Benjamin Bikman @BenBikmanPhD Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

@_COACHJP_

@stw_pdg

@TheSafeAnnaAnon

@_kg1l

@markcheongwl

@CrTyappi

@texashoosiers2

@suzukameow

@SNH_Hammer

@ScreevoOfficial

@counselorcate

@Queens_AMS

@Cyriaquedb

@PSexistu

@milablvck

@DarrionWillFA

@brittnaynay3

@KenSignoretti

@matthewHNVN

@PDHRFC

@Throwdown

@DaMoorePgh

@HaysTravel

@IrfanMalik44407

@LatexD_com

@croquet_13

@joelklatt

@chrishoodie

@BatleyLab

@S1gnsOfL1fe

@mrev1111

@yutakya_n

@Vinoth_68

@photaayshoot

@PNerus

@ICooper

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

10 months

There are few drugs more embraced by mainstream medicine that #statins . While their efficacy in lowering #heartdisease risk is debated (appropriately), this newly-published study (encompassing over 46 MILLION patients) comes to a troubling conclusion: statins increase…

106

733

2K

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 months

One of the greatest paradigm shifts in #Alzheimers disease has happened, viewing the disorder through the lens of #metabolism , not plaques. One of the most relevant statements from this newly-published review on the topic is this: "reduced brain glucose metabolism and…

71

537

2K

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 months

By now, you've likely seen the headlines about the study detailing a 91% increased in heart disease from fasting. To be specific, they found that people who reported eating less than 8 hours in a day, compared to this who reported eating 12-16 hours in a day, had an almost…

143

292

1K

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 month

The lower insulin gets, the more impossible it becomes to store fat. I've previously elaborated on my frustrations with any study that utilizes a low-calorie diet to compare th effects of low-fat vs. low-carb because of the confounding variable of reduced insulin in both…

69

248

1K

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

I try not to be a drum-beating advocate of a ketogenic diet, but when it comes to neurological disorders, it increasingly appears as though some advocacy (and broadcasting) is warranted. This is a newly-published case study that documents the improvements in symptoms of a patient…

40

264

1K

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 months

Cortisol is a remarkable #hormone . We generally consider it a #stress hormone, which isn't wrong. But few appreciate its primary purpose: increase blood #glucose . Of course, this puts cortisol at odds with #insulin , promoting #insulinresistance . But how cortisol increases glucose…

50

204

1K

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

I've done it; I'm joining the ranks of people who believe their message is important enough to write a book. "Why We Get Sick" is now available for pre-order. All about #insulinresistance (what it is, why it matters, and how to fight it).

95

172

952

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

How cool! I’m delighted and, frankly, relieved, to see and hold the advanced copy of my book. If you’re curious about a common cause underlying most chronic diseases, and what to do about it, pre-order a copy anywhere books are sold. #insulinresistance

83

122

940

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 months

Food addiction is real. Unfortunately, it happens to be with the one macronutrient that causes the most metabolic damage: Carbohydrates. One of the most impactful statements in the linked article (below) is "Similar to drugs of abuse, glucose and insulin signal to the mesolimbic…

56

199

928

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 months

Linoleic acid (the primary fat in seed oils) has multiple fates, with a primary outcome being the production of 4-HNE. This paper (linked below) reinforces the evidence that 4-HNE contributes to metabolic problems, including #insulinresistance , by limiting the ability of…

41

230

840

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

Saturated Fat has been the Boogeyman of Low-Carb for too long. This video by @nicknorwitz should put that myth to rest. You're going to want to bookmark this one! YouTube: Also read/share: #OreoVsStatin

33

229

801

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 months

The older I get and the more I learn, the more I appreciate the wisdom of our ancestors. I've found, over the years, that if I feel a cold coming on, an immediate fast helps stop the cold in its tracks. Have you experienced this? I wonder whether it's partly a result of #ketones …

91

114

804

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 months

Cancer is a fantastically complicated disease, but disordered metabolism seems to be a common theme. This new report explored the role of various diets at mitigating the likelihood of prostate cancer in people with high genetic risk. They note: "...higher adherence to a diabetes…

