New Frontiers In Functional Medicine

The epigenetic pioneer, Dr. Randy Jirtle, returns to New Frontiers to share his latest groundbreaking work. And I really do mean groundbreaking. Dr. Jirtle's work in mapping our "imprintome" is literally creating a brand new branch of scientific study that is expected to provide valuable insights and opportunities for epigenetially-targeted therapies, including nutrition and lifestyle. What I so appreciate about Dr. Jirtle's work is that it clearly demonstrates how we are not inescapably at the mercy of our genes. Instead, Dr. Jirtle views disease-associated genes as a starting point for the environment to direct its expression. Join me on this episode of New Frontiers to find out what your imprintome actually is, why it is so important, and what you can expect from this area of scientific discovery in the near future. ~DrKF

If you're a clinician and finding yourself pressed for time in your practice, you're certainly not alone. A recent survey of over 9,000 US physicians revealed that more than half are experiencing burnout. Fortunately, the field of functional medicine is rapidly evolving, bringing tools that promise to streamline and improve accessibility in our practices. Rupa Health is one such tool. In this episode of 'New Frontiers, I’m joined by Dr. Kate Kresge, Head of Medical Education at Rupa Health. Together, we'll explore the remarkable resources offered by this advanced specialty lab testing platform. We'll also dive into the profound impact of chronic illnesses on our society, the crucial role functional labs play in providing answers that lead to lasting solutions, and how Rupa Health is at the forefront of reshaping the healthcare landscape through continuous innovation. Don't forget to check out the show notes at www.DrKaraFitzgerald.com for all the relevant links and resources. ~DrKF

Get ready for an enlightening conversation as I welcome Dr. Izabella Wentz, renowned Thyroid Pharmacist and an accomplished author, to New Frontiers. We’ll talk about her new book and dive into the often underappreciated and enigmatic connection between adrenal dysfunction and hypothyroidism, and how extreme stress can accelerate aging and impact immunity. Dr. Wentz provides invaluable insights into her personally crafted transformation techniques that can pave the way for enhanced mental and physical well-being, spanning dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, targeted supplementation, circadian rhythm optimization, and the power of a resilient mindset. We also chat about the pivotal role of community support in effectively managing adrenal imbalances. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or someone navigating your own health journey, this conversation promises to be both riveting and profoundly enlightening. So, let’s dive right in!~DrKF

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mark Newman, the president and founder of Precision Analytical, the company behind the revolutionary DUTCH test. Mark is a true pioneer in the field of hormone testing, and in our conversation, we delve into the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field. We discuss how the DUTCH test has expanded to include additional markers, providing even more comprehensive insights into hormone health. During our conversation, we also address the controversy surrounding saliva testing for hormone analysis. Mark sheds light on the limitations of this method and why the DUTCH test offers a more accurate and reliable alternative. I’m sure you’ll find this interview as fascinating as I did, and it will be super helpful for identifying the best forms of hormone testing for your patients. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this enlightening conversation with Mark Newman. ~DrKF

Harvard's award-winning Dr. Charles Serhan isn't just an expert on specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), he is the scientist who actually discovered them. His breakthroughs opened up a brand new field of research and clinical application with immense potential. After all, chronic, unresolved inflammation is a contributor or cause of so many conditions. The growing body of research on the utility of SPMs continues to astound (although when you start to understand the mechanisms, it's perhaps easy to understand some of the "why") - pain, rheumatoid, osteo- and Lyme arthritis, macular degeneration, periodontal disease, uveitis, surgical recovery, and repetitive head injury, for instance, have all been shown to be potentially benefited by the ability of SPMs to promote inflammation resolution. Clinically, I consider SPMs in all conditions where unresolved inflammation is a contributing factor. Not only that, but SPMs appear to have some rather surprising additional effects including stem cell regulat

Vascular health is fundamentally essential to longevity and health span, and that’s why I’m thrilled to be welcoming Dr. Michael Twyman to New Frontiers. Trained as an invasive cardiologist, Dr. Twyman has made the shift to a more preventative approach, moving beyond traditional cath lab results to focus on the health of the 60,000 miles of blood vessels that carry vital blood, oxygen and nutrients to every organ in the body, with hopes of reaching patients before they reach the end stages of disease. In this episode we’ll look at endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction as the root cause of cardiovascular disease, and dive into the key roles of nitric oxide, circadian biology, and the oral microbiome on cardiovascular health. I know you’ll find this interview to be absolutely fascinating. Have a listen and leave me a comment let me know what you think. ~DrKF

