- - European weblog on food, health and environment
News - week 3 - 2008
EU invasion of big pharma
Speech in European parliament
Ladies and gentlemen
I would like to announce a major initiative
in the field of pharmaceuticals, one that
will benefit every European citizen.
Yesterday afternoon the Commission accepted my recommendation to open a
competition law sector inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector in Europe.
After that decision was adopted, and as the first step in that inquiry, teams of
Commission officials, accompanied by their colleagues from national competition
authorities, began a series of surprise inspections at the premises of a number of
pharmaceuticals companies around Europe.
I chose the pharmaceuticals sector to be the focus of the Commission's next sector
inquiry because in my term as Competition Commissioner I have focused on solving
competition problems that make a difference to the lives of individuals. Few things
make more of a difference than this.
The pharmaceuticals sector is vital to the health of Europe's citizens. As well as
being a vital sector of the economy, medicines are a major expense. Medicines cost
us all a lot of money– we spend around 200 billion euros each year on
pharmaceuticals; that's around 400 euros for every man, woman and child in the 27
Member States of the European Union. .
We have launched this inquiry because pharmaceuticals markets are not working as
well as they might. Patent protection has never been stronger, but the number of
new pharmaceuticals coming to market is declining. Patents can sometimes be
invented around and will always expire eventually, but generic manufacturers are
not jumping into the markets as quickly as we would expect.
Without new pharmaceuticals, the quality of some medical treatments will stagnate;
without generic products, the cost of some medical treatments will remain high. We
need to know why this is happening, and what can be done about it. And that is
what the sector inquiry has been designed to do.
Please bear in mind that a sector inquiry is different from a competition case. It
does not investigate particular companies or cases. It is not based on specific
evidence of wrongdoing. Rather it looks at the sector as a whole, finds out what all
the companies in a particular sector are doing, finds out how the sector works. Or
doesn't work. Only then does it draw conclusions as to whether action under the
competition rules is necessary.
Today's inspections are therefore not targeting companies suspected of wrongdoing.
The inspections are just the starting point of a broad inquiry, a starting point
that will ensure that the Commission has immediate access to the information it
needs to guide its next steps. The kind of information the Commission will be
examining, such as the use of intellectual property rights, litigation and settlement
agreements, is by its nature information that companies tend to consider highly
confidential. Such information may also be easily withheld, concealed or destroyed.
That is why we decided that inspections were necessary.
St. Jude defines eye cancer gene's
role in retinal development
A genetic discovery led by scientists at
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital helps answer a long-standing mystery about the eyes
of vertebrates, and may translate into a deeper understanding of how genes coordinate the
complex process of eye formation and how a rare pediatric eye cancer progresses.
Weight gain induced by
antipsychotic drugs can be avoided
A research team from Universite Laval's
Faculty of Medicine and Robert-Giffard Hospital has demonstrated that weight gain induced
by the use of antipsychotic drugs -- which in extreme cases can be as high as 30 kilos in
only one month -- can be avoided through a specially designed weight control program. The
researchers report the details of their findings in a recent edition of the Australian and
New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.
Scientists discover a new player in
innate immune response
All multicellular animals have an innate
immune system: When bacteria, parasites or fungi invade the organism, small protein
molecules are released that eliminate the attackers. Scientists of the German Cancer
Research Center have now discovered a new molecule that plays an important role in
triggering the innate immune response of the fruit fly Drosophila, mice and even humans.
Their work has just been published in the journal Nature Immunology.
MDC Scientists Reveal Role of Gene
in Sensitivity to Thermal Pain
The skin is the largest human sensory
organ. What is not fully understood is how the skin responds to stimuli, especially to
pain. Research by Nevena Milenkovic, Christina Frahm, Professor Gary Lewin and Dr.
Alistair Garratt of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin-Buch,
Germany, has now demonstrated that Stem Cell Factor (SCF) and its receptor, c-Kit, play a
central role in tuning the responsiveness of sensory neurons to heat stimuli. “As
yet, c-Kit is the first example of a single gene being required for normal noxious heat
sensitivity of C-fibers,” according to the neurobiologists.
