|
November 8, 2001 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Fractures, calcium, and the modern diet
WOW!! How refreshing for an article in a major medical journal to cut through the PR from the dairy industry and lay some truths bare. Osteoporosis is NOT a disease of calcium defiency. It is a result of a Westernized lifestyle. From a physiological viewpoint, the body wants to keep us alive for right now and that involves keeping pH and calcium levels of the blood in very tight levels. When a more acid-producing diet is eaten (i.e. more animal protein based) the body buffers with bicarbonate and calcium, causing the calcium levels in the blood to fall. The blood needs to get levels back to keep us alive for right now and where is the best source of calcium in the body?? Bone. Years of this pattern weakens the structure of bone. AJCN -- Abstracts: Hegsted 74 (5): 571 http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/74/5/571
Site-specific differences in the fatty acid composition of abdominal adipose tissue in an obese population from a Mediterranean area: relation with dietary fatty acids, plasma lipid profile, serum insulin, and central obesity
Quite a long title...This study begins to identify why abdominal fat is the type of fat that increases risk of certain diseases as opposed to peripheral fat. Abdominal fat contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, generally considered to be anti-inflammatory and protective against all sorts of diseases known to man. AJCN -- Abstracts: Garaulet et al. 74 (5): 585 http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/74/5/585
Cocoa and dark chocolate on LDL oxidative susceptibility
Great news for chocalate lovers!! It does appear that the polyphenols in chocolate do have some protective effects. However, this article does not take into effect the affect of stearic acid in the chocolate that are believed to have adverse effects of lipids. AJCN -- Abstracts: Wan et al. 74 (5): 596 http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/74/5/596
Maternal Epidural Use and Neonatal Sepsis Evaluation
Articles like this may one day illuminate the fact that ANY substances given to the mother while she is pregnant and breastfeeding will have an effect on the infant, no matter how late it is administered. How could substances given at levels to affect a much larger human not affect the tiny infant?? Pediatrics -- Abstracts: Goetzl et al. 108 (5): 1099
http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/108/5/1099
Genetic variation in aldosterone synthase predicts plasma glucose levels
This article is more of an FYI for those of you who may be interested. Keep in mind that this may indicate that proper adrenal cortex function may be essential for managing glucose levels. Keep an eye on this as research develops. PNAS -- Abstracts: Ranade et al. 98 (23): 13219 http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/98/23/13219
Preventive Strategies in Chronic Liver Disease
This is a review article that touches on the superficial ways to address improper liver function. Of interesting note is the long list of very common drugs that are hepatotoxic. We need to start viewing pharmaceutical drugs for what they are--toxic substances that, while having limited beneficial effects, can have a broad range of side effects that can be worse than the condition originally treated. Although the list of herbs in this same category is also long, the herbs listed are not very common. Also of note is the author grudgingly supporting milk thistle. Research and anecdotal information supporting the use of milk thistle to protect and restore the liver is abundant. Preventive Strategies in Chronic Liver Disease - November 1, 2001 - American Family Physician http://www.aafp.org/afp/20011101/1555.html
Classic Presentation of Celiac Disease Is Not Most Common
This interesting portion of this article is that one third of patients in this study were originally identified as having irritable bowel syndrome. Most patients had seen three physicians before the correct diagnosis was made. Celiac disease is an allergy to one of the proteins found in certain grains, principly wheat. The take home message here is that any patient with IBS (and any GI complaints in general) needs to be put on an elimination diet devoid of the common allergens wheat, dairy, corn and soy.
66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology The classic presentation of celiac disease, severe malabsorption symptoms beginning in childhood, is actually not the most common presentation, according to study findings presented Monday at the 66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. Robert D. Zipser, from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, and colleagues surveyed 1032 patients with biopsy-proven celiac disease to determine the most common presentations. The median age at diagnosis was 46 years and 14 patients were over 80 years when first diagnosed, the investigators note. Only 12% of patients were diagnosed before 10 years of age. Most patients had normal weights at diagnosis. While diarrhea was a common initial symptom, a few patients presented with constipation. Anemia, fatigue, flatus, bloating, and abdominal pain were also frequent presentations. Five percent of patients were asymptomatic. Most patients saw three physicians prior to being diagnosed. More than a third of patients were initially diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, the investigators report. The median time from initial presentation to biopsy-proven diagnosis was 1 year. However, 19% of patients had symptoms for more than 10 years before being diagnosed. "The goal of the study was to help physicians recognize celiac disease," says Dr. Zipser. "Physicians often think of it as a rare malabsorptive disease limited to childhood," he said. "However, the current findings indicate that celiac disease usually presents in adulthood with symptoms mimicking those of irritable bowel syndrome," he added. While the findings indicate that adult onset is common, Dr. Zipser pointed out that for a small minority of patients the disease was probably missed during childhood. "Many symptoms which are typical of the childhood form are relatively uncommon in the adult form," Dr. Zipser stated. For example, "weight loss is common in the childhood form, but uncommon in the adult form," he noted. In fact, he added "some of the patients were actually obese," he added. While all of the patients in the current study underwent small bowel biopsy, Dr. Zipser noted that it is now quite easy to diagnose celiac disease. "A simple blood test can determine whether antibodies to wheat products are being made," he explained.
Unrecognized Fructose Intolerance and Unexplained GI Symptoms
This is another factor to look for with IBS symptoms. Fructose is found in many fruits as well as high fructose corn syrup used as sweetner in just about every processed snack and drink.
66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology Many patients with unexplained gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have fructose intolerance, according to study findings presented Monday at the 66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. Unexplained bloating, flatus, and distension are common GI complaints. While much attention has been paid to lactose intolerance as a potential cause, fructose intolerance has received relatively little attention. Dr. Young K. Choi and colleagues from the University of Iowa in Iowa City administered a fructose breath test to 219 patients with unexplained GI symptoms. The patients were also given a symptom questionnaire and assessed for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Nearly 80% of patients had a positive breath test, the researchers note. Furthermore, the fructose given during the test reproduced the GI symptoms of 58% of patients. Based on questionnaire results, 130 of 159 patients met ROME I criteria for IBS. "We were quite surprised to find such a high prevalence of fructose intolerance," says Dr. Choi. "The results also suggest that many people with IBS have underlying fructose intolerance," he added. However, "the patients we studied were referred to us by outlying centers, so it is hard to know the actual prevalence of fructose intolerance." "The fructose breath test is probably not performed at most community hospitals," Dr. Choi noted. "The test is somewhat time-consuming, but relatively simple to perform." Further studies are needed to better characterize the problem, he said. Until then, it is important for physicians to recognize the problem because institution of a low fructose diet may improve symptoms.