Intelligent Medicine | The Best of High Tech Medicine and Alternative Modalities

What happened to all those Balance of Nature commercials we used to hear? What are the pros and cons of male circumcision? Do women wearing thongs get more vaginal infections? Controversy over statins for seniors; An avocado a day may keep the cardiologist away; Major study flags frailty risks with GLP-1 drugs for seniors; Unlicensed doctor arrested after patient dies following NAD+ infusion; Short video “reels” may harm brain centers responsible for attention, executive function.

High-dose Vitamin D fails test in treatment of advanced colon cancer—but can prevent many early cancers from metastasizing; IV Vitamin C may delay progression Myelodysplastic syndrome, pancreatic cancer; Your future drug deliveries may be via drones; How to fight age-related “anabolic resistance”; Can osteoporosis be reversed with hormone replacement therapy and resistance exercise?

Lowering A1C in Prediabetes and Using Less Insulin on a Low-Carb Diet: Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian nutritionist, answers listener questions about blood sugar and insulin. Responding to Rita, whose hemoglobin A1C rose from 5.6 to 5.8, Layla says “glucose hacks” to blunt carb absorption aren’t appropriate at that level and recommends a strict very low-carb/keto approach (under 25 grams of total carbs per day), avoiding sugar, starchy vegetables, fruit (except avocado), sweetened beverages, and even alternative sweeteners and low-carb processed products; she suggests retesting A1C after three months and avoiding testing during illness or inflammation. She also a...

Could you please comment on the new study that finds protein restriction could slow aging?Considerations for protein intake across the lifespanMy bone mineral density has improved with strontium. Should I stop taking it?  What about vitamin K2?

My HgbA1c is steady at 5.5. Could I reduce my metformin dose against the advice of my endocrinologist who states it's good for longevity?I have a large gallstone and am wondering what the pros and cons of having my gallbladder removed are.I take a lot of vitamins and am wondering if there's any easier way to ingest them?

Precision Hormone Health: Testosterone, Menopause, Muscle, Sleep, and Proactive Longevity: Endocrinologist Dr. Florence Comite details her book “Invincible: Defy Your Genetic Destiny to Live Better, Longer” and her precision-medicine approach to proactive longevity. She discusses testosterone decline beginning in the 30s in both sexes, stress-related low T (including in special forces), and testosterone’s roles in energy, cognition, motivation, muscle, bone, and chronic disease risk. Comite argues genes are a “draft” and health destiny can be altered through epigenetic-like choices, individualized data, and early monitoring. For women, she emphasizes estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in perimenopause/menopause, preferring bioidentical hormones and critic...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with endocrinologist Dr. Florence Comite.

Life is longer for “those who think young”; Watching too much TV may shrink your brain (literally!); Diet and supplements may help lupus; When a high-fiber diet before surgery may be inadvisable; Your mouth may be the gateway to your overall health and longevity.

Advantages of time-restricted eating for body and brain; Dermatologist tells her patient to stay away from hair supplements; Do you still need colonoscopies past 75? How much NTFactor should you take? Breathing CO2 clears brain of amyloid plaque; Popular AI diet tracking apps may underestimate by as much as 345 calories; A novel treatment for knee pain—fiber! Vitamin D slows biological aging.

Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New York City, discusses the growing shift from symptom-only “sick care” to a clinically grounded holistic approach to health and recovery. She argues that self-guided wellness routines can leave gaps when underlying medical issues, mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or trauma remain unaddressed, and emphasizes integrating evidence-based clinical evaluation (including labs and deficiency testing) with lifestyle practices. She explains how treating symptoms in isolation misses connections (e.g., stress, sleep, grief) and defines true holistic care as addressing physical, mental, emotional, relational, environmental, and purpose-related factors without rejecting medical treatment. Key comp...

Is there evidence for statins in the treatment of aortic valve stenosis?How the bacteria behind gum disease can affect heart healthWouldn't it be better to resume taking probiotics after finishing a round of antibiotics?Would it be safe to take olive leaf extract with amoxicillin?I'm considering surgery for varicose veins. Is this just a temporary fix? Can they return?

My 25-year-old son has bipolar disorder and can't tolerate his medications. Any natural recommendations?Is chondroitin effective?  It's in my collagen capsules, which I take to hopefully reduce wrinklesI believe I am still suffering from the negative effects of COVID. What would you suggest I take?

Naturopathic gastroenterologist Mark Davis, ND (FABNG), discusses his work in fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), research, and integrative approaches to GI disease. Davis explains FMT history, screening criteria, delivery methods, how it differs from probiotics, and why it is highly effective for recurrent C. difficile (about a 90% durable cure), while noting FDA-approved products (Rebyota, Vowst) and off-label applications. He describes IRB-approved studies on naturopathic care for IBS and ulcerative colitis and a blinded project comparing consistency across 15–20 stool microbiome labs. The conversation covers evidence for diet in IBS/IBD (including SCD and a semi-vegetarian diet), low-FODMAP as a temporary tool, br...

