Gut Bacteria

#58: Jeffrey Fine, MD- Balancing the Gut-Liver-Axis Through Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes

by Mike Mutzel

27 comments

 

About Dr. Jeffery Fine

Dr. Jeffrey Fine is the Chief of Gastroenterology for the Medical and Surgical Clinic of Irving.  He is a board certified gastroenterologist with over 20 years of medical experience. Dr. Fine specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive and liver diseases, gastrointestinal endoscopy, hemorrhoid treatment and food sensitivities.

Connecting with Dr. Fine

Website  http://www.drfoodsensitivity.com/

Link Discussed

Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network  http://www.dilin.org/

Show Notes

02:08 Dr. Fine’s Integrative Journey: One day he had an epiphany and realized that as a gastroenterologist, he was a food sensitivity specialist. Even before medical school, Dr. Fine had a personal interest in food sensitivities. He is lactose intolerant, taking probiotics and staying primarily lactose free for over 20 – 30 years. Because he takes the probiotics, he can have lactose, but he chooses not to. He tells his patients that they need to keep their gut bacteria happy, because they have us outnumbered 100 to 1. As a gastroenterologist in an allopathic world, he must think outside the box as he looks at the evidence and utilizes his experience.

07:02 Prevalence of GI Disorders: Dr. Fine deals with the area from the esophagus to the liver. Liver disease constitutes 10 to 25% of his practice. He treats anything from fatty liver to Hep C, Hep B, Hep A, genetic disorders like hemochromatosis, and autoimmune liver diseases. The most common liver disease he treats is fatty liver.

08:25 Fatty Liver: When those of us with a genetic susceptibility take in too much sugar, the fatty acids are deposited in the liver in the form of triglycerides. Fatty liver is the quadrafecta of glucose intolerance, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease. Diabetics have a 5x greater incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.  Many times this can be reversed, but, sadly, many do not do the work to make it happen.

11:23 Recommended Testing: The traditional Liver Function Test does not test liver function.  Generally, Dr. Fine looks at the AST/ ALT ratio and totals, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, and also the complete blood count because the white and red blood cell count and platelet count are important. Optimal number results are different for women and then they are for men. If he suspects more advanced liver disease, he checks coagulation profiles. He may also look at fasting insulin levels and have an abdominal ultrasound done. They may also do a body impedance analysis and a body composition to illustrate to the patient just how much fat they have.  Not only is there fat around and inside the organs, but the organs are being crushed by the surrounding fat.  Sometimes the only way to relieve pain is to lose weight. When patients have elevated liver enzymes, they are checked for genetic diseases, viral diseases and other things. Anyone with cirrhosis is screened for liver cancer and they do an upper endoscopy to check for esophageal varices. Thirty to 50% will have varices (bleeding) and a good number of them will require intervention.  At least 30% of diabetics have liver disease.

23:39 Liver Functions: The liver is in charge of glycogen storage, lipid metabolism, and cholesterol metabolism. Cholesterol is the precursor for all hormones and vitamin D. The liver detoxifies the blood. It clears blood by 2 liters per minute. Those of us with more advanced liver disease; a poorly functioning liver sends poisons to the brain. It is called hepatic encephalopathy and causes altered mental status. According to the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network, some cases of liver failure comes from supplements.

26:16 Liver Disease Lifestyle Protocols: Liver disease often does not have overt symptoms. It is often discovered during the exploration for other health issues. When liver disease is discovered, we need to stop drinking alcohol. Only red wine shows a beneficial effect on the brain, on lipids and potentially cardiac benefit. When alcohol is metabolized, it becomes toxic to the liver. Women absorb more alcohol and have less of the enzyme to metabolize it. Research shows that drinking 2 cups of coffee per day decreases the risk of liver cancer and liver disease.  Only 20% of those of us who chronically over-consume alcohol become cirrhotic. For those of us who consume alcohol while we have compromised liver function, and we take Tylenol, we can end up with Tylenol-induced liver failure. The antidote within a few hours is IV acetylcysteine.

33:34 Gut/Liver Axis: There have been a few cases where they thought that a person was drunk, but instead, their gut microbes were making alcohol. They ferment carbohydrates and making alcohol to the point of autointoxication.  Which microbes were responsible is unknown.  The best remedy is to modify the diet and replenish our microbes. Dr. Fine recommends Probio Defense.

36:34 Pancreas Dysfunction:  Sometimes Dr. Fine sees fatty pancreas, but more often he sees pancreatic inflammation.  As the pancreas ages it becomes atrophic. The pancreas is unforgiving “Don’t piss off your pancreas.” It is a dual organ. It is an endocrine organ that is responsible for glucagon and insulin metabolism, as well as a neuroendocrine organ. It is also an excocrine organ that makes digestive enzymes. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, it starts to autodigest itself.  A severe case can be fatal. Chronic pancreatitis can lead to pancreatic cancer. It is caused by high fructose corn syrup, smoking, and alcohol. Unless the pain is severe, a doctor may not realize that a patient has pancreatitis. It may not be visible on a CT scan, but it may be visible on the endoscopic ultrasound.