Which segments of the
gastrointestinal tract does Salmonella enteritidis penetrate?
Salmonella enteritidis is one of the main
causes of food-borne illness worldwide. The virulence of this organism depends on its
ability to penetrate into the Payers patches, and survive and multiply. Thus, knowledge
about the port of entry may lead to new insights into prevention and therapy. A research
group led by Dr. Cheng has found the jejunum, ileum and cecum were the primary sites of
invasion in mice after oral challenge.
Insulin suppressed resistin secretion
during 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes differentiation, which does not support a role for resistin
in insulin resistance. In diet-induced obese rats, serum resistin level was negatively
correlated to insulin sensitivity, not to serum insulin. So insulin is not a major
regulator of resistin in vivo.
Indian medicinal plant Acanthus
ilicifolius may combat liver cancer
Cancer chemoprevention is an active measure
to limit/retard the progression and pathogenesis of malignancy. Herbal preparations
constitute an important component of indigenous/traditional medicines. A study led by
Prof. Malay Chatterjee from Jadavpur University, India reported the potential
chemopreventive efficacy of an Indian medicinal plant Acanthus ilicifolius in preventing
liver DNA damage and in remodeling hepatocellular malignant lesions in an animal model,
which may have an ultimate benefit to human beings in near future.
Scientists from 16 different
countries study the link between children’s nutrition and the development of adult
diseases such as diabetes or allergies
Researchers from the Department of
Pediatrics of the University of Granada, in collaboration with another 38 universities and
companies from 16 European countries, will study the effects of children’s nutrition
on the onset of cardiovascular problems, diabetes, obesity, allergies, weak bones,
neuromotor functioning and children’s behavioural aspects. The EARNEST project (The
Early Nutrition Programming Project) aims to help in the development of policies,
information campaigns, documents, guides and recommendations on the nutritional components
of children’s food, for the improvement of children’s formulas. It also
collaborates in the design of plans preventing and avoiding nutrition effects on the
metabolism.
Probiotics, such as yoghurt drinks
containing live bacteria, have a tangible effect on the metabolism, according to the
results of a new study published today (Tuesday 15 January) in the journal Molecular
Systems Biology. The research is the first to look in detail at how probiotics change the
biochemistry of bugs known as gut microbes, which live in the gut and which play an
important part in a person’s metabolic makeup. Different people have different types
of gut microbes inside them and abnormalities in some types have recently been linked to
diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Scientists uncover new potential
treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Irish scientists have discovered a new
potential therapeutic approach to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a chronic debilitating
disease involving inflammation of the intestine which affects more than 15,000 people in
Ireland and millions of people worldwide...
New test may prevent some newly
diagnosed breast cancer patients from having to undergo chemotherapy
Scientists at the UCD Conway Institute and
St Vincent’s University Hospital have developed a test for newly diagnosed breast
cancer patients that could help some women avoid chemotherapy.
People have eaten seaweed, sometimes called
"sea vegetables" for thousands of years. It is coming under more and more
scientific scrutiny and the discoveries are pretty amazing. The mixture of vitamins,
minerals and trace elements found in seaweeds so closely resembles that of the human body,
that the minerals and other healing elements found in seaweed are easily absorbed through
the skin and digestive tract and into the blood. Some researchers are beginning to believe
seaweed alone is an almost perfect solution to many health woes.
Merck Committed Scientific Fraud in
Delays, Distortions of Vytorin Drug Trial
The latest round of scientific fraud from
Big Pharma arrives in the form of yet more junk science conducted by Merck on its
blockbuster cholesterol drug Vytorin. Results of a clinical trial involving the drug were
finally released this week, nearly two years after they were known by Merck, and only
after Merck attempted to manipulate the data by redefining the outcome of the trial after
the fact!
