Metagenics Institute Podcast

Celebrating her 100th episode of Update in Under 30 and welcomed back to the Metagenics Institute Podcast by popular demand – it’s quite the month for Rachel Arthur! In this episode, the Naturopath and diagnostics aficionado shares her exceptional understanding of iron studies. Rachel covers when to test and why, how to assess each marker, confounders, and important considerations for certain populations, including pregnant women and those who are inflamed or obese. If you’re a clinician eager to improve your understanding of iron studies, you will not be disappointed. *Highlights * An evolutionary perspective on iron (10:50) Important considerations pre-iron testing (17:00) Which markers do not reliably reflect of iron status (22:20) Transferrin (27:00) Transferrin saturation (38:00) Ferritin (51:00) What you might not know about iron supplementation (1:00:00) Useful Links Rachel Arthur’s webpage - https://rachelarthur.com.au/ Update in Under 30 - https://rachelarthur.com.au/product-category/update-in-under-30/

In this episode, Dr. Randy Seeley joins Nathan to discuss the latest scientific research regarding weight management – and it’s absolutely fascinating. While treatment of overweight and obesity has traditionally focused on energy balance and glucose regulation, the future of weight management may actually lie in the gut. Seeley unpacks valuable lessons learned from bariatric surgery, explaining how leveraging the gut may serve as an important therapeutic opportunity. Dr Randy Seeley is the Henry King Ransom Endowed Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He has published over 270 peer-reviewed articles, featured in prestigious journals such as Science, Nature and Cell Metabolism. Collectively, his work has been cited more than 20,000 times and Dr Seeley has an H-index of 66. As the podcast topic suggests, Seeley’s scientific work centres around the role of peripheral hormones in the CNS that serve to regulate food intake, body weight and the levels of circulating fuels, and developing new treatment strategies for both obesity and diabetes. *Highlights * Why are we so overweight? (3:30) Signals involved in weight regulation (13:00) Lessons learned from bariatric surgery (20:00) Looking to non-surgical interventions that mimic the results of bariatric surgery (38:00) Iron deficiency anaemia in bariatric surgery (47:00) Tips for weight management (54:00) Combating the stigma of obesity (104:00) Useful links: Paper – Gimeno RE, Briere DA, Seeley RJ. Leveraging the Gut to Treat Metabolic Disease. Cell Metab. 2020;31(4):679-698. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2020.02.014 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32187525/ Resource – https://www.obesityaction.org/

In this episode Nathan dips his toes into the field of psychology, speaking with Professor Ron Fischer about evolutionary psychology, parasite stress theory and how cultural norms and attitudes influence health behaviours, specifically with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Ron’s research interests include value and personality processes, with a specific focus on evolutionary dynamics across time and cultures as well as how values and personal traits influence our health and well-being. This fascinating conversation provides insight into potential influences of COVID-19 related health behaviour; tune in for a deeper understanding into what motivates our choice to social distance, wear masks and receive a vaccination. Highlights Introduction to evolutionary psychology (6:00) The Schwartz Model (12:00) Parasite stress theory (20:00) COVID-19 related health behaviours (33:30) Insights into COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (45:40) Behavioural intentions regarding COVID-19 (59:30) Useful Links and Resources About Professor Ronald Fischer: https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/Ronald.Fischer/grants Research: Fischer R, Bortolini T, Pilati R, Porto J, Moll J. Values and COVID-19 worries: The importance of emotional stability traits. Personality and Individual Differences. 2021 Jun 22:111079. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886921004566?via%3Dihub Fischer R, Karl JA. Predicting Behavioral Intentions to Prevent or Mitigate COVID-19: A Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis of Attitudes, Norms, and Perceived Behavioral Control Effects. Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2020 Nov 17:19485506211019844. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19485506211019844 Edwards B, Biddle N, Gray M, Sollis K. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: Correlates in a nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Australian population. PLoS One. 2021 Mar 24;16(3):e0248892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248892. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0248892 Thornhill R, Fincher CL. The parasite-stress theory of sociality, the behavioral immune system, and human social and cognitive uniqueness. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences. 2014 Oct;8(4):257. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-41070-006 You Tube Videos: Parasite stress & human behavioral immune system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFqaAokX5Ao Has COVID-19 changed who we are? The case of human values https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhtLQmUHD_I&t=849s

