Have you ever wondered why some people can eat all they want and never gain weight while others exercise and watch what they eat but still can’t shed a pound? The clue may lie partly in your gut microbiome, the complex community of bacteria within the digestive tract that is genetically different in each person.

A personalized diet based on your microbiome, genetics, age and activity level is a better way to control your blood glucose (sugar) than cutting carbohydrates and calories, according to research from the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body, but too much blood sugar is stored as fat. Managing blood sugar is therefore important to controlling weight and preventing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.

“Our research shows that everyone responds differently to foods. We found that the standard approach of counting carbohydrates and calories alone is not the best approach to managing blood sugar, because it only takes into account characteristics of food. It fails to recognize that each person’s unique lifestyle, demographics and microbiome also play a role,” says Helena Mendes Soares, Ph.D., a scientist within the Mayo Clinic Microbiome Program and the lead author on the study.

“With our individualized model, you don’t have to give up all high fat or high carb foods, as previously thought. You can choose specific foods within those categories that work well with your own genetic makeup and microbiome. For example, I discovered that apples cause my blood sugar to spike, but pears do not. Instead of giving up all fruits, I can personalize my diet with foods based on my physiology, lifestyle and microbiome.”

The research

Vivek Iyer, M.D., a critical care physician at Mayo Clinic was looking for scientifically-based tips to help him control his weight. Dr. Iyer was one of 327 people who enrolled in a Mayo Clinic study of glycemic responses to food. For six days, participants had a standard breakfast of bagels and cream cheese and ate what they wanted the rest of the day. They kept a log of their meals, exercise and rest while a glucose monitor tracked blood sugar levels. Each participant submitted a stool sample that was genetically sequenced to learn what foods worked well with their microbiomes.

“It helped me understand how my body responds to different foods. After eating the breakfast bagel, my blood sugars shot up and stayed there for several hours. Refined sugars and processed carbohydrates seemed to be the culprits. Other carbohydrates and foods higher in proteins and fats tended to be better for my blood sugar level,” says Dr. Iyer.

With this knowledge, Dr. Iyer took a personalized approach to modifying his diet.

“I don’t have to give up all carbohydrates. Instead, I’ve cut down on just the carbohydrates that cause my blood sugar to rise, like rice and wheat grains. I am eating more proteins such as eggs and cottage cheese that keep my blood sugar steady. And I’m staying away from sugary breakfast cereals and yogurts. I’ve lost a little bit of weight and I feel more energetic,” he says.

Role of the microbiome

Mayo researchers say their model, which accounts for age, lifestyle and genetic differences in each person's microbiome, accurately predicted blood sugar response to food 62 percent of the time. That is far superior to the 40 percent accuracy for predictions based on carbohydrates alone and 32 percent based on calories alone.

“The clever thing about this approach is that it’s adjusting your diet to your microbiome, rather than trying to change the bacteria in your microbiome – which could take time. Our model allows you to look at the diet to learn which foods will work best with the microbiome when considering a biological outcome, which in this case was blood glucose,” says Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., the Bernard and Edith Waterman co-director of the Center for Individualized Medicine Microbiome Program and an author on the study.

Researchers say these findings are the first step toward validating the health benefits of personalized diets. This research confirmed conclusions of a similar study conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Read the news release on the research published in JAMA Network Open.

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PHOENIX — The Mayo Clinic board of trustees recognized three retiring members as emeritus trustees, elected and announced new members and re-elected members at its board meeting today.

“The expertise and perspectives our board of trustees bring to Mayo Clinic is invaluable as we look to the future and build on the unparalleled experience for our patients,” says John Noseworthy, M.D., president and CEO, Mayo Clinic.

The Mayo Clinic board of trustees recognized and elected three emeritus trustees:

• Armando Codina, executive chair Codina Partners
  Codina joined Mayo’s board in 2014. Codina is executive chairman of Codina Partners, LLC, a real estate investment and development firm based in Coral Gables, Florida. Codina formed Codina Partners in 2009. Through this entity and its affiliates, he is engaged in multiple real estate development and investment activities. The firm’s portfolio includes mixed-used projects, commercial buildings and other investments ─ primarily in Florida. Previously, Mr. Codina served as chairman of Flagler, a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Coral Gables. The company’s portfolio spanned more than 12 million square feet of class A office and industrial space throughout Florida.

• Michael Dougherty, founder and chairman, Dougherty Financial Group
  Dougherty joined Mayo’s board in 2013. Dougherty is founder and chairman of Dougherty Financial Group LLC, a full-service investment banking firm with three affiliated companies. Dougherty received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also serves on the university's board of trustees and is chair of the executive committee. He serves on the board of directors for Forestar Group Inc. in Austin, Texas, and the Destination Medical Center Corporation board of directors in Rochester, Minnesota.

• Aulana Peters, retired partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
  Peters joined Mayo’s board in 2007 and was a partner of the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher from 1980 to 1984 and 1988 to 2000. She served as a commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from 1984 to 1988. Peters was the first African-American to serve as a commissioner of the SEC and only the third woman to serve in that post. Peters serves on the U.S. Comptroller General’s Accountability Advisory Panel and the Advisory Board to the Public Company Accountants Oversight Board.