Type 1 diabetes triggered by 'lazy'
regulatory T-cells - McGill researchers
A research team led by Dr. Ciriaco A.
Piccirillo of McGill University's Department of Microbiology and Immunology has discovered
that in some individuals, the specialized immunoregulatory T-cells that regulate the
body's autoimmune reactions may lose their effectiveness and become "lazy" over
time, leading to the onset of type 1 diabetes. The study was published in the January 2008
edition of the journal Diabetes.
Nature and nurture are both to blame for depression, study says
Depression is one of the most common forms
of psychopathology. Studies suggest that the neurotransmitter dopamine may play a role in
the risk for depression. Early negative interpersonal environments (i.e., rejecting
parents) have also been implicated. New research investigated whether a gene associated
with dopamine interacted with maternal parenting style to predict episodes of depression.
Scientists study the link between children's nutrition and adult diseases
The University of Granada, in collaboration
with the firm Ordesa, is the only Spanish institution taking part in the EARNEST project,
in which 38 multidisciplinary groups from all over Europe are involved. The researchers
will study the effects of children's nutrition in the onset of cardiovascular problems,
diabetes, obesity, allergies, weak bones, neuromotor functioning and children's behavioral
aspects.
Popular osteoporosis drugs triple risk of bone necrosis
A University of British Columbia and
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute study has found that a popular class of
osteoporosis drugs nearly triples the risk of developing bone necrosis, a condition that
can lead to disfigurement and incapacitating pain.
Probiotics, such as yoghurt drinks
containing live bacteria, have a tangible effect on the metabolism, according to the
results of a new study published today. The research is the first to look in detail at how
probiotics change the biochemistry of bugs known as gut microbes, which live in the gut
and which play an important part in a person's metabolic makeup.
T-cell 'nanotubes' may explain how HIV virus conquers human immune system
String-like connections found between
T-cells could be important to how HIV spreads between cells in the human immune system,
according to new research published online today (13 January 2008) in Nature Cell Biology.
The newly-discovered strands, named 'membrane nanotubes' by scientists, could help to
explain how the HIV virus infects human immune cells so quickly and effectively.
Hormonal dietary supplements might promote prostate cancer progression
Hormonal components in over-the-counter
dietary supplements may promote the progression of prostate cancer and decrease the
effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have
discovered.
Proteomic profiling shown more accurate than traditional biomarkers in
identifying liver cancer
A study appearing in the Jan. 15 issue of
Clinical Cancer Research demonstrates that a novel mass-spectrometry based form of
proteomic profiling is more accurate than traditional biomarkers in distinguishing liver
cancer patients from patients with hepatitis C liver cirrhosis, particularly with regard
to identifying patients with small, curable tumors.
Study Helps Explain How Allergic Reactions Are Triggered
In demonstrating that a group of calcium
ion channels play a crucial role in triggering inflammatory responses, researchers at Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have not only solved a longstanding molecular
mystery regarding the onset of asthma and allergy symptoms, but have also provided a
fundamental discovery regarding the functioning of mast cells. Their findings appear in
the January 2008 issue of Nature Immunology. A group of immune cells found in tissues
throughout the body, mast cells were once exclusively known for their role in allergic
reactions, according to the study’s lead author Monika Vig, PhD, an investigator in
the Department of Pathology at BIDMC and Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
“Mast cells store inflammatory cytokines and compounds [including histamine and
heparin] in sacs called granules,” she explains. “When the mast cells encounter
an allergen – pollen, for example – they ‘degranuate,’ releasing their
contents and triggering allergic reactions.”
Combined HRT increases risk of lobular breast cancer fourfold after just 3
years of use
Postmenopausal women who take combined
estrogen/progestin hormone-replacement therapy for three years or more face a fourfold
increased risk of developing various forms of lobular breast cancer, according to new
findings by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Children whose mothers are chronically
stressed during their early years have a higher asthma rate than their peers, regardless
of their income, gender or other known asthma risk factors.
