. “The risk of recurrence increases to about 40 percent with the second episode and to nearly 60 percent with the third episode. So, once you are in this cycle, it gets more and more difficult to break out of it. Stool transplants can reverse the dysbiosis and thus decrease the risk of recurrence of the disease.”
A second Cochrane Review, also led by Dr. Imdad, looks at the use of stool transplants for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a term mainly used to describe two conditions: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The review shows promising results for ulcerative colitis; however, the data is not conclusive yet. Results for Crohn’s disease are even less conclusive. More research will be required before stool transplants can be considered for the treatment of IBD.
Imdad collaborated with doctors around the country on both studies, including Nathan Zev Minkoff, a graduate from the Norton College of Medicine, Upstate students Natasha Pandit and Muiz Zaman, Class of 2023 in the Norton College of Medicine and Melissa Medina, Class of 2026 in the Department of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, on the C-diff study. The other collaborators included Dr. Maribeth Nicholson and Dr. Sari Acra from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Scheherzade Asalam from University of Nebraska, Dr. Emily E Tanner Smith from University of Oregon, Dr. Oscar Gomez from University of Buffalo and Dr. Joseph Zackular from University of Pennsylvania.
Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013871.pub2/full
Rates of Autism Climb to New Highs in the U.S., With California Setting Record Numbers
New federal studies coauthored by autism experts at Rutgers found that more children have been diagnosed with autism than at any time since monitoring began more than two decades ago.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 4 percent of 8-year-old boys and 1 percent of 8-year-old girls, have autism in the U.S. These estimates are the highest since the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network was created in 2000.
Biennial studies from the ADDM Network, which analyzed data from 2020, were coauthored by Walter Zahorodny, director of the New Jersey Autism Study at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Josephine Shenouda, a Rutgers epidemiologist.
The first study, the CDC’s 2020 autism prevalence report, found that California set new records, diagnosing 45 percent more boys with autism than any other state in the network. Nearly 7 percent of all 8-year-old boys in the San Diego region are estimated to have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to the report.
In New Jersey, the combined rate of 8-year-old boys and girls with ASD was 28.7 per 1,000 children (2.9 percent), the third-highest behind Minnesota (3 percent) and California (4.5 percent).
Maryland recorded the lowest rate (2.3 percent) across the 11 states in the network (which includes Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin).
“For California in particular, the data are surprising and represent the highest autism prevalence estimates from a region by an epidemiologic study,” Zahorodny said.
There may be several reasons for the disparity between California’s numbers and the rest of the country, he said. For one, California’s figures were drawn from an area in metro San Diego that is leading national efforts to diagnose autism as early as possible, translating into more accurate – and higher – numbers than other states.
State-funded centers also provide evaluations and service coordination for children with disabilities and their families. Other states may be undercounting because they don’t have as many diagnostic resources, he said.
“The true rate may not be substantially different between California and other ADDM states, including New Jersey,” Zahorodny said. “What’s different is that California implemented some wide-ranging screening and intervention programs, which may have resulted in a higher estimated prevalence than elsewhere in the network.”
California also outpaced all other states in the 2018 study, recording an overall prevalence of 38.9 per 1,000 children. The state was not included in the 2016 study.
Zahorodny said other states should consider expanding screening programs to echo what California has done. “Consistent universal screening of young children coordinated through multiple pediatric practices may be the way to make a difference in autism detection and intervention,” he said.
A companion 2020 report, which estimated early identification of autism in 4-year-old children, found similar patterns and trends. Total prevalence in this age group increased 26 percent compared with 2018 results – to 2.1 percent of children. But the rates varied widely and were 265 percent higher in California than in Utah, the state with the lowest prevalence.
More difficult to ascertain is why ASD prevalence continues to climb. While there are known risk factors for autism, including age of parents, multiple-gestation birth, prematurity, C-section delivery and care in the intensive care unit after delivery, these perinatal factors have remained relatively stable even as the rate of ASD has continued to surge.
A common misconception is that better awareness and more availability of services is largely responsible for the rise, but Zahorodny said this was “impossible” because the scope and breadth of increase has been extensive across all subtypes of ASD, from mild to severe and across all demographic groups.
“This is not just a phenomenon of becoming more sensitive to subtly impaired kids,” he said.
