Bernadette_Abraham
Forum Replies Created
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Hi @DXB – I’m assuming the doctor’s ruled out the genetic condition hemochromatosis since his iron level seems normal in this test you shared, correct? I ask because high ferritin from iron overload can cause fatty liver, and vice versa.
And was he diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Were his blood sugar levels (fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1C) ever measured? Was a full thyroid test done?
Let’s start there…
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Hi – ok so this really depends on what you want to be learning/working, how long you want to study for, what you can afford, and where your current nutrition/functional medicine education is at.
Some basic nutrition education is recommended before jumping into functional medicine education.
If you’re just starting out, I recommend you look at basic nutrition programs first. A few B Better members are studying at IIN – it’s the most well known nutrition health coaching program. I personally preferred studying at Nutritional Therapy Association (NTP) and can say it was a turning point for me. No prior nutrition education is needed, which is why it’s a great starting place for many with an interest in getting into this field. I loved the depth of information they taught us. I also did the “functional” track which allowed me to also learn hands-on clinical skills. I had to travel 3 times that year to the US and Canada for hands-on clinical workshops and exams. But if you’re not planning on working with clients 1-1 in person, then this won’t be necessary. A fully online/remote option is available.
From there, you can add functional medicine certifications or programs that help with labwork interpretation. Many NTP graduates continue with Restorative Wellness Solutions (RWS). But some choose Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN).
If you’re looking for a certified title (certified nutritionist) that allows you to register with the health authority and work in clinical settings, then I would encourage you to go the University route. The University of Western States has an online masters program in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. I did consider this program, but opted for the School of Applied Functional Medicine instead because I did not care for the degree/title.
I’m not familiar with the one you suggested above, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. There are so many options today which is great to see. Maybe @Daniel can also suggest a few different FM schools.
But what I highly recommend you do is put together an excel sheet to compare the many different schools and what they offer. Include columns for curriculums, accreditation, pricing, program duration, online/offline, etc. and once you narrow it down based on your needs, contact those schools and ask for student referrals. Speak to other students who have gone through those programs.
I’m also going to ping @Bahareh who recently started stuying functional medicine as well. She is in a similar situation to you in terms of just starting out, so I’m sure she’ll also have some interesting insights to share with you.
I’m excited for you!! Let’s keep the conversation going.
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@DXB so MTHFR is a defect in a gene that controls a process called methylation (see image below). It’s not related to hemochromatosis. The methylation process needs B vitamins and helps with detoxification, DNA, RNA, etc. Impaired methylation increases the risk of both cardiovascular disease and cancer.
You can see in the image that homocysteine is produced as a result of the methylation cycle (bottom of the circle in blue). This is something that we commonly measure in blood.
High homocysteine is indicative of methylation issues due to MTHFR or a need for B vitamins (especially B12, B9 and B6) and protein absorption for example.
The A1298C variant does not tend to affect homocysteine levels as much. And the C677T variant is more associated with cardiovascular impact and detoxification (via glutathione which is another byproduct of methylation like homocysteine).
Optimal homocysteine is between 6-7. So if this marker hasn’t been measured and there’s a history of cardiovascular disease in the family along with an MCV >90 fL on a CBC, it’s a good idea to measure it given that you know about this genetic SNP (pronounced “snip”).
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@DXB thanks for sharing. This is where “normal” reference ranges can miss out on big clues.
The thyroid numbers, although they are clinically “normal” are suboptimal. Both Free T4 and Free T3 are on the lower end. We like to see these in the upper half of the reference range. Does he present with low thyroid symptoms? Here’s a video you can watch on that. If the video isn’t loading (UAE is facing a technical issue), here’s the dropbox link to that video. Low thyroid function can absolutely lead to NAFLD.
Also, they did not measure fasting glucose or fasting insulin. I would strongly encourage you to investigate fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HbA1C, taken together, first thing in the morning after a 12-hour fast (only water allowed), and go on a day that represents a typical normal day. No stressful conversations or feeling rushed, as stress will affect these markers.
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@alswaidyah thanks for sharing your list of prospective schools – I’m sure it will be helpful to other members looking to pursue functional medicine.
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I’m so excited for you. It seems like you’ve found your new calling!! Welcome to the #foreverstudent club!! You’ll never stop learning in this field. 😊