Researchers from the Monell Center have for
the first time attempted to count the number of genes that contribute to obesity and body
weight. The findings suggest that over 6,000 genes -- about 25 percent of the genome --
contribute to help determine an individual's body weight. This high degree of complexity
suggests that a quick fix to the obesity problem is unlikely.
Lipoic acid could reduce atherosclerosis, weight gain
A new study done with mice has discovered
that supplements of lipoic acid can inhibit formation of arterial lesions, lower
triglycerides and reduce blood vessel inflammation and weight gain -- all key issues for
addressing cardiovascular disease.
Psychotherapy should be subject to rigorous regulation just like drug
treatments, say academics
Psychotherapies such as cognitive behavior
therapy are under-regulated in the UK and should be subject to the same standards of
evidence as drugs, assert two experts in psychological medicine writing in the Journal of
Psychopharmacology (Jan. issue published today by SAGE).
Fish oil supplements may help some cardiac
patients while harming others, suggests a new review of evidence compiled by St. Michael's
Hospital and University of Toronto researchers. In a systematic review of trials where
patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators used fish oil supplements, Dr. David
Jenkins and Dr. Paul Dorian found significant differences among the trials, indicating
fish oil may be beneficial to some patients while having a negative impact on others.
Got carrots? Vegetables may have bone to pick as calcium providers
A specially developed carrot has been
produced to help people absorb more calcium. Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife's
Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center studied the calcium intake of humans who ate the
carrot and found a net increase in calcium absorption. The research, which was done in
collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, means adding this carrot to the diet can
help prevent such diseases as osteoporosis.
Diets high in lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E associated with decreased risk
of cataracts
Women who have higher dietary intake of
lutein and zeaxanthin -- compounds found in yellow or dark, leafy vegetables -- as well as
more vitamin E from food and supplements appear to have a lower risk for developing
cataracts, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of
the JAMA/Archives journals.
Commission launches consultation
processes on dental amalgam and alternative dental restoration materials
The European Commission launched today
consultation processes on two scientific opinions on dental amalgam and alternatives. The
two consultations will run until February 22, 2008.
Safety of dental amalgam
On November 29, 2007 the Scientific
Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) adopted a preliminary
report on the safety of dental amalgam and alternative dental restoration materials for
patients and users.
SCENIHR concluded that dental amalgam is an
effective restorative material and may be considered the material of choice for some
restorations. While some local adverse effects are seen, the incidence is low and usually
readily managed. However, the current use of dental amalgam does not pose a risk to health
apart from allergic reactions. The main exposure to mercury in individuals with amalgam
restorations occurs during the placement or removal of fillings. There is no clinical
justification for removing clinically satisfactory amalgam restorations, except in
patients allergic to amalgam constituents. The mercury release during placement and
removal also results in exposure of the dental personnel. However, this may be minimized
by the use of appropriate clinical techniques.
According to SCENIHR, alternative materials
are not without clinical limitations and toxicological hazards. Allergies to some of these
substances have been reported, both in patients and in dental personnel. Available
scientific data concerning exposure to these substances are limited. The use of these
substances has revealed little evidence of clinically significant adverse events. Overall,
SCENIHR concluded that dental health can be adequately ensured by both types of material.
All materials are considered safe to use
and they are all associated with very low rates of local adverse effects with no evidence
of systemic disease.
Indirect health effects
On November 29, 2007 the Scientific
Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) adopted a preliminary report on the
environmental risks and indirect health effects of mercury in dental amalgam. SCHER
concluded that environmental risks and indirect exposure of humans to methylmercury (from
emissions due to use of dental amalgam)
are much lower than tolerable limits indicating a low risk for serious health effects.
However, existing information is too limited to assess the environmental risks and
indirect health effects from use of mercury in dental amalgam. Methylmercury is the most
toxic type of mercury. SCHER also concluded that on the environmental risk, the available
information on toxic effects of alternatives is too limited for conducting a proper
comparative assessment of amalgam and its alternatives. Both preliminary reports are
published on the web and stakeholders are invited to comment through an online
consultation aiming to gather feedback on SCENIHR's and SCHER's scientific findings.
