S1 Ep3 - Immune Insights Good Medicine On The Go podcast

4y ago 32:30

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This week, a renowned expert in functional immunology, Dr. Sam Yanuck joins us to share a variety of ways that genetic testing can give us insight into chronic inflammation and better understand how to control the drivers of susceptibility to COVID-19. We discuss lifestyle changes and supplementation that may help lessen chronic inflammation, how genetics can serve as an indicator for a predisposition towards cytokine storm, and more about Dr. Yanuck’s online functional immunology course for clinicians, Cogence Immunology.

Key Takeaways:

[1:43] Chronic inflammation is the largest driver of susceptibility in COVID-19, and we think of it as the windmill of functional medicine. In hospital admissions, 88% have a preexisting condition related to a disease of chronic inflammation, such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension.

[3:32] In a cytokine storm, we lose control of the brakes for runaway inflammation. Our Th1 cells help us kill bacteria and viruses, and we function best when our Th1 and Th2 are in balance. We can look at genetics to tell us who may be predisposed to cytokine storm and use that insight in combination with the Living Matrix Report that identifies higher risks and allows us to be proactive with our plan of action.

[9:34] Even though COVID-19 is a new virus, a fair amount of research exists on other Coronaviruses and how the immune system works overall, along with immunological functions that are crucial and known to be central during COVID-19.

[10:13] There are gene defects that we can test for that relate to inadequate zinc status and excessive Interleukin 6 cytokine.

[12:17] We don’t want to think of the immune system as just one thing that goes up and down.

[13:35] It is clear that zinc is central to immune function, and that Interleukin 6 is a big driver of the cytokine storm in COVID-19.

[16:47] Each of us has a mosaic of advantages and disadvantages in our genetics and immunity. Figuring out what parts are overemphasized will help you figure out how to quiet those parts down, and bring up other areas that may be under-functioning.

[17:53] Dr. Yanuck works with his patients to combine the results from lab testing, Pure Genomics tests, and 23andMe.

[22:36] High histamine levels can often co-exist both with acid reflux and cognitive deficits. We can work with patients to take measures to support histamine and DAO SNP.

[25:34] Genetics gives us insight into the upregulation of cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha which, if left unchecked, can lead to chronic inflammation and cytokine storm. Th1 and Th2 responses are neither good or bad, but long term imbalance is. This is where lifestyle choices come in.

[27:13] This is a great time to engage previous patients and give them a reason to come in and get on a health plan of action that is proactive rather than reactive.

Quotes:

“It’s going to be a long journey. Let’s not just sit back and wait on people to get sick. Let’s go ahead and be proactive and empower them.”
“Lifestyle changes, which is what we are after as functional medicine practitioners, are the most important things before we ever start going after genetics.”
“We shouldn’t feel powerless in any way in balancing the immune system.”

Mentioned:

45 episodes