Among other highlights from the reports:
- For the first time among 8-year-old children, the prevalence of ASD was lower among white children than among other racial and ethnic groups, reversing the direction of racial and ethnic differences in ASD prevalence observed in the past.
- Black 8-year-old children with ASD were more likely than white children with ASD to have a co-occurring intellectual disability.
- Over the past two decades, ASD prevalence estimates of 8-year-old children from the ADDM Network have increased sharply, from 0.6 percent in 2000 to 2.2 percent 2018.
- Among 4-year-olds, ASD prevalence in 2020 ranged from 1.2 percent of children in Utah to 4.6 percent in California, with an overall prevalence of 2.1 percent.
“Once considered a rare disorder, these figures suggest that autism may be one of the most common disabilities,” Zahorodny said. “The trouble is we don't understand what the primary drivers of the increase are.”
Source: Rutgers University-New Brunswick
The Institute for Functional Medicine 2023 Annual International Conference: Advancements in Clinical Research and Innovative Practices in Functional Medicine
The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) is excited to announce its 2023 Annual International Conference (AIC): Advancements in Clinical Research and Innovative Practices in Functional Medicine, which will be held June 1-3, 2023 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL. For the first time since 2019, AIC will be held in-person, with a limited livestream option to ensure clinicians from all disciplines and locations have access to the latest advances in functional medicine research and clinically relevant insights for creating healthier outcomes with patients.
“As the epidemic of chronic disease continues to rise, the availability of more personalized and sustainable approaches to health care that truly address the needs of each patient as an individual is more critical today than ever before,” states Amy R. Mack, MSES/MPA, IFM chief executive officer. “We are thrilled to be back in person at AIC 2023 to connect, learn, and innovate about the latest advances in functional medicine in order to improve health and well-being for patients worldwide.”
AIC is the premier educational event in functional medicine, bringing together expert speakers and healthcare practitioners from all 50 United States and more than 38 countries around the world. In addition to the educational sessions, AIC offers attendees the opportunity to network and build relationships with providers who share the same passion for treating root causes of disease and restoring healthy function through a personalized patient experience.
This year’s conference will feature keynote speakers, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities to explore a wide range of topics related to functional medicine. Attendees will explore diverse clinical topic areas in thought-provoking lectures and discussions led by leading experts, including:
· George “Bud” Brainard, PhD: Pioneer in the field of light and human health research and professor in the departments of neurology and biochemistry and molecular biology at Thomas Jefferson University
· Sheldon Feldman, MD, FACS; Pioneer and innovator in multidisciplinary and integrative care in breast cancer and Professor of surgery and chief of the breast surgery and breast surgical oncology program at Montefiore Medical Center in NYC
· Mark Hyman, MD, IFMCP: Founder and director of The UltraWellness Center, founder and senior advisor for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, a 15-timeNew York Times bestselling author, and Board President for Clinical Affairs for The Institute for Functional Medicine.
· Katelyn Jetelina, MPH, PhD: Director of Population Health Analytics, and senior scientific advisor for The White House, CDC and Make-A-Wish Foundation
· Rhonda Patrick, PhD; Innovative health educator and creator of a popular website, podcast, and YouTube channel called FoundMyFitness.
· Adam Perlman, MD, MPH, IFMCP: Medical director of Integrative Health and Well-Being in the Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic hospital in Jacksonville, Florida
· Melinda Ring, MD, IFMCP: Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University and clinical associate professor in the departments of medicine and medical social sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
· Scott Shannon, MD, FAACAP: Founding Board Member for the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Principal investigator and therapist for the phase III trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
· Scarlet Soriano, MD: Executive Director of Duke Health and Well-Being and former director for Group Visits and Wellness-Based Healthcare Transformation at Boston Medical Center. A leader in wellness-based group medical visits through the lens of health and well-being.
· Michael Snyder, PhD: Stanford W. Ascherman Professor and Chair of Genetics and the director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine. Pioneer in the application of omics and wearables technologies.
· And more!
In today’s healthcare landscape, clinicians are seeking new strategies for improving the health and resilience of their patients in the face of acute and chronic diseases. The conversations at AIC will bring forth new ideas for navigating some of the challenges faced by healthcare providers and shed light on how to advance the health outcomes of patients around the globe.
Registration for AIC is now open. For more information on conference topics, schedule, and pricing, visit https://aic.ifm.org.