For more information on the SCENIHR
opinion, and the online consultation, please visit:
Study helps explain how allergic
reactions are triggered
In demonstrating that a group of calcium
ion channels play a crucial role in triggering inflammatory responses, researchers at Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center have not only solved a longstanding molecular mystery
regarding the onset of asthma and allergy symptoms, but have also provided a fundamental
discovery regarding the functioning of mast cells.
Durham University leads UK research
project into cheaper solar energy
A national team of scientists led by
experts at Durham University are embarking on one of the UK's largest ever research
projects into photovoltaic solar energy.
Selective restraints and reduced
medication could reduce nursing home falls says 4-year study
Analysis of more than 2,300 falls and
fractures at 21 Swedish nursing homes quantifies increased fall risks from certain drugs
and protective effects of selective restraints.
New method developed to identify
genetic determinants of Alzheimer's disease
A rapid and accurate DHPLC assay for
determination of apolipoprotein E genotypes has been developed by researchers from the
Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical
University, Guangzhou, China. This assay combines PCR and DHPLC and can be used to conduct
efficient genotyping of the human population, which in turn will help in the diagnosis and
treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. A description of the assay has been published this
month in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Researchers find new way to block
destructive rush of immune cells
Researchers have found a way to selectively
block the ability of white blood cells to "crawl" toward the sites of injury and
infection when such mobility drives disease, according to a study published today in the
Journal of Experimental Medicine. The results suggest a new treatment approach for
autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis, and for
conditions made worse by misplaced inflammation, like atherosclerosis, stroke and
transplant rejection, researchers said.
Study locates cholesterol genes;
finds surprises about good, bad cholesterol
An international study of 20,000 people
found seven new genes that influence blood cholesterol levels, a major factor in heart
disease, and confirmed 11 other genes previously thought to influence cholesterol.
The international study led by researchers from the University of Michigan School of
Public Health set out to identify or confirm genetic variants that influence lipid levels,
and secondly, to see if those variants were linked to the decreased or increased risk of
heart disease. The findings will be published online in the journal Nature Genetics on
Jan. 13. The results may lead the medical community to rethink the role of HDL (good
cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) in heart disease, said Goncalo Abecasis, associate
professor in the U-M School of Public Health. Abecasis co-directed the study with Karen
Mohlke, assistant professor of genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Medicine.
Scientists associate 6 new genetic
variants with heart disease risk factor
Using new techniques for rapidly scanning
the human genome, researchers have associated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, two
fats in the blood, to 18 genetic variants, six of which represent new DNA regions never
before associated with the traits. The findings help explain some of the variability in
cholesterol and triglyceride levels that arises from genes.
Autism is a frustrating condition for those
who live it and for the researchers who seek to unravel it. Because the developmental
disorder tends to run in families, genetic factors are likely to play a role in disease
risk, but the quest to locate the responsible genes has been mostly fruitless. A new
genome-wide scan led by researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and members
of the Boston-based Autism Consortium has added a piece to the autism puzzle by
identifying a region of the genome that is missing in some people with autism and
duplicated in others. The findings, published in the January 10 issue of New England
Journal of Medicine, help explain roughly 1% of autism cases, and contribute to the
ongoing effort to lay bare the disorder’s genetic underpinnings.
EU - Together for Health: Health
Programme (2008-2013)
The Second Programme of Community Action in
the Field of Health 2008-2013 came into force on 1 January 2008. This follows the first
Programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) which financed
over 300 projects and other actions. The Health Programme 2008-2013 is intended to
complement, support and add value to the policies of the Member States and contribute to
increased solidarity and prosperity in the European Union by protecting and promoting
human health and safety and by improving public health. Under the new Programme,
participation and consultation with stakeholders will be promoted.