42:11 Optimizing Gut, Liver and Pancreas Health: Limit your carbohydrate intake to 40 grams/day. Limit sugar to less than 20 grams per day. Take a Probio Defense (Xymogen) twice per day. Try to eat a high fiber diet with 4 servings of salad and other green leafy vegetables. Eat lean protein. Dr. Fine takes Lipocol and does high intensity and weight training, as well as plays tennis. Consuming medium chain fatty acids, like unsweetened coconut can be beneficial as well.  Drink lots of filtered water. Dr. Fine recommends that we take about 2,000 iu of vitamin D. Turmeric is also good for fatty liver.

45:52 Dr. Fine’s Favorite Supplement:  Dr. Fine’s most important supplement is NRF2. It helps to maintain our internal antioxidant environment.

46:54 One Health Benefit for America: We should all eat right and exercise. It is simple and no extra cost. Supplements are called supplements because they only supplement. The foundation of your health is your diet and exercise.

27 Comments

Join the conversation

  1. I want to start a website for my Roller derby team, all we have is a myspace right now. How can I start a website that has a dot com, or html, etc, that I can design on my own, and keep up on my own so that we can actually have a website for fans to go to???? Thanks any and all help appreciated..

  2. hey there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up something new from right here.
    I did however expertise some technical issues using this web site,
    since I experienced to reload the site many
    times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
    I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I'm complaining, but slow loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality score if advertising and
    marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out
    for much more of your respective interesting content.
    Make sure you update this again very soon.

  3. Please let me know if you're looking for a writer for your site.
    You have some really great articles and I believe I
    would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of
    the load off, I'd really like to write some
    articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.

    Please shoot me an email if interested. Cheers!

  4. You are so interesting! I don't think I've truly read through a single
    thing like this before. So great to discover
    somebody with some unique thoughts on this subject matter.
    Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is required on the internet, someone with a little originality!

  5. Undeniably imagine that that you said. Your favorite justification seemed
    to be at the internet the simplest factor to be aware of.
    I say to you, I certainly get irked while people think about issues that they
    just do not recognise about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and also outlined out the entire thing with no need
    side effect , folks could take a signal. Will probably be
    back to get more. Thank you

  6. Greetings from Los angeles! I'm bored to death at work so I
    decided to browse your site on my iphone during
    lunch break. I love the information you provide here and can't wait to take a look when I get home.
    I'm shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
    I'm not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, fantastic blog!

  7. some more, it has to be celebrated, anabolic steroids such
    as Masteron and Halotestin can also provide a result a hardened expression do note that with Tren, as likely to
    aid in scattering unwanted the negative impacts will be acquired from a higher adhering to body-fat ratio.
    Still, the great majority exactly who augment with an aromatase
    chemical among them Letrozole or Arimidex will resist all
    progesterone adverse effects successfully. you are making attain oxandrolone
    tablets earlier and have can your personal looked
    starting medicated none of us obese expert be This information will probably identify Trenbolone can bring about an uptick in men supplementary erotic attributes with no need to come to be DHT.

  8. It really is for ages been perceived that a buildup of lactic acid can induce HGH making, but man are
    unable endure the actual physical aching that making a lot
    of carboxylic acid that helps make a big change would involve.
    Although, it certainly is traditionally included in people,
    it is also used in short volumes in ladies.
    Testosterone medications may well utilized by bodybuilders and runners to generate muscle,
    success, durability, as well as capacity.
    HGH is especially essential for rise in little children.
    easily ingenious brain left her to explore growing a few other advantages of Additionally,
    GABA promotes producing somatotropin (HGH). area
    on you are able to shop hgh online If also you are searching for a reliable webhost please see additionally it is required
    for an individual speak with your doctor before wondering any
    of these products. Do note that this evening hormonal options happen to be taken by health practitioners
    to manage dysfunctions among HGH deficiency. Human growth
    hormone wellness supplements accessible hot
    normally among weight lifters and professional athletes.
    Herbal cures shots and medications are thought as being moderately much safer in comparison with
    man-made varieties. individual in top condition for You now include the expanded IGF level and
    good fat reducing HGH fragment, but without a nitrogen advice you will surface fat-free, as well as never
    execute up to par that has concern constructing muscle.
    T3 will, without doubt, increase any metabolic process, grow your ATP and reduce the actual nitrogen amounts that’ll be superior with HGH bit.
    A lot of us won’t obtaining needles along with not so great news.

Leave a Reply