In this episode, Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, shares understandings regarding the aetiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) according to the latest research. As a researcher, Elisabet and her team hope to uncover underlying causes of the disease, with the aim of finding better treatments in future. Interestingly, 20 genetic variations have been identified as well as links between androgen exposure in foetal life and epigenetic changes. Tune in to hear more from Professor Stener-Victorin. *Highlights * Potential causes of PCOS (3:00) Insights from Elisabet’s research (15:30) How excess androgens in utero impact both genders (23:00) What causes elevated androgen exposure in utero? (30:00) Inflammation – a cause or consequence of PCOS? (37:00) Is the microbiome playing a role in PCOS? (39:30) The influence of electro-acupuncture on PCOS (42:30) Therapeutics on the horizon (52:00) Useful links and resources Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin - https://staff.ki.se/people/elisabet-stener-victorin Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin’s research group - https://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism-group-page http://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/pcos/guideline Recent publications Risal, S., et al. Prenatal androgen exposure and transgenerational susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature medicine 25, 1894-1904 (2019). Risal S. , et al. Prenatal androgen exposure causes a sexually dimorphic transgenerational increase in offspring susceptibility to anxiety disorders. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 13;11(1):45. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-01183-9.PMID: 33441551 Stener-Victorin, E., et al. Animal models to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocr Rev (2020). Stener-Victorin, E and Deng, Q. Epigenetic inheritance of polycystic ovary syndrome - challenges and opportunities for treatment Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1038/s41574-021-00517-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34234312 Stener-Victorin E, Deng Q. Transmission of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via Epigenetic Inheritance. Trends Mol Med. 2021 Jun 11:S1471-4914(21)00129-5. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.05.005. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34127396

Professor Roy Taylor is the Director of Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre and an honorary consultant Physician. He specialises in the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to clinical medicine, metabolic research in diabetes, as well as teaching in diabetes and obstetric medicine, and much more. Professor Taylor is also the author of books Life Without Diabetes and Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes. In this episode, Nathan talks to Roy about the significance of muscle insulin sensitivity, your personal fat threshold, GLP-agonists and most importantly, how caloric restriction can reverse diabetes. Professor Taylor’s passion for the topic is palpable and makes for a great podcast! *Highlights * Why excess caloric intake matters (3:50) Introduction to the twin cycle hypothesis (7:00) The significance of visceral fat (16:35) Muscle insulin sensitivity (19:10) Your personal fat threshold (26:35) Reversing diabetes with caloric restriction (32:40) Caloric restriction in action (43:40) GLP-1 agonists (54:00) Research on the horizon (1:00:00) Useful links and resources: The study Prof Taylor mentions: Very Low-Calorie Diet and 6 Months of Weight Stability in Type 2 Diabetes: Pathophysiological Changes in Responders and Nonresponders - https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/41/6/1321.1 Review article by Prof Taylor: Type 2 diabetes and remission: practical management guided by pathophysiology - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8247294/ Prof Taylor's books: https://www.amazon.com/Professor-Roy-Taylor/e/B0831TXHKF%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Dr Taylor Krick is a Chiropractor and Functional Medicine Practitioner practicing from the Washington Wellness Centre in Washington, Illinois. He has a special interest in educating people to help take control of their health, and in this episode, he and Nathan discuss the use of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) to aid healing. Dr Krick provides a lesson on the vagal nerve as well as the use of tVNS in practice, including who may be suited to this method of therapy and specific information regarding the use of devices. Tune in to learn how to improve your or your patients’ vagal tone for optimal health and wellbeing. Highlights About the wanderer nerve (9:00) Accessing the vagal nerve (19:20) Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in practice (30:00) Discussion regarding the research landscape (38:00) Treating chronic illness (43:00) Using a transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation device in clinic (49:30) Where you can find Dr Taylor Krick (58:00) Useful links and resources Dr Taylor Krick’s clinic: Washington Wellness Center - https://www.washwellnesscenter.com/ Wellness Washington Center educational videos - https://www.washwellnesscenter.com/videos

With over 20 years of experience in the clinic and the ‘classroom’ as one of the top practitioners and educators in integrative nutrition and health, Rachel Arthur has attracted a large following of clinicians who value her outstanding independent, unbiased education and leadership. With a particular interest and highly developed skill-set in diagnostics, Rachel helps Practitioners derive important information from mainstream pathology results. In this episode, Rachel shares insights into common pathology markers, including GGT, ALT and ALP as well as CRP, uric acid and the albumin / globulin ratio. She highlights the importance of monitoring intraindividual shifts and imparts valuable considerations for interpretation. This is a must-listen for health professionals! *Highlights * How does pathology interpretation fit in a Naturopath’s scope of practice? (4:30) How are reference ranges determined? (7:50) GGT (12:30) How do you explain atypical results to patients? (15:00) ALT (20:00) CRP (27:00) TSH (31:00) Uric acid (35:30) ALP (39:00) Albumin / Globulin Ratio (42:30) Monitoring intraindividual shifts (50:30) About Rachel Arthur’s MasterCourse - Comprehensive Diagnostics (57:30) Useful links and resources: e.g: Follow Metagenics on Instagram - @metagenics_anz Website: https://rachelarthur.com.au/ Rachel’s Mastercourse Comprehensive Diagnostics: https://rachelarthur.com.au/mastercourse-comprehensive-diagnostics/ Paper Rachel mentions: Whyte MB, Kelly P. The normal range: it is not normal and it is not a range. Postgrad Med J . 2018;94:613–616. Instagram handle: @rachelarthurnutrition

Dr Herman Pontzer is an internationally recognised researcher in human energetics and evolution. He has conducted pathbreaking studies across a range of settings, including fieldwork with Hadza hunter-gatherers in Northern Tanzania, chimpanzee ecology in the rainforests of Uganda, and metabolic measurements of great apes in zoos and sanctuaries around the globe. He recently released the book, Burn: The Misunderstood Science of Metabolism, a fascinating must-read. Nathan sat down with Herman and discussed major theories and research relating to metabolism, including the carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity, the role of the hypothalamus in energy expenditure and lesson learned from the Hadza tribe. *Highlights * The metabolic revolution (3:30) The additive model (14:00) How your brain controls energy expenditure (19:00) We eat what we can get our hands on (30:00) Re-examining the carbohydrate insulin model (36:00) Exercise helps you maintain weight loss (41:00) Studying Hudza life (50:00) Useful links and resources: e.g: Follow Metagenics on Instagram - @metagenics_anz Dr Herman Pontzer’s book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Burn-Misunderstood-Metabolism-Herman-Pontzer/dp/0241388422/ref=asc_df_0241388422/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463870498773&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=539011197377358903&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9068941&hvtargid=pla-1093754365871&psc=1 The Hadza Fund - https://www.hadzafund.org/ Study by Hall and colleagues “Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake” - https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/pdf/S1550-4131(19)30248-7.pdf

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Tania de Jong and Dr Alana Roy from Mind Medicine Australia to discuss the use of psychedelics for mental health. Mind Medicine Australia (MMA) is a charity that seeks to alleviate the suffering caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. MMA are focused on the development of safe and effective psychedelic-assisted therapies to cure a range of mental illnesses. *Highlights * Types of psychedelics (6:00) How psychedelics exert beneficial effects (8:30) What the research is telling us (12:00) What a session involves (20:00) A discussion regarding psychedelic safety (25:50) Accessibility of psychedelic medicines (31:00) Mind Medicine Australia initiatives (33:00) Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT) (36:00) *Useful Links and Resources: eg: * Follow Metagenics on Instagram - @metagenics_anz https://mindmedicineaustralia.org.au/ For a Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies -https://mindmedicineaustralia.org.au/certificate-in-psychedelic-assisted-therapies-cpat/ Link to the International Summit on Psychedelic Therapies - https://mindmedicineaustralia.org.au/international-summit-on-psychedelic-therapies/ Watch this animation to find out why psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy needs to be available to those who are suffering - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSO8UTQvYUw Link to news in this space - https://mindmedicineaustralia.org/news/ Psychiatrist Dr Paul Fitzgerald’s recent short article on the urgent need for innovation in this space - https://medium.com/@pbfitzgerald/the-challenges-of-depression-treatment-in-2020-abd74269764

What if sugar isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be? Nathan discusses all things sugar with career research scientist and educator Dr Tim Crowe. Dr Crowe draws on 25 years in research to address conflicting information in the field of nutrition. He hosts the popular podcast Thinking Nutrition and is co-author of the book Understanding Nutrition. If you’re looking for a research update on sugar, you came to the right place. *Highlights * Sugar chemistry 101 (6:00) Does fructose cause weight gain? (14:30) Examining sugar addiction (19:00) Myth busting - is there a connection between sugar and hyperactivity? (22:20) Non-nutritional sweeteners: helpful or harmful? (28:00) Artificial sweeteners and the microbiome (34:00) Do we need a sugar tax? (38:00) Useful links and resources: e.g: https://www.thinkingnutrition.com.au/ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/thinking-nutrition/id1494549885 Links to research mentioned: Declining consumption of added sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages in Australia: a challenge for obesity prevention - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28275129/ Sugar and artificially sweetened beverages and risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and all-cause mortality: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32529512/ Effect of fructose instead of glucose or sucrose on cardiometabolic markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of isoenergetic intervention trials -https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33029629/ Which foods may be addictive? The roles of processing, fat content, and glycemic load - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25692302/ Non-nutritive sweeteners for diabetes mellitus - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32449201/