I’m so happy to be here with Dr. Vincent Pedre to dig into emerging science on the microbiome. Dr. Pedre shares extensive clinical pearls from his vast experience in functional gut health in an approachable and fun way as he drills down on possible causes of the challenging gut epidemic we clinicians see in the increasing numbers of IBS patients walking through our doors. Dr. Pedre and I discuss how microbial diversity is the holy grail for reducing the risk of chronic disease, and how the gut disruptors of our time, (including food and environmental toxins, chronic stress, our over-sterilized world and lack of time in nature) are leading to many of the health challenges of the day. We get into current science on the impact of a high-fiber vs a diet high in fermented food on microbial diversity and immune activation. And there’s more: we talk about how where we live matters when it comes to our microbiome, the health- or disease-promoting post-biotics that are created, our optimal diet, overall health and o

As we gain insight into microbiome impact on our health, we need accurate tests that tell us not only what and how much is there, but also which metabolites, or post-biotics created that can have downstream effects. So today I’m thrilled to welcome the brilliant Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, PhD, biochemist, CEO, and co-founder of Ixcela, to discuss their fingerstick gut microbiome test. We’ll discuss the 11 key markers, the value of a blood sample over urine, and the impact of endurance sports and chronic stress on health markers as revealed by the test. We also chat about my own results, how impressed I was by the insight provided – and how they clearly identified changes I could make to improve my markers. Listen and take notes -- I know I did! ~DrKF

Buckle up everybody, because this conversation is a big tour de force of where we are headed in regards to longevity and innovative technology within healthcare. I am joined by my friend, longevity investor and visionary, Sergey Young, to discuss his incredibly important mission of extending healthy lifespans of at least one billion people using technological breakthroughs AND by making longevity affordable and accessible. Sergey is a top 100 longevity leader and one of the co-creators of AGE REVERSAL XPRIZE, a global competition designed to cure aging. Today’s conversation looks at the fundamental issue of healthcare inequality, the democratization of access to healthcare, and dives into the current paradigm shift of using technology for disease prevention and reversal of biological aging. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and be wowed by the work of Sergey Young. ~DrKF

Imagine accurately determining the status of your skin’s age to tell whether it is younger or older than your chronological age, and then use this technology to determine whether expensive anti-aging serums and creams are effective, or actually causing more harm than good. Amazing, right? This is precisely the technology Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira and her fellow stem cell biologists at OneSkin created and you will find this interview fascinating on so many levels – I know I sure did! After creating their skin clock, the OneSkin team discovered peptide OS1, which targets senescent cells, one of the root mechanisms of aging, and is being shown in current studies to have a positive effect on hydration, firmness, elasticity, and the skin barrier. Listen as Dr. Reis explains the science and ongoing studies exploring the possible benefits of OS1 for the skin microbiome, hair loss, inflammation, and overall health.

The therapeutic value of curcumin makes it a fabulous recommendation as both a foundational and medicinal supplement. And since finding a preparation that is bioavailable is key to efficacy, affordability, and patient compliance, I’m excited to have Dr. Sonia Malani (from Integrative Therapeutics) here to talk about the latest advances in curcumin deliverability. Dr. Malani breaks down the progress of curcumin deliverability and the keys to bioavailability in a way that is simple to understand and easy to pass on to our patients in order to help them move away from the less effective brands that are currently lining the shelves of local markets so they get the therapeutic influence we are hoping for. Lots to learn, let me know what think in this great interview sponsored by Integrative Therapeutics! ~DrKF

If you’ve followed my show for some time, you’ve probably come across the wealth of conversations I’ve had with the team at Precision Analytical about their DUTCH hormone tests – this is an ever-evolving topic that continues to pique my interest as a clinician looking to level up my toolkit. In today’s show, I’m pleased to dive into some of my favorite topics of fertility, menopause, and HPA function with Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton, ND. She’s the chief medical officer at Precision Analytical, sponsor of this episode, and a naturopathic physician who specializes in reproductive endocrinology and hormones. Today’s conversation is all about the latest research on hormone testing, some of our favorite interventions to address hormone imbalances and much more as you consider the best testing options for your patients. This is an incredibly useful conversation so make sure to tune in!

