September 11, 2000 Research Update

Inflammation Continues After Prednisolone Rx in Asthmatic Children

Is this a great example of just covering up the symptoms?? This study shows that despite apparent benefits of using predisolone (a steroidal drug with many damaging side effects) the underlying inflammation that causes the actual problem is not touched. There are many natural ways to control the inflammation associated with asthma.

Arch Dis Child 2000;83:158-162 The researchers examined the levels of markers, before and after 5 days of oral prednisolone therapy, in 20 children who were hospitalized for acute asthma. Prednisolone treatment was associated with clinical improvement and with significant reduction in serum levels of interleukin (IL)-5, soluble IL-2 receptor and eosinophil cationic protein. However, serum concentrations of these markers "remained significantly higher than in controls, even after treatment with oral glucocorticoids." Because of this, the researchers conclude that following the usual course of prednisolone "there is evidence of continuing airway inflammation despite resolution of symptoms and normalization of pulmonary function."

Iron Deficiency in Teenaged Girls Linked With Decline in Cognition

Our kids are eating diets more and more deficient in important nutrients and loaded with junk and chemicals. With findings like this it just stresses how important it is for us, as adults, to be a positive role model. How many parents out there would love for their child to eat healthier, and yet they themselves do not?

The current study was prepared for The nutrition Society's summer meeting and will be published in the Spring issue of "The nutrition Society 2001." It was funded by the UK Department of Health. In a study of 595 teenaged girls, UK researchers have found a significant correlation between low haemoglobin levels and poor cognitive function. "We were surprised that a very small drop in iron levels caused a fall in IQ," commented principal investigator Dr. Michael Nelson of King's College in London. "We concluded that poor iron status is common among British adolescent girls, and diet and iron status play an important role in determining IQ, independent of factors such as menstrual status or social class."

Physically Fit Children Have Lower Plasma Fibrinogen

Just another reason why activity is important at all ages. Remember that fibrinogen is being more and more recognized for its role in heart disease. This researcher hits the nail on the head with a sledghammer as squarely as you possibly can with his last quote...

Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:212-218 There is an inverse relationship between plasma fibrinogen levels and physical fitness in children, according to findings from the Columbia University BioMarkers Study. As Dr. Shea explained, "The role of cardiovascular protective factors in childhood is not well known. We would like to understand it better because we would like to prevent the process of atherosclerosis rather than trying to reverse it later in life when it becomes clinically apparent." "The dream," he concluded, "is for real primary prevention of the atherosclerotic process itself, beginning in childhood."

Inhaled Steroids Reduce Linear Growth in Asthmatic Children

With incidence of asthma rising at alarming rates, we need to focus on more natural ways to prevent, control or cure the condition that does not have long term side effects. I remember discussing with a well known physician in the Mesa area about how his group did a study in which they kept asthmatic kids out of the hospital with treatment. He just doesn't understand that keeping kids on medications is not a cure.

Pediatrics 2000;106:e8 A meta-analysis of results from five clinical trials indicates that "moderate" doses of inhaled steroids lead to a decrease in linear growth velocity in asthmatic children. The researchers identified a total of 159 studies covering the subject and performed a meta-analysis on five that met their inclusion criteria. Four studies covered the use of beclomethasone (328 to 400 mcg/day) and involved 450 subjects aged 18 year or younger. The remaining study was of fluticasone (200 mcg/day) in 183 subjects. Beclomethasone therapy was associate with a decrease in linear growth velocity of 1.51 cm/year. Fluticasone treatment led to a growth velocity reduction of 0.43 cm/year. This negative influence on linear growth velocity, the investigators conclude, "needs to be weighed against the known positive effects of inhaled steroids." In addition, they point out that the effects of these agents "on final adult height remain unknown."

Omeprazole Treatment in Patients w/ H. Pylori May Increase Cancer Risk

Prilosec is designed to lower the amount of stomach acid, as are numerous other "ulcer drugs". The strange thing is that very, very few patients produce TOO MUCH stomach acid. Quite the opposite. Consider this. You have an open wound on your arm. You pour a little bit of alcohol on it. You then pour alot of alcohol on it. Think you can tell the difference? Of course not. It's the WOUND that's important, not the amount of irritant. Stomach acid is incredibly important to our digestion and absorption of many important nutrients. This article stresses how important stomach acid can be to prevent stomach cancer. Many natural products help to heal the wound; licorice (DGL) and cabbage extract are perfect examples.

Gastroenterology 2000;119:339-347 Helicobacter pylori infection increases the degree of acid inhibition and accompanying changes in the gastric environment induced by omeprazole treatment, which may subsequently increase the risk of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria increase the risk of gastric carcinoma, presumably by fostering the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds (NOC). Chronic omeprazole treatment in the face of ongoing H. pylori infection can lead to profound, long-term suppression of acid production, the authors explain, thereby possibly increasing the risk of gastric cancer. "H. pylori-positive subjects receiving omeprazole have both the altered intragastric milieu associated with gastric cancer and the inflamed mucosa," the authors conclude. "The potential long-term adverse effects of this combination are of considerable concern."

H. pylori Resistant to Metronidazole, Tetracycline and Amoxycillin

So, now that Western medicine has decided we need to kill H. pylori wherever it is found, we have begun to create superbugs resistant to the antibiotics we throw at it. Ironically, H. pylori does not survive well in a basic environment, and yet many of the therapies for ulcers are focusing on reducing acid...

J Antimicrob Chemother 2000;46:121-123 "The reason that so many multiresistant strains were identified may reflect extensive use of these three antibiotics in this area," the authors note. They suggest that therapy regimens should be adjusted to include one of these three antibiotics combined with another agent, such as clarithromycin, for which rates of resistance are low and in vitro efficacy high. Dr. Wu's group also recommends testing for "antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria before treating patients."

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