Dr. Kara Fitzgerald | New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Longevity, Epigenetics

Cardiovascular health and longevity are deeply influenced by aging, perimenopause, and systemic changes that extend far beyond cholesterol markers alone.

In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald sits down with Kiran Krishnan to explore the biology of vascular aging, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic changes that emerge in midlife and beyond. As estrogen declines during perimenopause, patients often experience shifts in lipid metabolism, weight regulation, and overall metabolic resilience—driving increased cardiovascular risk.

This conversation dives into the critical role of the endothelial glycocalyx, nitric oxide signaling, and the gut microbiome in maintaining vascular integrity and systemic health. Dr. Fitzgerald and Kiran connect the dots between gut health, cardiovascular disease, joint degeneration, and systemic inflammation, offering a systems biology approach that is highly relevant for functional medicine practitioners.

You’ll also hear how targeted interventions—specifically Arterosil, Vascanox, and Cartigenix—can be used synergistically to support endothelial health, nitric oxide production, microbial balance, and joint integrity.

Topics covered include:
- Endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction and cardiovascular risk
- Nitric oxide signaling and vascular health
- Perimenopause, estrogen decline, and metabolic changes
- Gut microbiome influence on cardiovascular and joint health
- Anabolic vs catabolic balance in aging
- Clinical applications for Arterosil, Vascanox, and Cartigenix
- Moving beyond LDL: a systems-based approach to heart health

This episode provides a clinically grounded, functional medicine perspective on aging, cardiovascular disease prevention, and whole-body resilience.

Full show notes + references: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/

GUEST DETAILS

Kiran Krishnan is a research microbiologist and health expert with over 20 years of experience in the microbiome and human health space. He is the co-founder of Microbiome Labs, a leading microbiome therapeutics company focused on supporting healthcare professionals.

Kiran has conducted and published research in scientific journals, contributed to academic textbooks, and holds multiple global patents. He is a widely recognized speaker known for translating complex microbiome science into practical, clinically relevant insights.

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Fatty acids remain one of the most debated areas in clinical nutrition, yet many widely held beliefs may not align with current evidence. In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald sits down with Bill Harris, PhD, Founder of OmegaQuant Analytics and co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index, to examine the role of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in cardiovascular risk and clinical decision-making.

Learn how to use the Omega-3 Index as a biomarker, interpret atrial fibrillation risk in the context of omega-3 intake, and differentiate between pharmaceutical and dietary interventions. The conversation also explores emerging data on linoleic acid, challenges simplified “good vs bad fat” models, and highlights the complexity of fatty acid metabolism—offering practical guidance for evaluating labs and refining nutrition strategies in practice.

Full show notes + references: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/

GUEST DETAILS

Dr. Bill Harris, PhD is a leading omega-3 researcher with over 40 years of experience and more than 400 publications on fatty acids and health. He is the co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index and founder of OmegaQuant Analytics. Dr. Harris has held faculty positions at three medical schools, received NIH funding for omega-3 research, and co-authored American Heart Association statements on fatty acids and heart health. He is ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide for research impact.

Email: [email protected]

https://omegaquant.com/

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In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald speaks with Tom Fabian, PhD, Senior Educator and Research Specialist at Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, about why higher protein intake doesn’t always lead to better muscle outcomes. Emerging research shows that digestion, microbiome balance, and immune signaling all influence how effectively the body utilizes dietary protein.

Dr. Fabian explores the gut–muscle axis and explains how microbiome-derived metabolites and regulatory T cells support tissue repair and recovery. The conversation also highlights why variability in protein digestion matters and how evaluating gut function can help practitioners determine whether patients are positioned to benefit from higher protein intake.

Full show notes + references: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/

GUEST DETAILS

Tom Fabian, PhD, translates microbiome research into clinical insights for functional medicine. He is a science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory and a Science Advisory Board member with Designs for Health.

Email: [email protected]

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Phone: 877-485-5336

Explore DSL’s advanced clinical testing and create your practitioner account at http://diagnosticsolutionslab.com/fxmedpodcast

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In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald speaks with Tom Fabian, PhD, Senior Educator and Research Specialist at Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, about why higher protein intake doesn’t always lead to better muscle outcomes. Emerging research shows that digestion, microbiome balance, and immune signaling all influence how effectively the body utilizes dietary protein.

Dr. Fabian explores the gut–muscle axis and explains how microbiome-derived metabolites and regulatory T cells support tissue repair and recovery. The conversation also highlights why variability in protein digestion matters and how evaluating gut function can help practitioners determine whether patients are positioned to benefit from higher protein intake.

Transcript, show notes, and a free Clinical Takeaways handout for a concise summary of key insights from this episode at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/

GUEST DETAILS

Tom Fabian, PhD, translates microbiome research into clinical insights for functional medicine. He is a science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory and a Science Advisory Board member with Designs for Health.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

Diagnostic Solutions
Phone: 877-485-5336

Explore DSL’s advanced clinical testing and create your practitioner account at http://diagnosticsolutionslab.com/fxmedpodcast

CONNECT with DrKF

Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/newsletter/ Or take our pop quiz and test your BioAge! https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/bioagequiz

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/

DrKF Clinic: Patient consults with DrKF physicians including Younger You Concierge: https://tinyurl.com/yx4fjhkb

Younger You Practitioner Training Program: www.drkarafitzgerald.com/trainingyyi/

Younger You book: https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9tym

Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw

As more patients present with digestive sensitivity and increasingly restricted diets, restoring gut resilience has become a central clinical challenge. In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald speaks with Colleen Cutcliffe, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Pendulum Therapeutics, about emerging microbiome science and practical strategies for supporting microbial balance, dietary tolerance, and metabolic health.

The discussion explores next-generation probiotic strains, fiber diversity, IBS patterns, and real-world approaches clinicians can use to help patients rebuild microbiome resilience and expand diet diversity in practice.

Full show notes + references: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/

GUEST DETAILS

Colleen Cutcliffe, PhD, is CEO and Co-Founder of Pendulum Therapeutics, where she focuses on advancing microbiome science and metabolic health through next-generation probiotic research. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University and brings more than 25 years of experience across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and academic research.

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Email: [email protected]

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Using next-generation probiotics like live Akkermansia, Pendulum is designed to go beyond gut health to support metabolism. Visit http://PendulumLife.com/Kara20 and use code KARA20 for 20% off your first membership order.
CONNECT with DrKF

Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/newsletter/ Or take our pop quiz and test your BioAge! https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/bioagequiz

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/

DrKF Clinic: Patient consults with DrKF physicians including Younger You Concierge: https://tinyurl.com/yx4fjhkb

Younger You Practitioner Training Program: www.drkarafitzgerald.com/trainingyyi/

Younger You book: https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9tym

Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw