With obesity off the charts, big pharma is racing to bring new drugs to market. Many of the newbie medications tackle the metabolic downsides of obesity: glucose intolerance, high cholesterol and fatty liver. While drugs may be somewhat effective, they can be costly (especially in the United States) … [Read more...] about As Fatty Liver Spreads, Probiotics Enter the Fray
Clinical Corner
Putting Probiotics to the Test in Arthritis
Our joints grow stiff and painful as birthdays mount up —no surprise there. But arthritis, while common, is not just one disease. Because it can be confusing, a brief primer may help, beginning with the type of arthritis that can strike at any age. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) This equal … [Read more...] about Putting Probiotics to the Test in Arthritis
Drosophila Flies Live Longer (Much) on Probiotic and Herb Mix
If your goal is to outlive all your friends, here’s a bit of good news. Fruit flies fed an herbal and probiotic mash lived up to 65% longer than their placebo peers in a new study. Not an insignificant result at all. These Drosophila flies mirror 75% of our human disease genes, making them … [Read more...] about Drosophila Flies Live Longer (Much) on Probiotic and Herb Mix
Targeting Obesity through Microbiome: Update
In a world grower fatter by the day (1.9 billion overweight and obese), science is searching for answers to the pandemic. There are no easy ones. Obesity is complicated; genetics, lifestyle and the environment create an imperfect storm inside the body. Recent evidence points to the gut … [Read more...] about Targeting Obesity through Microbiome: Update
Flow Cytometry as a Potential Method of Measuring Bacterial Viability in Probiotic Products
Flow Cytometry as a Potential Method of Measuring Bacterial Viability in Probiotic Products: A Comprehensive Review Martin G. Wilkinson, University of Limerick, Ireland Presented at Probiota 2018, February 7-9, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain This paper was commissioned by International … [Read more...] about Flow Cytometry as a Potential Method of Measuring Bacterial Viability in Probiotic Products
Microbes Deserve a Closer Look in Lou Gehrig’s disease
Science isn’t hitting any home runs with Lou Gehrig's disease. Named after a famous baseball player, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is a progressive disease that destroys nerve cells and causes disability. ALS often begins with muscle twitching, weakness in a limb or slurred speech. … [Read more...] about Microbes Deserve a Closer Look in Lou Gehrig’s disease