37

182

796

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

9 months

Vaping is one of more harmful habits a person can engage in. New evidence (linked below) suggests that acrolein (a product of vaping and a component of commonly-used herbicides) is capable of damaging #mitochondria and inducing #insulinresistance in two very important…

89

201

777

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

15 days

@MattWalshBlog Here's why this advice doesn't work: Hunger. Imagine if I were inviting you to come to the world's most remarkable buffet, where the world's greatest chefs would be preparing the world's greatest foods. As a part of my invitation, I encourage you to "come as hungry as possible"…

67

121

781

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

22 days

One of the expressions I hate hearing the most in the realm of nutrition and health just happens to be one of the most beloved: "Moderation in all things". This common advice is ridiculously oversimplified, particularly when dealing with human behavior and addictions. Imagine…

62

158

762

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

10 months

A #lowcarb diet can reverse #type2diabetes , but evidence is mounting that it also improves #type1diabetes . This new study that explored the role of #lowcarb diets on diabetes control in #type1diabetes concluded: "These preliminary findings suggest that a professionally supported…

61

174

733

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 months

For anyone who suffers from an inflammatory (even autoimmune) disease, a ketogenic diet should be considered. Mounting evidence reveals a direct effect of ketones inhibiting inflammation. This study explored two psoriasis conditions [skin (PSO) and joint (PSA); autoimmune…

27

162

739

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

Every drug has side effects. One side effect of statins (cholesterol-lowering medication) is to increase #insulinresistance , which is a primary risk factor in heart disease and predicts heart disease mortality better than LDL cholesterol.

Effects of statin therapy on glycemic control and insulin resistance: A systematic review and...

Statins, slightly but significantly raise indexes of diabetes in individuals with adequate or altered glycemic control. The diabetogenic effect does not seem to be influenced by the type or dosage of...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

24

244

722

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

7 months

This newly-published paper on #ketones and #AlzheimersDisease is interesting for a couple reasons: 1. It highlights the effect of amyloid plaques on neuron mitochondrial function (e.g., increasing oxidative stress, etc.); 2. Reveals that ketones (beta-hydroxybutyrate) are capable…

23

197

727

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

#Cancer is a complicated disease, but one thing is certain: these rapidly-growing cells are hungry (i.e., high #metabolic rate) and glucose fuels most of that growth. What happens when we sprinkle in high insulin? Perfect storm--the high insulin (like with #insulinresistance )…

30

199

719

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

8 months

One of the most fascinating aspects of metabolism is the generally overlooked effect of bile acids on fat cells. Few realize that bile gets absorbed into the blood (after being released into the gut), fewer still appreciate that bile activates fat cell #mitochondria to increase…

46

150

725

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 years

Some believe that eating more fat causes fatty liver disease ( #NAFLD ). A #lowcarb diet reduces liver #fat 3X more than a high-carb diet (after a fast). If #insulin is low, the liver has little choice but to burn fat. #keto

Effect of a ketogenic diet on hepatic steatosis and hepatic mitochondrial metabolism in nonalcoho...

Weight loss by ketogenic diet (KD) has gained popularity in management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). KD rapidly reverses NAFLD and i...

www.pnas.org

16

166

703

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

Lactate is one of the more misunderstood molecules. Not only is it not lactic acid (in humans), but it also has no role in muscle soreness, etc. Lactate is, however, a product of burning glucose outside the mitochondria, AND a fuel to be burned within the mitochondria. Both of…

40

134

706

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

How we store fat matters more than how much fat we store. This idea emphasizes the importance of the size of each individual fat cell, rather than the total mass of the fat. This image compares fat cell size of South Asian men (left) and Caucasian men (right). Note the incredible…

39

161

704

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 months

I am so grateful to be a professor at a university that is patriotic. This is a remarkable country and too few universities see it as such. @BYU

32

35

680

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

@DrSarahHallberg It is remarkable that in the midst of trying to find the best drug to push glucose out of a diabetic body, more people don't simply decide to try putting less glucose into the body.