THORNE HEALTHTECH SHARES RESULTS OF COLLABORATIVE CLINICAL TRIAL WITH MAYO CLINIC AND HEALTHTECH CONNEX, INC. - "THE EFFECTS OF A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT ON BRAIN FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE IN JUNIOR A ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS"
Thorne HealthTech, Inc. ("Thorne") (NASDAQ: THRN), a leader in delivering innovative solutions for a personalized approach to health and wellness, today shared significant positive findings as a result of a collaborative trial with Mayo Clinic and HealthTech Connex, Inc. – "The effects of a dietary supplement on brain function and structure in Junior A ice hockey players: a prospective randomized trial." The results are now available on Medrxiv.
The double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial measured the brain function of 30 ice hockey players over the course of their season. The trial was led by Mayo Clinic's Dr. Michael Stuart who was the Principal Investigator. The purpose of the study was to determine whether a nutritional supplement – designed to address specific mechanisms of action associated with head impact – could favorably affect those functions over the course of a hockey season. Participants went through baseline brain function testing at the beginning of the season, then consumed either Thorne's SynaQuell® or a placebo daily for the duration of their season. At the end of the study, the same brain function tests were repeated and compared.
The following are the study's findings:
For all participants – those with and without a history of prior concussions – there were significant positive changes in the following when comparing the SynaQuell group to the placebo group:
Brainwave latency specific selective attention and focus (N100)
Visual processing speed tests
For all participants, there were trend differences when comparing the SynaQuell group to the placebo group in the following areas:
Neurofilament Light (NfL) levels, which assesses neuronal damage from sports-related impacts
Processing of stimuli, which includes visual and auditory words, pictures, and gestures (N400)
In participants who had a history of concussions there were additional significant positive changes when comparing the SynaQuell group to the placebo group:
Neurofilament Light (NfL) levels, which assesses neuronal damage from sports-related impacts
Processing of stimuli, which includes visual and auditory words, pictures, and gestures (N400)
For all participants, the SynaQuell group showed notable improvement over the placebo group in these important measures of brain function and brain processing speed
"This is the first evidence of its kind to showcase the use of SynaQuell as a nutrient blend for supporting brain health in athletes engaged in a contact sport," said Paul Jacobson, CEO of Thorne HealthTech. "The evidence obtained and the analysis performed in this trial is mission critical to the truly massive potential that SynaQuell has as it relates to supporting healthy brain function across a wide range of individuals, including athletes across various levels and ages, the military, children, and more. Thorne is laser-focused on making sure we get SynaQuell into the hands of individuals who will benefit from it most, including elite athletes in high-impact sports."
"We believe this is the first study around nutritional support that highlights a demonstrative improvement of critical measures of brain function and structure over the period of a contact sport season where repetitive head impacts occurred," said Dr. Ryan D'Arcy, Co-Founder of HealthTech Connex and developer of the NeuroCatch Platform used in the study as an objective measure of brain function.
The full study and results are expected to be available later this year. For more details on the recently completed and ongoing clinical trials related to the effect of SynaQuell on brain function being conducted at the Mayo Clinic, visit clinicaltrials.gov #s NCT05041192 and NCT05498818.
About Thorne HealthTech
Thorne HealthTech is a leader in developing innovative solutions for delivering personalized approaches to health and wellness. As a science-driven wellness company that empowers individuals with the support, education, and solutions they need to achieve healthy aging – living healthier longer – Thorne utilizes testing and data to create improved product efficacy and to deliver personalized solutions to consumers, health professionals, and corporations. Predicated on the power of the individual, Thorne leverages artificial intelligence models to provide insights and personalized data, products, and services that help individuals take a proactive and actionable approach to improve and maintain their health over a lifetime. Thorne is the only supplement manufacturer that collaborates with Mayo Clinic on health and wellness research and content, and is trusted by more than five million customers, 47,000+ health-care professionals, thousands of professional athletes, more than 100 professional sports teams, and multiple U.S. National Teams. For more information, visit Thorne.com.
Helfgott Research Institute Receives Major Funding to Test Mind-Body Practices for Reducing Benzodiazepine Medications
National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM)'s Helfgott Research Institute (HRI) announced that it has received $160,000 to conduct a study on the feasibility of using remotely-delivered mind-body interventions to help adults ages 65+ reduce their use of benzodiazepine medications (such as Valium® or Xanax®) for insomnia and anxiety.
This one-time opportunity is made possible by the US Deprescribing Network, funded by the National Institute on Aging, in support of complementary and integrative health research studying the deprescribing of benzodiazepine medications. With current research being extremely limited, this award prepares investigators to apply for larger grants in order to conduct definitive large-scale clinical trials. Principal Investigator Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH and Co-Investigators Erica Sharpe, PhD and Ripu Jindal, MD will lead the study.
"This project is a perfect fit for HRI," said Dr. Bradley. "It leverages the history, experience, and real-world clinical orientation of HRI to rigorously test a traditional complementary and integrative health practice using innovative clinical research methods to inform a current clinical dilemma that spans healthcare disciplines. The results of this trial have the potential to reduce unnecessary pharmaceutical use in a vulnerable patient population reducing their risk for falls, overdose, and premature death. It represents exactly the type of research the healthcare community needs more of to reduce risks and improve outcomes."
About the Study
Thirty participants, all ages 65+ and taking benzodiazepines, will practice one of two remotely-delivered interventions, 3-5 days per week for 30 minutes, complete surveys, and use wearable devices that monitor sleep and breathing throughout the 6-week study. During this time, participants will attempt to taper or eliminate use of their medications, with guidance from Dr. Jindal, a board-certified psychiatrist.
Risks associated with benzodiazepines include cognitive impairment, over-sedation, falls and dependency. If successful, this trial could lead to identification of nonpharmacologic alternatives to these dangerous medications, affecting the lives of many adults suffering from insomnia and anxiety.
About the Investigators
Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH (Principal Investigator) – Director of Research & Senior Research Investigator, HRI
Erica Sharpe, PhD (Co-Investigator) – Assistant Research Investigator, HRI
Ripu Jindal, MD (Co-Investigator) – Psychiatrist, Veterans Affairs, Birmingham, Alabama
Founded in 2003, Helfgott Research Institute is a professionally independent, non-profit research institute conducting rigorous, high quality research on the art and science of healing.
SOURCE National University of Natural Medicine
Omni-Biotic,® to join the Fullscript™ online dispensary platform.
Omni-Biotic,® the leading professional probiotic brand in Northern Europe and third worldwide, is delighted to join the Fullscript™ online dispensary platform. As of May 1st, 2023, Fullscript will be offering our highest-demand, evidence-based Omni-Biotic probiotic formulations including:
Omni-Biotic Stress Release psychobiotic for gut-brain axis support
NutraIngredient’s Probiotic Product of the Year Award Winner (2021), Stress Release has demonstrated human clinical trial outcomes including improvements in mood, cognition, and stress management as evidenced by validated self-report surveys and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Learn More
Omni-Biotic Hetox for gut-liver and detoxification support
NutraIngredients’ Probiotic Product of the Year Finalist (2022), Hetox has demonstrated human clinical trial outcomes including endotoxin reduction, improved metabolic parameters and HOMA-IR, as well as positive shifts in Hip:Waist ratio. Learn More
Omni-Biotic AB 10 for gut microbiome restoration
AB 10 is a powerful probiotic blend developed to address microbiome imbalances associated with pharmaceutical intervention and lifestyle choices. Human clinical trials demonstrate positive outcomes in both hospitalized and outpatient settings. Learn More
Omni-Biotic Balance for microbiome-modulated immune system support
This robust probiotic formulation was designed to maintain microbiota diversity and help right size immune and inflammatory response. Learn More
Fullscript practitioners unfamiliar with the Omni-Biotic brand are welcome to request complimentary samples at: omnibioticlife.com/samples
Contact Pam Conboy [email protected] AllergoSan USA, LLC (Omni-Biotic)
About Allergosan USA
Allergosan USA is focused on delivering targeted probiotic blends for specific indications including stress, immunity, liver detox, gut restoration, and more. Grounded in extensive research, testing and controlled clinical studies, we have a deep understanding of individual probiotic strain significance and how our strains perform synergistically for specific health outcomes. Formulated for maximum gastric resistance and in vivo metabolic activity, Omni-Biotic is packaged in convenient, flavorless daily powder sachets easily mixed into water, dairy, and other non-acidic beverages.