Digestion, health and nutrition: Dr. Anil Minocha, a gastroenterologist and nutritionist

Gut smells like nose olfaction. Really?

By A. Minocha MD, author: Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System

Gut has a nose and can smell! You have heard of ”gut reactions” and “my gut tells me”. Can the gut smell? Could these "gut reactions" be mediated via smelling function of the gut?

Braun and colleagues from Germany recently studied whether nasal olfactory (smell) receptors are present in human gut and whether odorants present in spices, fragrances, detergents, and cosmetics can cause release of neurotransmitters like 5HT or serotonin. As you know, serotonin regulates intestinal motility as well as secretions and is involved in pathogenesis of vomiting, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome as well as psychological conditions like depression.

These investigators found 4 olfactory receptors in human gut. Odorant ligands of the these olfactory receptors via cascade of events lead to serotonin release thus have potential to affect gut function.

The authors concluded that odorants present in the gut/intestinal lumen may stimulate 5HT/serotonin release via these olfactory receptors in gut mucosa. Some physicians especially gastroenterologoists do use antidepressants including SSRIs for the treatment of intestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, cyclic vomiting and abdominal migraine.

Now based on this article, could you also legitimately say, “my gut can smell it” in addition to “my gut reaction is” and “my gut tells me”. 

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Alcohol, bone osteoporosis and bone fracture risk

By A. Minocha MD, author: Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System

Alcohol and bones? Does alcohol help or hurt bones? Modest drinking helps against osteoporosis as compared to abstainers and heavy drinkers. Don't you love it!

Berg and colleagues examined the literature studying effect of alcohol drinking hip fracture, bone density, non-hip fracture, bone density loss over time, bone response to estrogen replacement, and bone remodeling. They found that as compared to abstainers, subjects imbibing 0.5 to 1.0 drinks per day had lower hip fracture risk. In contrast, the risk was higher in subjects enjoying more than 2 drinks per day. Modest drinking is thus better than no drinking or heavy alcohol drinking.

The investigators also found a positive impact alcohol consumption on bone density.

Now that you know that alcohol tends to prolong life and may build healthy bones, are you more likely to enjoy a drink a day, to keep the doctor away. Please share your thoughts. Cheers!

Disclaimer: Everything on this site including the blog and the ads are for your information only. I am not your doctor or pharmacist. Please do your own due diligence and consult your health care professional advisor. Dr. Minocha does not offer any opinion as to the ads on this site. The ads have potential to generate income for the blogger. 

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Fish type, mercury and heart benefits

By A. Minocha MD, author: Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System

 Fish type, omega-3 fatty acids, mercury toxicity and heart (based in part on  Nature Clin Practice (2008). 

Fish contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) which have been proven to be cardioprotective, i.e. good for heart. They prevent heart attacks.  Studies suggest that there is 29% reduction in mortality over 2 years inpatients who have had heart attacks.

The evidence is strong enough for the American Heart Association to recommend increased intake of omega 3-fatty acids. The good news is that mercury content of all the fish is not the same. The mercury content of predatory fish is much higher because they eat other fish containing mercury and indirectly attain much higher levels mercury than the fish at the lower end of the food chain.

The beneficial effect if fish intake can be demonstrated with as few as 1 fish per week, and greater intake provides even greater protection.

Fish, mercury and toxicity: The benefits of fish intake are tempered by the concern over mercury intake through fish and the resultant potential for neurotoxicity.

Low versus high mercury fish: The good news is that mercury content of all the fish is not the same. The mercury content of predatory fish is much higher because they eat other fish containing mercury and indirectly attain much higher levels mercury than the fish at the lower end of the food chain.

Identifying low versus high mercury fish: Sardines, salmon, and shrimp have lower mercury content than the predatory sharks, tuna, sword fish and orange roughy.

Farmed fish: Even more importantly, the farmed fish have the lowest mercury content while providing the perhaps similar benefits.

It should be pointed out that some farmed fish like tilapia and catfish may have omega-fatty acid profile may be pro-inflammatory, sadly it is the cheaper ones!

Limiting the mercury content: The exposure to mercury can be lowered by limiting the amount of fish ingested and eating the fish with lower mercury content.

Recommendations for fish intake: Institute of Medicine provides conservative recommendations regarding fish consumption. Non-pregnant persons may eat 1 predatory fish meal and 2-3 low mercury fish meals per week. Pregnant women should not eat more than 1 predatory fish meal per 2 weeks; however they may eat other fish 2-3 times per week.

Both wild and farmed fish are beneficial (note the caveat/exception above in text).

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Disclaimer: Everything on this site is for your information only. Do your own due diligence and consult physician. The ads have potential to generate income for the blogger.

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Disclaimer: Everything on this site including the blog and the ads are for your information only. I am not your doctor or pharmacist. Please do your own due diligence and consult your health care professional advisor. Dr. Minocha does not offer any opinion as to the ads on this site. The ads have potential to generate income for the blogger.