29

184

639

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 months

It is impossible for fat cells to grow in the absence of insulin. I'm unaware of any exception to this in an organism. Of course, the growth of the fat cell depends on the balance between energy coming into the fat cell to be stored vs. energy being released. Fat cells store…

40

128

655

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

One of the wonderful nutritional paradoxes: Eating more fat (if carbs are low), reduces fat storage in the liver, helping reverse fatty liver disease. More evidence from this new human study.

14

263

618

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 months

This new work from my lab further highlights the relevance of elevated insulin ( #hyperinsulinemia ) in driving #brain disorders. We find that elevated insulin (in rodents) not only increases #insulinresistance , but also drives mitochondrial disruption in the brain. The mediator…

22

158

628

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

#Fructose is a molecule best served in small doses. This review outlines the uniquely damaging effects of fructose on the liver, including its ability to cause liver #insulinresistance . And when the liver falls, the rest of the body soon follows. A rule: eat fruit, never drink it

22

231

583

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

7 months

Despite all the fury against saturated fat among anti-meat advocates, the actual clinical evidence suggesting it's a problem is tremendously weak (i.e., absent). The reality is dietary fat has very little influence on #metabolic outcomes, such as #insulinresistance . I'm always…

28

144

595

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 months

I've never wanted to be perceived as a drum-beating advocate of a #ketogenic diet. If anything, I'm a defender who believes opponents have deliberately or accidentally overlooked the substantial data supporting its use. Increasingly, the one instance where I unapologetically…

21

102

590

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

As the plaque-based theory of #alzheimers crumbles, the #metabolic theory is steadily getting stronger. If the brain can't get energy to meet its robust energetic needs, including through disrupted mitochondria, cognition declines.

Metabolic defects shared by Alzheimer's disease and diabetes: A focus on mitochondria - PubMed

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are two global epidemics that share several metabolic defects, such as insulin resistance, impaired glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial defects....

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

17

175

584

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

8 months

#PCOS (aka #metabolic #infertility ) is the most common cause of infertility in women. There are a handful of mechanisms at play, but the common outcome is that the ovaries experience egg development, but failure to ovulate, leading to eggs lingering too long and becoming cysts…

34

133

579

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

9 months

Fat gain is a consequence of two essential components: elevated insulin and sufficient calories. In other words, elevated insulin is required to stimulate energy storage (utterly impossible to gain weight without elevated insulin), but we need sufficient energy (i.e., calories)…

52

127

569

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

18 months of a #lowcarb diet outperformed a traditional "diabetes diet" (i.e., low-fat, high in grains, etc.); better glucose control, fat loss, and blood pressure (no change in blood lipids).

Effect of a 90 g/day low-carbohydrate diet on glycaemic control, small, dense low-density lipopro...

A moderate (90 g/d) LCD showed better glycaemic control with decreasing MES, lowering blood pressure, decreasing weight, waist and hip circumference without adverse effects on lipid profiles, sdLDL,...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

17

170

553

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

Some of the worst advice a person with type 1 diabetes receives (at time of diagnosis) is "eat whatever you want and cover it with insulin". One (among several) way of defining the disease is an inability to metabolize glucose properly. I've long been puzzled, then, that dietary…

40

110

554

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 month

I've been asked a great deal lately on the origins of type 2 diabetes. My simplest definition: A state when the insulin resistance has become so significant that insulin can no longer effectively control glucose clearance (i.e., skeletal muscle insulin resistance) or glucose…

43

112

550

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

#Magnesium is clearly a relevant mineral when it comes to #insulinresistance and metabolic health. 382 mg of Mg was enough to improve #hypertension , #glucose , and lipids after 16 weeks.

26

179

519

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

#Magnesium really is an overlooked mineral for optimal #metabolic health. 250 mg for 3 months improved #insulinresistance in people with #type2diabetes .