People from different cultures use their
brains differently to solve the same visual perceptual tasks, MIT researchers and
colleagues report in the first brain imaging study of its kind.
In a study published in the Journal of
Alzheimer's Disease, researchers from the University of Aberdeen report that the drug
memantine, used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and praised as "the first
and only representative of a new class of Alzheimer drugs" works in fact similar to
other existing compounds, and is beneficial only in a narrow concentration range. They
further indicate that the complex pharmacological profile of memantine requires careful
consideration concerning suitable doses and suitable patient groups.
Auditory neurons in humans far more sensitive to fine sound frequencies than
most mammals
Measuring the response of single cells in
humans, UCLA researchers have discovered that auditory neurons in our brains can discern
the subtlest of sound frequencies, far superior to what almost all non-human animals can
discern.
Jefferson scientists find protein helps pancreatic cancer cells evade immune
system and spread
A protein that helps prevent a woman's body
from rejecting a fetus may also play an important role in enabling pancreatic cancer cells
to evade detection by the immune system, allowing them to spread in the body. Researchers
found that the metastatic pancreatic cancer cells in the lymph nodes produce enough of the
protein, IDO, to wall-off the immune system's T-cells and recruit cells that suppress the
immune response to the tumor.
“C” to Believe - Jefferson Scientists Studying the Effects of High
Dose Vitamin C on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients
Scientists at Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital and Jefferson’s Kimmel Cancer Center have received approval for a
first-of-its kind study on the effect high dose vitamin C has on non-Hodgkin lymphoma
patients. Researchers from the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine and
Kimmel Cancer Center in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health will study
whether high doses of vitamin C can slow the progression of the deadly disease. “This
is a very unique study for a set of patients who have really run out of options,”
said Daniel Monti, M.D., director of the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, and
primary investigator of the study. “Vitamin C administered intravenously has shown
great promise in the laboratory and there has been some anecdotal data in cancer patients,
but no one has really ever run a detailed study on humans. Vitamin C doesn’t cost
much and is very low in toxicity, making it a particularly desirable agent for further
study.”
Researchers move 2 steps closer to understanding genetic underpinnings of
autism
Today's issue of the American Journal of
Human Genetics, describes what might be a corner piece of the autism puzzle -- the
identification and subsequent validation of a gene linked to the development of autism by
three separate groups of scientists. An accompanying commentary by Dr. Dietrich Stephan,
Director of the Neurogenomics Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute,
further explains the findings.
TAU research reveals two glasses a day keep
bladder infections, ulcers, cavities and viruses away. Prof. Ofek has found that cranberry
juice exhibits anti-viral properties against the flu, can prevent cavities, and lessens
the reoccurrence of gastric ulcers. Unhappily for half the human race, however, new
research published this year in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research on
ulcers, suggests that, like urinary tract infections, the healing power of cranberries
apply only to women.
High blood pressure in older adults traced to gene's effects in blood vessels
Scientists have identified the gene that
sets off a sequence of events in the blood vessels of otherwise healthy adults that can
lead to high blood pressure. The disease process eventually makes conditions in vessels
ripe for the creation of blockages that can cause heart attacks, strokes and circulatory
problems. The finding might lead to new therapeutic options for high blood pressure,
especially hypertension associated with aging.
Overactive nerves in head and neck may account for 'ringing in the ears'
Baby boomers know all too well that
"ringing in the ears" often comes with aging and hearing loss. Tinnitus can be
the buzz that somatosensory neurons from the head and neck, like too many phone callers,
create when they overcompensate for lost auditory signals from the ear, an animal study
suggests. This nimble response to hearing loss, in which neurons adapt to changed
conditions, is an example of the brain's "plasticity."
UCLA scientists identify new genetic link to autism
UCLA scientists have used language onset ?
the age when a child speaks his or her first word ? as a tool for identifying a new gene
linked to autism. The research team also discovered that the gene is most active in brain
regions involved with language and thought.
