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January 14, 2004 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase Promoter Genotype, Dietary Arachidonic Acid, and Atherosclerosis
The whole idea that every patient can be treated with blanket recommendations and everyone has the same RDI for vitamins has become old hat. We now have identifed many genetic uniquenesses that correlate with risk of disease process. This study found a specific genotype that was at greater risk of inflammation from too much omega-6 vs omega-3. What happens if we go back to the ideas of the old research studies in light of what we now know? Will those studies evaluating fat intake and chronic disease show a striking increase in risk if we stratify for these genetic uniquenesses?? I would believe strongly that this would be the case.
NEJM -- Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase Promoter Genotype, Dietary Arachidonic Acid, and Atherosclerosis
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Effects of Fast-Food Consumption on Energy Intake and Diet Quality Among Children in a National Household Survey
Harvard School of Public Health. Remember that one. Isn't that where all the brain trusts are supposed to come from? Okay, here's the bottom line...are you sitting down? Fast food adversely effects kids' health and may lead to obesity. Holy cow!! I don't even know how to respond to this one!! Are we so devoid of common sense as to need a research study to come to this conclusion???????????????????????????????????
Pediatrics -- Abstracts: Bowman et al. 113 (1): 112
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Treatment of major depressive disorder in children and adolescents
I still am confused about the use of antidepressants in children. I could never conceivably give my child a drug that will alter the way their brain works, a drug that has NOT been tested for long term effects, a drug that seemingly does not impact the course of the condition. I'm not a therapist, but I would guess that teaching these kids life skills and learning how to deal with life's curves will create a stronger, healtier child. Medicating the issue will only teach that child that drugs are the answer to life's problems.
bmj.com Ramchandani 328 (7430): 3
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Omega 3 fatty acids and CVD—fishing for a natural treatment
You've probably heard that omega-3 fatty acids are good for lots of stuff. The reason is that these fatty acids effect such a basic level of physiology that their benefits extend outwards in several directions. We know that a healthy balance of omega-3 to omega-6 affects the end products of inflammation or anti-inflammation depending upon which fatty acid is available for an enzyme to work on. Also, omega-3 fatty acids seem to affect our genetic expression of a family of receptors that alter the way fats break down in our bodies. So, the intake of the right type of fat may actually stimulate the overall breakdown of fat. So, this fanaticism with "low fat" and "fat free" has never been a good idea--the types of fats are much more important then their absence.
bmj.com Din et al. 328 (7430): 30
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Nitrite in saliva increases gastric mucosal blood flow and mucus thickness
It's always great to comes across items in the medical literature that support stuff you've been saying and doing for years. Mainstream medicines' approach to ulcers and reflux is to shut down acid production. However, much research supports the idea that, as we get older, hypochlorhydria is much, much more common (too little stomach acid). So, if most people don't make enough stomach acid already, how could suppression be good? Well, many of us in natural medicine actually add stomach acid and digestive enzymes in patients with ulcers and GERD. This study finds that, in an ACIDIC stomach, nitrates in the diet are converted to NO which is protective to the GI mucosa.
JCI -- Abstracts: Björne et al. 113 (1): 106
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Traditional herbal medicine enhances bilirubin clearance by activating the nuclear receptor CAR
I don't follow TCM much, but the authors' conclusion on this one caught me by surprise. An herb combo used in TCM for neonatal jaundice appears to be effective at helping the liver. So what does the author conclude? That these herbs could be used for developing pharmaceutical drugs for neonatal jaundice. They just don't get it. There's a natural compound successfully used for eons and we don't want to use THAT compound that Mother Nature gave us--we want to concentrate the whatever we THINK the active component is, concentrate it and use it as a drug. Just the thought that we can improve on Mother Nature is arrogance aplenty.
JCI -- Abstracts: Huang et al. 113 (1): 137
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Bone Loss Induced by Magnesium Reduction to 10% of Nutrient Requirement in Rats Associated w/ Increased Release of Substance P and TNF-alpha
Sorry for the long title, but there are two lessons here. First, osteroporosis, despite what you may believe from the dairy advertising, is not all about calcium. There are many other factors such as Vit D and magnesium that go into bone health. It is a disease of lifestyle and magnesium depletion may be one facet that osteoporotic patients are affected by. Second, magnesium deficiency resulted in up regulation of the immune system via TNF-alpha. So, you can take from this that magnesium may help lower overall inflammatory burden, or you can see how inflammation also plays a role in osteoporosis just like every other chronic disease it partakes in...
nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Rude et al. 134 (1): 79
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The Time of Day of Food Intake Influences Overall Intake in Humans
Basically, eat breakfast and you will take in less calories over the course of the day. Ironic, considering that many dieters skip breakfast in an attempt to cut their overall caloric intake.
nutrition.org -- Abstracts: de Castro 134 (1): 104
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Some Dietary Fibers Increase Elimination of Orally Administered Polychlorinated Biphenyls but Not That of Retinol in Mice
While this is a mouse study, it does bring up interesting questions about the popularity of the high protein/Atkin's type diets. These diets generally have less fiber intakes. Will this correlate with higher rates of certain types of cancer in the future? Only time and this huge ongoing experiment will tell.
nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Kimura et al. 134 (1): 135
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Association of Metabolic Syndrome w/ History of MI, Stroke in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
I had a home-health nurse at my house the other day to get a pre-life insurance physical done. I made a side comment about how the "well accepted" risk factors they asked for (I think the lack a waist/hip ratio when all they wanted measured was the waist initiated the conversion) where somewhat arcaic. So of course I brought up Syndrome X which she had never heard about (and she looked at me strange--almost in pity for my foolish make believe disease stories....). How can such a disease state still be unrecognized? I know frequent readers of the Updates hear this all the time, it's just that I keep waiting for an answer.
Circulation -- Abstracts: Ninomiya et al. 109 (1): 42
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