29

156

506

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 months

There is no doubt that body fat contributes to disease, though it's more nuanced than most think. Importantly, the total mass of fat is less important than the size of each individual fat cell--this the battle between hypertrophy (i.e., growth of fat cells) vs. hyperplasia (i.e.,…

28

104

520

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

In our efforts to lose weight, we don't want to kill fat cells. We want to shrink them. When fat cells die, either through excess growth or, say, freezing, immune cells move in to clean up the mess. When immune cells work, systemic inflammation increases, which increases…

32

96

520

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

11 months

When it comes to #metabolic health, #muscle matters. This new study further cements this idea: . One primary reason for this is that muscle is the main consumer of glucose--up to 80% of postprandial glucose will be consumed by the muscle. More muscle mass…

Lower skeletal muscle mass is associated with diabetes and insulin resistance: A cross-sectional...

This study demonstrated negative associations of skeletal muscle mass with diabetes incidence, insulin resistance, and HbA1C levels in healthy adults.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

25

146

520

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

9 months

Fat loss is more complicated than most people realize (or want to admit). One component is the involvement of #adrenaline (epinephrine). When calories or insulin is low, adrenaline will activate adipocyte lipolysis (i.e., fat breakdown in fat cells). However, this newly-published…

30

81

507

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 years

My lab just measured the #metabolic rate of a middle-aged subject in #ketosis . 94% of her metabolic needs were fueled by fat. My colleague: "I've never seen a fat oxidation rate that high." Me: "The power of #lowcarb ."

11

105

488

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

10 months

The longer we fail to include fasting #insulin in general exams, the more we will to detect #metabolic problems at the earliest possible time. This study found that fasting glucose had no predictive value in determining future diabetes/metabolic disease risk in children. However,…

19

106

504

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

26 days

Much of what I study (as an obesity/diabetes scientist) focuses on the mitochondria and the catabolism/breaking down of carbon-rich molecules (e.g., glucose and fats). I occasionally need to step back and appreciate where those nutrients come from. All energy, and the life it…

27

83

505

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 months

Within the realm of #obesity research and efforts, invoking the laws of thermodynamics is problematic. Of course, this manifests as "calories in, calories out" or "eat less, exercise more", reflecting the first law. Of course, nobody wants to then accept the second law--systems…

38

100

502

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

I've been saying it for years: LDL is as much a part of the immune system as it is a part of the energetic (i.e., fat-carrying) system.

Eashwarran Kohilathas

@drkohilathas

1 year

We have to stop calling LDL "bad cholesterol", it helps us from getting sick. LDL adheres to and inactivates almost all types of microorganisms and their toxic products, and enhances the activation of the innate immune system. Focus on reducing inflammation. THREAD 🧵

33

231

703

14

135

490

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 years

You know what they say: "An #egg a day keeps the doctor away." Daily egg consumption improves numerous health markers with #insulinresistance . Of course, for me, if one's good, four is better.

28

149

476

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 years

8 weeks of a #ketogenic supplement significantly improved cognitive outcomes in people with early-stage #Alzheimers disease. Giving the brain an opportunity to use ketones for fuel, as opposed to just glucose, helps it work better.

12

196

470

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 months

#PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is overwhelmingly a #metabolic problem. This seems obvious if a woman is overweight, but less so if the woman is lean. This new manuscript (linked below), like so many before it, shows that it's not fat mass (or body weight) that matters, but…

15

111

482

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

8 months

Among the long list of #supplements people take to help fight #insulinresistance and improve #metabolic health, #berberine is one of the few that works well. This interesting study found that berberine was effective at preventing #cortisol -induced (i.e., #stress ) #hyperglycemia .…

37

80

480

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

Here is our newly published case report detailing the profound improvements in glucose control (and more) in people with #type2diabetes / #insulinresistance following a 90-day #LCHF / #keto diet. The article is open access; please give it a read: .

25

201

451

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

What a neat study: #ketones (via #fasting ) inhibit mast cell activation, potentially explaining a ketone-induced improvement in allergy resistance. I'm curious whether anyone has noticed a reduced sensitivity to allergens during #ketosis / #keto ?

116

138

435

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

To some, it's a paradox that eating plenty of fat (i.e., #LCHF / #keto ) improves the profile of fats circulating in our blood. Here's the latest evidence.

