Compelling data from a series of in vitro experiments indicate that certain strains of Lactobacillus can sequester toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, and chromium, while also reducing inflammation and protecting intestinal epithelium from damage. (Image: Oksana Stepanenko/Dreamstime)
Certain
probiotic bacteria, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP14, Lactobacillus
crispatus LCRO4, and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA12, are able in
varying degrees, to detoxify cadmium, lead, and other toxic metals. These
microbial allies may also be able to mitigate intestinal epithelial damage
caused by heavy metal exposures.
Those
are the key signals from a new paper published in Frontiers
in Microbiology.
Though
the observations were from in vitro experiments, and not an in vivo
human trial, they provide strong proof of concept that certain microbes can
sequester and detoxify toxic metals, and that they hold potential for reducing
the toxicity associated with heavy metals (HM) we humans absorb via our food
and water.
Written by Joshua Cohen (this article was originally published on June 8, 2026 by Undark Magazine)
An emerging technology seeks to help revolutionize the world of cancer diagnosis: Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests aim to spot signals for different types of cancer from a single blood draw or other body fluid sample. Also known as a specific type of liquid biopsy, MCED tests look for abnormalities that may indicate cancer, like […]
Daily supplementation with an Akkermansia muciniphila probiotic led to marked improvement in fasting blood glucose, post-prandial glucose, and hemoglobin A1c after 60 days. Those are the upshots of a new placebo-controlled study involving 60 prediabetic individuals. The findings strengthen the case for clinical use of Akkermansia in the management of people at high risk for […]
The
search for longevity has moved from myth to molecular science. In this
eye-opening presentation, we explore groundbreaking research revealing how
telomerase activity and epigenetic modifications may hold the keys to
slowing—and even reversing—the aging process.
Once
thought to function solely by extending telomeres, telomerase is now recognized
for its non-canonical roles in gene expression, mitochondrial function, and DNA
repair. Insights emerging from landmark studies on the reversibility of
epigenetic drift, suggests a future in which aging is not inevitable, but
modifiable through small molecule telomerase activators.
Join Dr. Joseph Raffaele and learn how these discoveries are reshaping our clinical understanding of lifespan, healthspan, and regenerative potential.
Learning
Objectives:
Understand the multiple roles of telomerase in both telomere maintenance and its lesser-known functions in regulating cell biology and metabolism.
Review the mechanisms by which epigenetic changes contribute to aging—and how partial reprogramming may restore youthful gene expression profiles.
Analyze the findings of key animal studies, including those demonstrating reversal of age-related decline through transient telomerase activation or epigenetic reset.
Discuss the translational potential of these discoveries for human aging, including therapeutic strategies and clinical biomarkers of rejuvenation.
Joseph Raffaele, MD received his B.A. in philosophy from Princeton University and his MD from Drexel University Medical School in 1989. Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. Raffaele trained at The New York Hospital/Weill Cornell University Medical Center. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. Since 1997 he has exclusively practiced longevity medicine with a focus on personalized physiological age assessment and gerotherapeutics. In 2007, he co-founded PhysioAge Health Analytics, a web-based biomarker data collection and reporting system now used by longevity and integrative medicine practices around the world. He has published clinical research in telomere biology, epigenetics, and glycobiology. In 2015 he founded Raffaele Medical, and he posts regularly about telomere biology, hormone optimization, and biomarkers of aging/longevity therapeutics at @Raffaelemd and PhysioAge.com.