The board welcomed three new public trustees who are serving four-year terms:

• Ursula Burns, chair and CEO emeritus, Xerox Corporation
  Ursula Burns is chair and CEO emeritus of Xerox Corporation. During her Xerox tenure, she helped the company transform from a global leader in document technology to the world’s most diversified business services company serving enterprises and governments of all sizes. Burns joined Xerox as an intern in 1980 and held leadership posts spanning corporate services, manufacturing and product development. She was named president in 2007, CEO in 2009 and chair in 2010. She is a board director of the American Express Corporation, Exxon Mobil Corporation and the Ford Foundation. In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Burns to help lead the White House national program on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and she was appointed chair of the President’s Export Council in 2015 after serving as vice chair since 2010.

• Richard Davis, chairman and CEO, U.S. Bancorp
  Davis has been chairman of U.S. Bancorp since 2007, its CEO since December 2006 and president since 2004. Davis has more than 40 years of experience in the banking industry.  He joined U.S. Bancorp in November 1993. Davis serves as a director of Financial Services Roundtable. He is a Member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross and he serves as a Director of The Clearing House LLC. He also serves on the boards of Xcel Energy Inc. and The Dow Chemical Company. Locally, he is the chairman of Greater MSP and serves on the boards of the Minnesota Business Partnership, the University of Minnesota Foundation and the Minneapolis YMCA.

• Alan Mulally, former president and CEO, Ford Motor Company
  Mulally served as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company and was a member of the company’s board of directors from September 2006 to June 2014. Mulally led Ford’s transformation into one of the world’s leading automakers. Prior to joining Ford, Mulally served as executive vice president of the Boeing Company and president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Mulally joined Boeing in 1969 and progressed through a number of significant engineering and program-management assignments and a variety of executive leadership roles. Mulally served on the President’s Export Council, which was formed in 2010 to advise U.S. President Barack Obama on export enhancement and ways to encourage companies to increase exports and enter new markets. He previously served as co-chairman of the Washington Competitiveness Council, and sat on the advisory boards of NASA, the University of Washington, the University of Kansas, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. He is a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of England’s Royal Academy of Engineering. He also served as a past president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and is a former president of its Foundation. Additionally, Mulally served as a past chairman of the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association.

The board re-elected two public trustees:

• Brad Anderson, retired CEO and vice chairman, Best Buy
  Anderson joined Mayo’s board in 2009 and was re-elected to a four-year term. He spent 36 years at Best Buy Company, retiring in 2009 as CEO and vice chairman. Anderson began his career with Best Buy in 1973 as a commissioned salesperson for Sound of Music, the precursor to Best Buy.

• Charles Tomm, president and CEO, The Brumos Companies
  Tomm joined Mayo’s board in 2013 and was re-elected to a four-year term. Tomm is the former president and CEO of The Brumos Companies, which included Porsche, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and Smart dealerships in Jacksonville and Orange Park, Florida, as well as collision centers. Tomm also serves as a director of Florida Bank Group in Tampa, Florida.

The board also elected one new internal trustee and re-elected three internal trustees:

• Heidi Nelson, M.D., chair, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic
  Dr. Nelson was elected to a four-year term on Mayo’s board. Dr. Nelson is past chair of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery and director of the Microbiome Program through Mayo’s Center for Individualized Medicine. This program examines the impact of diet and exercise through the microbiome on colon cancer.

• Daniel Berry, M.D., surgeon, Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic
  Berry joined Mayo’s board in 2013 and was re-elected to a four-year term. He is a past chair of Mayo’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He has served on numerous Mayo committees in surgery, administration and facilities. Dr. Berry has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, edited six books on hip and knee arthroplasty and has held leadership positions in many national and international organizations related to orthopedic and hip surgery.

• Lois Krahn, M.D.,Psychiatry and Psychology and Sleep Disorders Center, Mayo Clinic
  Dr. Krahn joined Mayo’s board in 2013 and was re-elected to a four-year term and has been conducting research and clinical practice as a sleep medicine specialist for more than 20 years. Her interests lie in exploring emerging concepts and trends in the field such as novel pharmacologic compounds, bedroom sleep environment and potential for mobile technology to influence sleep. Dr. Krahn is co vice chair of Mayo’s Executive Operations Team and is also a member of Mayo Clinic’s Board of Governors.

• Paula Menkosky, vice chair of Administration, Mayo Clinic, and chief administrative officer, Mayo Clinic in Arizona
  Menkosky, who has been a board member since 2016, was re-elected to a one-year term. She is responsible for Mayo Clinic operations in Arizona in partnership with Wyatt Decker, M.D., vice president, Mayo Clinic, and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. In this role, she serves on numerous leadership committees and is the secretary for the Executive Operations Team in Arizona. In addition, Menkosky serves as a vice chair of Administration for Mayo Clinic and is responsible for External Relations. In this role, she oversees Public Affairs and Development activities across Mayo Clinic.