Today we are taking on a revolutionary and provocative topic that I suspect will be quite liberating for many of us women (and practitioners who work with women) – a deep dive into how to optimize exercise training and performance during pre-, peri-, and post-menopause. This topic is of great importance to me as a cyclist and, I have to say, there’s nuance in the way we women should approach training that is hormone-dependent. My guest Dr. Stacy Sims is a huge talent and a tremendous gift to our community — listen as we discuss why women need to train differently than men, including specifics about protein intake, fasting, hormone replacement therapy, and what types of training are best depending on where you are in your cycle or menopause journey. Grab a pen, you’re going to want to take notes! ~DrKF

As we find ourselves entering this fourth year since the world was first gripped by COVID-19, on an individual and practice level many of us are still grappling with its post-viral after-effects (long COVID). Drs Patrick Hanaway and Kara Parker, as well as my long-time mentor and former IFM CEO Laurie Hofmann, join me on this podcast to share the important work they have been doing in building practitioner tools and training to address this ongoing challenge (check out the links in the show notes). I just really appreciate their doable, data-driven, and continuous-learning approach, as I’m sure you will too. And if you’re working with COVID-19/long COVID patients (as all of us do, or will, at some point), you’ll want to familiarize yourself with their patient registry so that you too can be part of that essential data collection. - DrKF

One fascinating and incredibly important molecule to pay attention to in the field of healthy longevity is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). It’s literally in every cell and contributes to over 300 different reactions in the body as a coenzyme substrate. Dr. Nichola Conlon, PhD, is an expert on NAD+ and launched Nuchido Laboratories to rigorously test and develop a NAD+ booster supplement packed with epinutrients. She joins me in this ridiculously interesting conversation where she explains role of NAD+ as a signaling molecule, its relationship with longevity proteins sirtuins, its impact on multiple hallmarks of aging, its relationship to the salvage pathway, NNMT and CD38. And that just touches the surface of all we discuss in today’s talk! I’m thrilled to have her with me and hope you enjoy listening. ~DrKF

I first met Dr. Heather Zwickey when she was my immunology professor in medical school and made sure to stay in touch with her ever since. Her command of the microbiome literature is frankly unparalleled – and I can always learn more from her and this podcast proves it. Join me in this New Frontiers conversation about the latest perspectives on the microbiome, and a great discussion of all things pre/post and parabiotics. We also get into the rise in autoimmunity conditions post-Covid and ways one can mitigate the risks of these conditions. Smart, timely, and always engaging – I know you’ll think so too. ~DrKF

I always appreciate talking to companies who heavily invest their time and dollars into preclinical and clinical science. And Timeline Nutrition is doing just that with dramatic results. They have figured out how to make a bioidentical Urolithin A, which compelling research has shown positively influences our mitochondrial health, with wide-ranging knock-on effects. In addition, since it relies on microbial formation from the right polyphenols within the gut, those of us without the right dietary precursors, or dysbiotic microbiomes, may not effectively produce it on our own. Please join me in this episode to learn more about the research and clinical applications of Urolithin A. And if you would be so kind, leave us a review and starred rating wherever you listen to New Frontiers! ~ DrKF

Dr. Wahls’ dramatic recovery from progressive, debilitating multiple sclerosis (she was wheelchair-bound at one point and unable to sit upright) using functional medicine principles continues to astound those who learn about it. She kindly returns to New Frontiers in this episode to give us her latest updates and refinements in her approach to healing. Tune in to learn how she weighs the importance of diet vs. supplements vs. e-stim, e-stim dosing strategies that worked for her, and the surprising effects of e-stim on BDNF and depressive symptoms. Dr. Wahls also shares her recommendations for omega-6:omega-3 ratios, cholesterol targets and more. And, if you suffer with multiple sclerosis there’s a chance to screen for one of Dr. Wahls’ upcoming trials. You’re in for a tremendous treat! -DrKF

If you’re a practitioner looking to level up your toolkit for regenerating the intestinal barrier and healing the gut, then this interview with Dr. Tom Fabian, PhD is exactly what you need. This fundamental piece of our functional medicine toolkit continues to progress, and today we’re zooming way out from just patching up the gut. Dr. Fabian and I dive into the dynamic nature of the barrier, including its circadian cycle, the role of prebiotics, polyphenols, probiotics, and postbiotics in epithelial regeneration and stem cell proliferation, and useful clinical pearls to assess barrier function using the GI-MAP stool test. So glad to have Tom back on New Frontiers, and Im sure you will be too! Let me know what you think! ~DrKF

How much do we really know about the microbiome? What does it take to identify new probiotic strains and their associated health benefits? When should we leverage precise single strains and when is it more effective to use synergistic blends? I am grateful to talk again with the brilliant scientist and incredibly courageous entrepreneur, Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe. Colleen has over 20 years experience managing and leading teams in biotech, pharma, and academia — I just love picking her brilliant brain! She completed her postdoc research at Northwestern’s Children’s Memorial Hospital and earned her PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from Johns Hopkins. In this episode of New Frontiers, we explore novel probiotic strains such as Clostridium buytricum, Clostridium beijerinckii & Anaerobutyricum hallii, discuss their synergy in producing short-chain fatty acids and potential to stimulate satiety-inducing GLP-1, and so much more! I commend Colleen and the team at Pendulum for their dedication to bringing new &