11

145

432

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 years

Just 3 months of #ketosis was sufficient to increase cognition in a group with mild #alzheimers (meaningful, considering the small sample size). Remarkably, as ketosis went away, so did the improvements...

12

189

436

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

Carbohydrate restriction outperformed a conventional "diabetes diet" in people with #type2diabetes , including lower postprandial and 24-h glucose, #insulin secretion, and satiety.

Effects of carbohydrate restriction on postprandial glucose metabolism, β-cell function, gut...

Dietary carbohydrate restriction may improve the phenotype of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. We aimed to investigate 6 wk of carbohydrate restriction on postprandial glucose metabolism, pancreatic...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

8

120

430

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 months

Hyperinsulinemia (elevated blood insulin), an inseparable feature of #insulinresistance , contributes to most chronic diseases. Thus, understanding its origins provides insight into the origins of many of the top killers (i.e., #diabetes , #heartdisease , and more). Here's my talk…

20

99

442

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 years

Wow. Adding #glyphosate (a common #herbicide ) to a diet high in #frutcose (in lab rats vs. fructose alone) increased #fasting #glucose by 90%, #insulin by 40%, and #uricacid by 100%.

The use of combined high-fructose diet and glyphosate to model rats type 2 diabetes symptomatology...

An ideal food-chemical combination that will promote insulin resistance and its consequent development of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction may open a new vista for Type 2 diabetes (T2D) research....

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

28

169

434

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

Pretty potent results with a #LCFH / #keto vs. low-fat diet in "older adults": almost 5X more #fat loss, including 3X more visceral fat loss; all while maintaining greater #muscle mass. And, no surprise, greater improvements in #insulinresistance .

Effects of weight loss during a very low carbohydrate diet on specific adipose tissue depots and...

NCT02760641. Registered 03 May 2016 - Retrospectively registered.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

19

155

424

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

When we ignore that hormones dictate energy use/storage in the body, the simple idea of a calorie becomes meaningless.

The Economist

@TheEconomist

5 years

Calorie counting has been central to people's understanding of weight gain for over a century. Given that the great majority of diets fail—could the calorie be one of the biggest delusions in dietary history?

59

430

828

14

116

420

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

#PCOS is a disorder of metabolism, and fat cells are at the center of it. (Trying a post in video form. Serious question: should I stick with longer, written posts?)

74

64

425

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

Is this why so many people find it easy to overeat #carbs ? "Participants are able to estimate energy density from fat, but not carbohydrate." I.e., our brain can "sense" the calories we eat from fat, but the "sensor" fails when it comes to carbs.

26

97

420

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

9 months

#Leakygut is a real thing. Normally, the intestinal wall only allows through molecules that are "filtered" by the cells of the epithelium (i.e., wall). However, when there are gaps between the cells, other molecules can get through. Very often, these molecules elicit an…

23

84

422

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

This is a somewhat convoluted study, but it's nonetheless compelling to focus on a part of its story. Statins, used (with tremendous debate) to reduce heart disease risk by reducing cholesterol levels, has long been known to increase the risk of the leading risk factor for heart…

22

104

423

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 months

Obesity and fat gain/loss is more complicated than simply counting calories. This naive view ignores the role of hormones that dictate the use of energy in the cell, and by extension the body. Insulin is particularly relevant here. Even when measured at the whole-body level,…

20

104

415

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

This study of #type2diabetes makes a profound and relevant conclusion: the majority of people with T2DM have normal or nearly normal beta-cell mass. It begs the question: why treat with insulin if they're already making it?

30

147

399

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

8 months

#Aging brings about countless changes in the body, with many (all?) being deleterious, including increased risk of #insulinresistance and other #metabolic problems. Interestingly, this is also a time of reducing the number of #fat cells. You'd think that losing fat cells would be…

18

87

409

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

Muscle is key to optimal cardiometabolic health. Unfortunately, it's a challenge to build and an increasingly difficult challenge to maintain with age. Accordingly, we want to do what we can to keep it. This new report suggests another reason to avoid linoleic acid (from seed…

20

76

410

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

There is much (warranted) concern on #brainhealth / #cognition these days. Diet can help. 4 wk of a #lowcarb diet increased BDNF by 20%, and to 38% with the addition of exercise. Also, a 14% improvement in "brain speed". Oh, and improved #insulinresistance , of course.

