You can see Dr. Klotman’s Week 304 video address here. My digest notes appear below.
Influenza
- Flu cases and wastewater levels are both declining. Hopefully, that trend will continue in coming weeks.
- Eight new pediatric deaths (mostly unvaccinated kids) from Influenza were reported this week.
COVID
- Just as Influenza seems to be waning, SARS CoV-2 wastewater levels are rising
- COVID test positivity, ER visits for COVID, and COVID hospitalizations are all up
- RSV is on the rise as well.
HHS Dietary Recommendations
- HHS is a shitshow with a bunch of clowns pontificating with little or no knowledge
- The “Strength of the Evidence” follows a hierarchy that looks like this
- Randomized controlled trials that look at “hard outcomes” rule
- Similar trials that look at “soft outcomes” like lab results or biological parameters are next in line
- Population studies suggest avenues for more rigorous studies but provide no definitive recommendations
- There is strong evidence for the Mediterranean diet – fish, nuts, olive oil, etc
- The DASH diet has good evidence regarding soft outcomes like BP and lipid control – vegetables, low salt, low saturated fats
- Plant-based diets that emphasize vegetables over fats and proteins are supported by studies that show lower lipid levels
- There is little evidence to support the efficacy of “Intermittent fasting” diets
- Children should be introduced to peanuts, gluten, and other allergens around age 6mos to prevent the emergence of serious allergy
- The HHS recommendation to include “full fat dairy” is without scientific basis
On a personal note, I want to say that I enjoy the taste of whole milk despite the fact that I almost never drink it. Go Mediterranean diet!!