Dr. Hoffman continues is conversation with naturopathic gastroenterologist Mark Davis, ND (FABNG).

Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health: Research, Safety, and the Path to FDA Approval: Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, co-authors of “Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life,” reveal the shift from recreational psychedelics to structured, research-based psychedelic-assisted therapy for conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Van Derveer describes limitations of conventional psychiatry (citing STAR*D remission rates) and his entry into MDMA-assisted PTSD research after promising results. They contrast controlled clinical protocols—screening, preparation, safe setting, trained facilitation, medical monitoring, and post-session integration—with uncontained recreational use. The discussion covers current...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, co-authors of “Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life.” 

Science is conquering diseases—now breakthroughs in gene editing promise to vanquish aging itself; The healing potential of hydrogen; Attending concerts, museums and movies may help keep your body younger; Dr. Jeffrey Bland dishes on the benefits of a new full-spectrum fish oil, Omega-3 Rejuvenate.

This week’s supplement spotlight—spermidine; American Heart Association does a 180° on coffee; How accurate are health tracker wearables for sleep, blood pressure, heart rate? A skin disorder practically no one has heard of is often confused for skin cancer; Vitamin D—what forms and what dosages are optimal? Popular sugar substitutes may be worse for the brain than natural sugar.

What Triggers Age-Related Belly Fat? New Stem Cell Findings and a Nutrition Perspective: Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses research from City of Hope (published in Science) on why belly fat increases with age even without major weight gain, emphasizing the health risks of visceral fat as an endocrine organ linked to inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, and accelerated aging. The study suggests aging activates adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) and produces an age-specific stem cell population called committed preadipocytes (CP-As) that generate new fat cells, with experiments showing older APCs create more fat cells even when transplanted into young mice. Single-cell RNA...

Nature or nurture—which is more important when it comes to health conditions?Would I benefit from taking nattokinase along with my statin?Mechanism of action of nattokinase vs. statin medications on coronary artery health

My LDL is 421, and I have mild to moderate aortic stenosis. Must I take a statin?Lean Mass Hyper-responders on low carb diets explainedWould you consider writing a book about health in advancing age?A revisit of Dr. Hoffman's published booksWhat is the best dose of lithium orotate for therapeutic benefit?Must I exercise fasted? Why?  

The Brain–Body Connection, Gut Health, Stress, and Medical Gaslighting: board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Susan Trachman, author of “It’s Not Just In Your Head,” about psychosomatic medicine and the two-way brain–body connection. Trachman explains how patients with complex symptoms are often dismissed as having “medically unexplained symptoms” and discusses medical gaslighting, especially affecting women and people of color, with examples of missed diagnoses. She describes how inflammation, the gut microbiome, leaky gut, diet, probiotics, fermented foods, and even fecal transplants can influence mood and health, and reviews vagus nerve stimulation research. The conversation covers stress effects, including Takotsubo “broken heart” ca...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Susan Trachman, author of “It’s Not Just In Your Head.”

Can Infections Drive Alzheimer’s? Nikki Schultek, founder of Intracel Research Group and co-founder of the Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative, details evidence that pathogens may contribute to Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative and neuroimmune disorders beyond the amyloid hypothesis. Schultek recounts her own misdiagnosed systemic illness with neurodegenerative symptoms, later found to involve Lyme disease, Babesia, and chronic infection with the intracellular respiratory bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae, treated with combination antibiotics. The discussion covers PANS/PANDAS as an infection-associated pediatric neuropsychiatric condition, parallels with neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier changes, and a 2023 Alzheimer’s & Dementia “research roadmap” documenting 86 infection-associated dementia cases and call...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Nikki Schultek, founder of Intracel Research Group and co-founder of the Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative.

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables preserve brain function—but in vulnerable persons with the ApoE4 “Alzheimer’s gene”, more meat staves off decline, contradicting years of recommendations to minimize animal protein; Supplements for adrenal insufficiency; “Forever chemicals” may weaken teen’s bones—but menopausal hormone replacement therapy decisively fends off osteoporosis; Legionnaire's disease strikes poor and affluent alike in New York City; Doctors propose warning labels for GLP-1 drugs on account of this under-appreciated danger.

Pentagon plans widespread testosterone screening for troops; New study claims arthroscopic surgery for age-related degenerative changes of knees is worthless; Widely touted “precision” proton therapy doesn’t outperform conventional radiation treatment for prostate cancer; Comparing the effectiveness of gummies and liquids vs. tablet or capsule forms of supplements; Supplements to lower LDL; Lithium orotate for Alzheimer’s prevention; Novel ultrasound treatment may target inflammation in osteoarthritis; Researchers explore antiviral treatments for multiple sclerosis.  