10

155

384

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

You've heard of #type2diabetes and #type1diabetes , but have you heard of Double Diabetes? Sometimes called "diabetes 1.5". These are terms to refer to the transition from type 1 diabetes into type 2 diabetes. In other words, a type 1 diabetic becomes insulin resistant. This was…

34

89

400

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 years

@saifedean It's strange that CO2 is treated is a pollutant, rather than utterly essential to all life on the planet.

27

51

385

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

8 months

This new paper finds that #periodontitis tracks tightly with #insulinresistance . We published a paper a number of years ago detailing a causal effect wherein the gum inflammation directly promotes systemic insulin resistance.

Periodontitis is associated with insulin resistance in adults living with diabetes mellitus in...

Insulin resistance is highly prevalent in patients with diabetes mellitus in Uganda and is associated with periodontitis and low body weight.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

25

94

395

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 months

With the (appropriate) fading away of the plaque-based theory of #alzheimersdisease , we're finally free to consider other origins. #Inflammation (which is blamed for too many diseases nowadays) is a contender, particularly inflammation of neurons relevant to cognition. This…

19

74

397

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

For those frustrated with knee pain/ #osteoarthritis , this study indicates a #LCHF / #keto diet improves joint pain better than a low-fat diet. Authors suggest it could be a result of the reduced oxidative stress.

29

150

391

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

#Exercise is so important for fighting #insulinresistance . This study found that utilizing a few common exercises, each with one set to failure, was sufficient to improve insulin resistance in overweight men. Workouts took roughly 15 minutes. One. Single. Set.

19

127

389

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

Am I the only one who finds the maxim "you are what you eat" to be silly? Does eating vegetables make you more like a vegetable? What was the original intention of this phrase? Perhaps encouragement to avoid junk food? Regardless, I prefer the phrase: "you burn what you eat". The…

65

50

393

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 months

We increasingly and correctly view #alzheimers disease as a #metabolic disorder and a result of #insulinresistance . This new publications reviews the evidence on the use of oral anti-diabetic medications in combating cognitive decline. They find that all oral medications benefit…

12

90

390

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 years

This case study reports that after weight regain following #gastricbypass surgery, a patient successfully lost MORE weight by adopting a #lowcarb #ketogenic diet. Conclusion: when it comes to weight loss, #lowcarb was more effective than surgery.

20

107

369

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

7 months

Of the few primary causes of #insulinresistance , #stress is an important one. Though it's difficult to quantify, at its simplest, it is a problem of elevated stress #hormones , namely #cortisol or #adrenaline . This new research further supports the relevance of cortisol. If you're…

22

77

378

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

Glad to be presenting at the @MetabolicSummit this weekend. Here's a snapshot of my lecture, encouraging a "paradigm shift" with #type2diabetes : the sooner we look at #insulin (not #glucose ) the earlier we detect the #insulinresistance and the better we treat the disorder.

26

108

370

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

8 months

Our quartet about to take the stage. Haven’t settled on a name yet: “Three Nice Guys” or “The Key-Tones”?

73

8

373

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

Bile acids do more than digest fat (and protein). They get absorbed into the blood, where they improve #insulinresistance , activate #brownfat , regulate #bloodsugar levels, increase GLP-1, and more. Another reason to not fear dietary fat.

The role of bile acids in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism - PubMed

In recent years, bile acids (BAs) are increasingly being appreciated as signaling molecules beyond their involvement in bile formation and fat absorption. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the G...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

9

93

373

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 month

I wonder how many people with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are struggling with their metabolic health due to an iron deficiency. This report in women with both iron deficiency and T2DM found that every metabolic marker (glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance, etc.) improved…

41

53

374

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 months

One of the problems with the use of #lowcarb vs. #lowfat diets to test the endocrine vs. caloric theories of obesity is the catastrophically confounding variable of what a reduction in energy does to insulin. For example, all of the existing short-term studies utilize a…

30

60

373

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 years

This study has been making the rounds, and deservedly so. The data don't support a fear of saturated fats. Embrace natural fats (like animal, fruit), that contain all kids of fats, and avoid processed oils (like soybean, etc.).

10

126

361

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

2 years

More evidence that #insulinresistance is a predictive and causal factor for cognitive decline and #alzheimers risk. The higher the IR, the lower the #cognition , even in middle-aged adults. Keep your diet sharp to keep your brain sharp!

Insulin resistance and accelerated cognitive aging - PubMed

Insulin resistance may be an early sign of metabolic dysfunction with the potential to lead to neuropsychiatric sequelae in the long term. In order to identify whether insulin resistance in otherwise...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

12

117

364

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 months

For the endocrinology course I teach @BYU , I have a lecture on the endocrinology of adipose (fat) tissue. Few people realize that our fat cells are a highly active endocrine organ, secreting dozens of hormones into the blood, with myriad effects throughout the body. I've…

13

67

364

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

#Ketones and the #ketodiet are controversial, but we've enjoyed an explosion of evidence in recent years that highlight their myriad favorable #metabolic effects. This new (rodent) study finds a new one--ketones directly improve #insulinresistance in fat cells. Remarkably, not…

15

75

360

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 months

This published case report is a fascinating example of the catabolic (i.e., "breaking down") power of #cortisol . The subject was given a cortisol-based medication to reduce #inflammation and auto-immunity. However, after just a few weeks, the subject had lost roughly 10 kg of…

22

72

360

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

I'm unaware of any drug that can lower HbA1c as well as #LCHF / #keto . Indeed, dropping several percentage points while getting off drugs; nothing better.

19

124

347

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

More evidence that maintaining #muscle mass and strength is critical for healthy aging. [Tangent: dietary protein need is increased in aging to maintain muscle; something to keep in mind when people (erroneously) claim dietary protein will make you age faster.]

13

117

326

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

6 years

Guess what happens when a type 2 diabetic with early memory impairment (early #alzheimers ) adopts a #lowcarb #ketogenic diet and exercise for just 10 weeks? Yep. Everything gets better.

6

152

335

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

Not long ago, people were vilifying meat because it increased TMAO, thought to be the link to heart disease. Now that we know vegetables and fish increase it, TMAO is suddenly a good thing...

Gabor Erdosi 🧩📄📊🧭

@gerdosi

5 years

Shall we stop religious discussions about #TMAO cardiovascular health? There are obviously some aspects of which we don’t have a good grasp.

5

10

45

23

101

340

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

1 year

Within the realm of nutrition, there are few (no?) diets more revered than the DASH diet. Advocates adore this low-fat, low-salt approach for its benefits on reducing blood pressure and helping with weight loss. What happens when the DASH diet is compared with a #lowcarb diet?…

22

94

349

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

4 months

This new (rodent) study outlines some mechanisms whereby ketones help maintain muscle mass in a model of diabetes. Interestingly, this is thought to be a primary purpose (among many) of ketones: protecting muscle from degradation. In states of carbohydrate restriction (or poor…

19

89

352

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

5 years

If you've got results from a simple blood test, this study suggests that if your TG:HDL ratio is above 2, you likely have #insulinresistance . (I'm struck by the correlation with #hypertension : those with HT had double the likelihood of have IR).

14

109

332

Benjamin Bikman

@BenBikmanPhD

3 years

If a person has a disease that makes it difficult to metabolize glucose, the simplest solution is to eat less glucose. #diabetes #lowcarb #ketogenicdiet @davidludwigmd

Carbohydrate restriction for diabetes: rediscovering centuries-old wisdom - PubMed

Carbohydrate restriction, used since the 1700s to prolong survival in people with diabetes, fell out of favor after the discovery of insulin. Despite costly pharmacological and technological develo...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

15

82

336