November 9, 2000 Research Update

James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com

Long-Term Effects of Budesonide or Nedocromil in Children with Asthma

Many of the drugs in use today for asthma are no more effective than placebo in the long term, and yet have many more side effects. So, why do we continue to use pharmaceuticals that are not effective in the long run when so many natural approaches are available that are effective?? Original Articles -- NEJM 2000; 343: 1054-1063 http://www.nejm.org/content/2000/0343/0015/1054.asp

Pressure, Heat, and Cold Help Relieve Headache Pain

It's always good to see research articles NOT using pharmaceuticals in human conditions. I incorporate several of these ideas in my practic already. Pressure, Heat, and Cold Help Relieve Headache Pain http://archfami.ama-assn.org/issues/v9n9/ffull/flt0900-5.html

Ascaris Lumbricoides Infections Evoke Polarized Cytokine Response

This is a very, very important article for two reasons. First, it brings to light to high numbers of parasites present in humans (some labs suggest numbers as high as 20% of their samples have parasites). And, it demonstrates an effect of these parasites on Th1/Th2 ratios, a very important balance between fighting off infections and autoimmunity. Some researchers believe that the parasites are able to cause our immune system to shift to Th2, which is not as effective at fighting off parasites.

J Infectious Diseases 2000;182:1207-1213 Ascaris lumbricoides infections in humans are associated with a highly polarized type 2 cytokine response. Dr. Philip J. Cooper of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and an international team of researchers explain that helminthic infections affect a large proportion of the population. As "experimental animal and human studies have demonstrated that concurrent helminthiases may modulate the immune responses to bystander antigens (e.g., vaccines)," the authors note the importance of knowing the "phenotype of the cellular response to A. lumbricoides." They found that members of the infected group "both produce and express greater levels of the type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 than do uninfected endemic control subjects." As the production of IL-10 and interferon-gamma was similar in the two groups, the "ratios of Th2 to Th1 cytokine frequencies were significantly elevated in the infected group."

More Fiber May Not Mean Fewer Colon Cancers

Some evidence has surfaced suggesting that fiber may not be as protective as previously thought. However, there is an important fact that the researchers seemed to have missed. Fiber is not digested by humans, but rather is digested by friendly bacteria into several short chain fatty acids. One of these SCFAs is butyrate, which has been shown to help coloncytes thrive. It could very well be possible that, in order for fiber to be protective, a healthy balance of bacteria is also needed.

Lancet 2000;356:1300-1306,1286-1287 Fiber supplementation may increase the risk of colorectal adenoma recurrence, whereas calcium supplementation may reduce the risk of recurrence of these lesions. Epidemiologic studies of the value of dietary fiber, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, and calcium in preventing colorectal adenomas and cancer have yielded inconsistent results, the authors explain. Animal studies, though, suggest potent antitumor activity of such soluble, mucilaginous fibers as ispaghula husk. Dr. Bonithon-Kopp told Reuters Health that these results do not signal a need to change recommendations about prudent diets. "The increase in risk of adenoma recurrence was found after a supplementation with a soluble fibre which is not found in usual diet," she emphasized. "Furthermore, this deleterious effect was observed only on the early stages of the adenoma-cancer sequence. We don't know if such an effect would be observed on later stages [such as] on malignant transformation. Thus, usual recommendations regarding dietary fibre intake remain valid."

Chronic Elevation of Insulin, IGF Levels May Raise Colon Cancer Risk

Previous studies have shown that refined carbs, which stimulate a strong insulin response, increase risk of many types of cancer. This may be the mechanism by which this happens. Also of note is the fact that the use of human growth hormone will raise the levels of IGF--creating doubt about the beneficial use of HGH as a fountain of youth wonder.

J Natl Cancer Inst 2000;92:1592-1600 The risk of colorectal cancer may be increased by chronically high levels of circulating insulin and insulinlike growth factors (IGFs) associated with a Western lifestyle, possibly by decreasing IGF-binding protein 1 and increasing the bioactivity of IGF-I. Dr. Rudolf Kaaks, of the International Agency for research on Cancer, in Lyon, France, and colleagues note in the October 4th issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that "leading a Western lifestyle, being overweight and being sedentary are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer." "Furthermore, the slightly stronger association of levels of serum C-peptide with risk of colon cancer than with risk of cancers of the colon and rectum combined also fits observations that obesity and lack of physical activity are related to an increased risk particularly of colon cancer," they conclude.

Complex Hormonal Abnormalities Identified in Metabolic Syndrome

Syndrome X is a constellation of symptoms that many in medicine have failed to recognize, and yet it may be one of the singlemost important contributors to chronic disease today. It relates to an inability of insulin to do an effective job, and the body responds by producing more insulin. This elevation of insulin leads to many damaging effects on the body.

(article) Complex interactions between increased insulin, cortisol and noradrenaline and decreased growth hormone and adrenaline appear to underlie the pathogenesis of the different components of the metabolic syndrome, according to Dr. Julian Critchley of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Speaking at the Second Hong Kong Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors East Meets West Symposium, he reported on a study of 767 subjects recruited from the Prince of Wales Hospital and other Hong Kong clinics, including 60.9% with type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension and/or dyslipidemia, and 39.1% healthy individuals. "Our findings showed a clustering of pathophysiological abnormalities and risk factors to varying degrees. When compared to control subjects, patients either with only diabetes, only hypertension or only dyslipidemia were more generally and centrally obese, had higher plasma insulin, a higher insulin resistance index, higher cortisol and urinary noradrenaline but lower plasma growth hormone and urinary adrenaline excretion values," Dr. Critchley reported.

Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Absorption of Levothyroxine

Do we really need more evidance to avoid calcium carbonate?? The unfortunate situation here is that the age group likely to take synthetic thyroid hormone is also likely to be taking calcium to avoid osteoporosis. And many doctors are still recommending TUMS and other sources of calcium carbonate to their patients.

Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Absorption of Levothyroxine http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v283n21/abs/jci00008.html