Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS 
TB Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC · Board-Certified Podiatrist · Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI Quick Answer Astaxanthin reduces oxidative stress markers by up to 28% in human clinical trials (Choi et al., 2011), but its relevance to diabetic neuropathy goes far beyond general antioxidation. As a … Read more
Quick answer: Functional hematology goes beyond the standard CBC to identify the root causes of anemia — distinguishing between iron deficiency anemia (the world’s most common nutritional deficiency, affecting 2 billion people globally), B12 deficiency anemia, folate deficiency, anemia of chronic disease/inflammation, and hemolytic anemia. Each has a distinct functional mechanism requiring different interventions. Ferritin
Medically reviewed by Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Eligible Podiatric Surgeon, Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC | Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI Quick Answer Apigenin — the flavone abundant in chamomile tea, parsley, and celery — is one of the most potent natural inhibitors of CD38, the enzyme responsible for 60–80% of age-related NAD+ depletion in … Read more
Quick answer: Functional pediatrics addresses the root causes of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recurrent infections, childhood allergies, and eczema — identifying and correcting gut microbiome dysbiosis, food sensitivities, iron deficiency, omega-3 insufficiency, methylation defects, and environmental toxin exposure that conventional pediatrics often misses. Iron deficiency affects 40% of ADHD children and is directly linked … Read more
Quick answer: Functional fertility medicine addresses the root causes of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss — identifying and correcting mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage to eggs and sperm, thyroid autoimmunity, insulin resistance, micronutrient deficiencies, and uterine microbiome dysbiosis. CoQ10 supplementation improves ovarian response by 27% in poor responders (Xu 2018, Journal of Ovarian Research), male sperm … Read more
Quick answer: Functional dermatology addresses acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea through the gut-skin axis — where intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation drive skin disease. Research demonstrates that SIBO is 10 times more prevalent in acne rosacea patients (Parodi 2008), psoriasis patients show 10× higher intestinal permeability (Hollander 1986), and probiotics reduce eczema incidence … Read more
Medically reviewed by Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Eligible Podiatric Surgeon, Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC | Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI Quick Answer Ergothioneine — a thiohistidine betaine found primarily in mushrooms, black beans, and organ meats — is the only known dietary compound with a dedicated high-affinity transporter (OCTN1/SLC22A4) that actively concentrates it in … Read more
Quick answer: Functional medicine approaches to IBD (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) address gut microbiome dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, dietary triggers, and immune dysregulation — with curcumin showing 50% UC remission maintenance vs 0% placebo (Hanai 2006, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology), specific exclusion diets reducing Crohn’s relapse by 62% (Pearson 1993), and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) … Read more
Medically reviewed by Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Eligible Podiatric Surgeon, Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC | Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI Quick Answer Pterostilbene — the dimethylated analog of resveratrol found primarily in blueberries — crosses the blood-brain barrier 4× more efficiently than resveratrol and achieves 80% oral bioavailability versus resveratrol’s 20%, making it the … Read more
Quick answer: Migraine affects 39 million Americans and is frequently dismissed as a “tension headache” — yet it is a complex neurobiological disorder with identifiable metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional root causes. Magnesium deficiency is present in 50% of migraine patients during attacks; riboflavin (B2) 400mg/day reduces migraine frequency 50% in RCT; CoQ10 150mg/day reduces migraine … Read more