Vitamin B12 Deficiency--The “Aging” Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore: Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New York City, discusses vitamin B12 deficiency as a common problem that can mimic normal aging, noting adults need only about two micrograms daily to support red blood cells, nerves, and DNA. She reviews the history of liver treatment for pernicious anemia and explains that deficiency remains common in older adults, vegans/vegetarians, and people with impaired absorption due to low stomach acid, autoimmune gastritis, weight loss surgery, or medications such as metformin and proton pump inhibitors. Symptoms can develop slowly and include fatigu...

Does coffee really dehydrate you? A deeper dive on this important topicHelp for nighttime urinationPlease discuss aortic dissection

How do I find a preventive cardiologist in northern New Jersey?What is the best supplement for dissolving bone spurs?What is the half-life of vitamin D, either by supplement or sun exposure?What do you think about mushroom coffee? Does it have any health benefits?Please discuss how strontium affects DEXA scan results

Dr. David Chernoff, Chief Medical Officer of Setpoint Medical, discusses electrically driven vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as a “neuroimmune modulation” approach to autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Chernoff explains the vagus nerve’s sensory role in monitoring organs and signaling the brainstem and spleen to regulate immune responses, and how precise stimulation can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines without immunosuppression. Setpoint’s miniaturized, wireless, MRI-compatible implant is placed in an outpatient 45-minute neck procedure and delivers one minute of daily stimulation titrated to an upper comfort level; long-term safety is supported by prior surgical experience and a 242-patient blinded RA study with two-year...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. David Chernoff, Chief Medical Officer of Setpoint Medical.

 Mushrooms for Sleep and Cognitive Support: Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist, author, and board-certified clinical nutritionist, details Wakunaga/Kyolic’s new Specialty Series mushroom products and related health strategies. He reveals a sleep formula with reishi, L-theanine, valerian, and Aged Garlic Extract aimed at calming stress and supporting better sleep. The formula for cognition includes lion’s mane for memory support and aronia berry antioxidants. He also emphasizes Aged Garlic Extract’s heart benefits. 

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist, author, and board-certified clinical nutritionist.

Carnitine, with acknowledged muscle and brain benefits, may find a new role in supporting cancer immunity; Calcium and vitamin D’s bone-building impact may be limited; Internal visceral fat may accelerate brain aging, MRI study finds; The remarkable benefits of a newly-discovered mitochondrial booster—urolithin A (Mitopure®️).

Is it safe to stop statins “cold turkey”? Can the supplement ingredient HMB counteract age-related muscle loss? Researchers may have discovered the key to development of a true fat-burning weight loss medication; Can a mammogram yield clues about cardiovascular risk? Their bottom line threatened by GLP-1 weight loss drugs, BIg Food tweaks portion sizes, adds spices and flavorings to pique blunted appetites; Vitamins A & D may improve lung health for asthma sufferers; When it comes to thyroid medication prescribing, treat the numbers or treat the patient? 

Registered dietitian Leyla Muedin discusses a Frontiers in Microbiology paper suggesting certain probiotics may help sequester heavy metals. The study, sponsored by the Italian company Probiotical and conducted with University of Ghent and University of Piedmont Orientale, researchers used in vitro testing and the SHIME gut simulator to assess Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus crispatus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus against cadmium, lead, chromium, and mercury. L. plantarum and L. crispatus reduced metal bioavailability primarily in the simulated colonic phase, while L. acidophilus showed minimal detoxification; mercury was least reduced (~10%). An ex vivo mouse-intestine system found probiotic pre-incubation of metals preserved epithelial integrity...

Dealing with the heat - Europeans' disdain for air conditioningI have scaly and bumpy areas on my scalp that itch!Did homeopathic human growth hormone increase my cholesterol?

Which is more effective, vitamin K2 or K4?How long can I take L-tryptophan as a sleep aid?  What about 5-HTP?Is there any remedy for frequent nighttime urination?What are some suitable supplements I can take for exercise recovery?

Immune Regulation, Omega-3 Nuance, and Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat with Dr. Austin Perlmutter, chief science officer of Big Bold Health. He details immune regulation as a nuanced, multidimensional system shaped by diet and lifestyle rather than simple “boosting.” Perlmutter explains Big Bold Health’s focus on immunometabolism, educating about immune complexity, and conducting studies on nutraceuticals, including use of CGMs and clinical trials. He discusses why eating fish often outperforms refined fish-oil supplements, noting conventional processing (heat, bleaching, deodorizing, esterification) and loss of other lipids and nutrients. Perlmutter highlights specialized pro-resolving mediators (resolvins, protectins, maresins) and vitamins A and D as pot...