Finally, the board of trustees also recognized and honored Dawn Milliner, M.D., after 35 years of service. Dr. Milliner, who retired January 13, served in a number of leadership positions during her Mayo tenure. For the past six years, she has served as Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and director for the Office of Information and Knowledge Management (OIKM). Dr. Milliner has previously served as chair of the Mayo Clinic Clinical Practice Committee and was a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors and the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees.

As Mayo Clinic’s first CMIO, Dr. Milliner has advanced informatics at Mayo Clinic. She has been integral in driving necessary change to meet convergence across Mayo Clinic practice areas, including the migration to a single electronic health record, consolidation of clinical knowledge management activities and introduction of health information exchange with other provider organizations.

“She’s provided tremendous leadership as we’ve navigated issues including changes in reimbursement, quality measurement and improvement, practice convergence, technology, and best practices related to medical information,” says Samuel Di Piazza, board chair. “I’ve learned so much from Dawn, who exemplifies the extraordinary capabilities of physician leaders at Mayo Clinic.”

Health Data Management named Dr. Milliner to the its 2016 list as one of The Most Powerful Female Leaders in Healthcare Information Technology as one of 75 women in healthcare IT who were recognized for driving technology innovation, overcoming organizational and technology barriers, deploying leading edge technology and implementing healthcare technology that dramatically increased patient safety and organizational efficiency.

Dr. Milliner was a member of the Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, and the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Mayo Clinic.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to medical research and education, and providing expert, whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic or newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Karl Oestreich, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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Listen: Mayo Clinic Radio 9/10/16

According to the National Institutes of Health, functional neurological disorders, also known as conversion disorders, are conditions in which you show psychological stress in physical ways. Conversion disorder can present as blindness, paralysis or other nervous system symptoms that cannot be explained by a physical illness or injury. Symptoms may occur because of emotional distress or psychological conflict, and they usually begin suddenly after a stressful experience or traumatic event. On  Mayo Clinic Radio, psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Staab explains diagnosis and treatment of functional neurological disorders. Also on the program, Dr. Justin Kreuter, medical director of the Blood Donor Center on Mayo Clinic's Rochester campus, covers the urgent need for blood donations. Family medicine physician Dr. Elizabeth Cozine has tips on foot care. And, Dr. Heidi Nelson talks about the importance of the human microbiome.

The post #MayoClinicRadio Podcast: 9/10/16 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

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Listen to the program on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 9:05 a.m. CDT, and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Understanding functional neurological disorders appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Listen to the program on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 9:05 a.m. CDT.

Miss the show?  Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Functional neurological disorders / blood donation / foot care / human microbiome appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Our bodies are home to trillions of microbes, mostly bacteria, inside and out. Collectively, these bugs are called the human microbiome. Mayo researchers are finding it does more for us – both good and bad – than we ever imagined.

The Mayo Microbiome Program at the Center for Individualized Medicine has more than 30 projects underway. These projects seek a better understanding of the makeup of the microbiome and how it contributes to things like irritable bowel syndrome, gluten sensitivity, colon cancer and more.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Heidi Nelson, explains what's already known about the human microbiome and what researchers are still working to find out. Jeff Olsen reports.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:10) is in the downloads. Read the script.

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine joined the National Microbiome Initiative sponsored by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). More than 100 institutions committed to advance microbiome research in areas such as health care, food safety and security, environmental protection, and bioenergy production.

In support of the National Microbiome Initiative Mayo Clinic is committed to establishing a Microbiome Clinic, offering clinical services, diagnostics and patient education.

“The new clinic will focus on improving the care of the individual patient through knowledge of the human microbiome,” says Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S. , consultant in gastroenterology, associate director of the Mayo Clinic Microbiome Program.

Media Contact: Colette Gallagher, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, at newsbureau@mayo.edu or 507-284-5005.

According to Dr. Kashyap new diagnostics based on next-generation sequencing will allow the Microbiome Clinic to individualize treatment of undiagnosed infections and conditions, as well as to perform hospital surveillance. These will include bacterial whole genome sequencing to track and identify source of outbreaks and determine antibiotic susceptibility, clinical metagenomic profiling to identify unculturable  bacteria causing infections and microbial community profiling as biomarkers of disease outcomes and response to treatment.

In addition to the well-established fecal microbiota transplant program, Mayo will offer new therapies emerging from clinical trials. Patient education will focus on helping patients navigate the complex options that promote health and wellness, including diet and nutritional supplements and probiotic foods.

"The Center for Individualized Medicine’s Microbiome Program will continue to support a discovery, translational and clinical research portfolio that ensures continued success of the Microbiome Clinic." says Heidi Nelson, M.D., consultant in colon and rectal surgery, program director of the Microbiome Program, and the Fred C. Andersen Professor.

WEBCAST: The Future of the Microbiomes Event will be webcast live.

Read more facts about the OSTP Microbiome Initiative. 

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, providing expert, whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. For more information, visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic or https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/.

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