This is an important consideration when
considering enzymes. First, amylase is contained in everyone's saliva. Amylase is the
enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates. When you chew carbs/breads, it becomes sweeter as
you chew because the mechanical action of your teeth and amylase in the saliva are
breaking the carbohydrates down to their component sugars. Next, the foods goes to the
stomach where it resides about 60 minutes or more as it is further digested by the stomach
acid and pepsin. Pepsin is a protease enzymes released into the stomach. There is more
mechanical breakdown too by the stomach muscles. If you take plant enzymes, most plant
enzymes are quite stable in the stomach environment and go to work. This gives the plant
enzymes an edge on digestion over animal/pancreatic enzymes. Plant enzymes can be working
on food for at least an hour before the food proceeds to the small intestine.
Although often equated with food allergies,
food sensitivities also include food intolerances which, unlike allergies, are toxic
reactions to foods that do not involve the immune system and are often more difficult to
diagnose. Many of the symptoms of food sensitivities including vomiting, diarrhea, blood
in the stool, eczema, urticaria (hives), skin rashes, wheezing and runny noses, are
associated with an allergic reaction to specific foods. However, food sensitivities may
also cause fatigue, gas, bloating, mood swings, nervousness, migraines and eating
disorders. These symptoms which are more commonly related to food intolerance are less
often associated with the consumption of food. Clinical research is accumulating evidence
that the sensitivity to food can also increase the severity of the symptoms of rheumatoid
arthritis, asthma and other diseases normally not considered food related.
This independent site is for education and
information about digestive enzymes. There is a large need to provide practical and
general information on enzyme therapy for a wide range of uses.
The Enzymes and Autism forum is for the
discussion of digestive enzymes (and many other types of supplements) and how their
supplementation affect those dealing with conditions of the autistic spectrum/PDD,
attention deficit, sensory integration, digestion/malabsorption, food
sensitivities/allergies and other uses. We welcome comments and questions about using
enzymes in any way, including but not limited to those dealing with restrictive diets,
treatments, feeding issues, and intestinal health. Please treat all with respect;
well-phrased and polite dissents may be posted, without flaming. This non-commercial,
volunteer, semi-moderated list sees about 50+ posts per day. You may want to edit your
membership so you receive the posts as a Digest, or to view the posts on the Web Only.
Statements posted on this list are for information only, and should not be taken as
medical advice. If you need medical advice, you should seek it from a qualified
practitioner.
Recent research shows that more than 50% of
children with autism have GI symptoms, food allergies, and maldigestion or malabsorption
issues (Horvath). It’s obvious from talking to parents that GI problems are a major
concern in children with autism. Listservs dealing with autism have discussions on GI
issues all the time. Antifungal use, both prescription and alternative remedies, is a
common topic. Parents have tried “anti-yeast” diets, prescription drugs and
natural remedies, but nothing seems to be “the answer” to the chronic microbial
problems their children face. Many parents wish to pursue chelation for their children,
but are unable to do so because of their inability to get their children’s gut
pathogens under control.
We breathe Candida in from the air so it is
always present in us. But, Candida Overgrowth can be a real danger to life itself. Many
authorities describe the bloating, hypoglycemia, cold hands & feet, anemia, brain fog,
ears ringing, sinusitis, diarrhea or constipation, etc., that overgrowth of yeast/fungus
can cause. This product damages the yeast/fungus mechanically and does not poison or take
part in any body chemistry. Everyone who has “ever” taken antibiotics has a big
chance of FUNGUS OVERGROWTH. Candida in abundance produces many symptoms that are treated
as diseases. What is Syclovir made from? There are over 10,000 varieties of plankton.
Syclovir is made from an unusual food-grade Plankton. The silica of this plankton is
uniquely treated and processed to help us have healthy support for our immune system. It
is not a poison or toxin. The microscopic silica in the product is part of the plankton.
The Plankton is processed for a specific purpose and in a unique way. Then it is combined
with a little sugar from sugar cane and some kosher distilled vinegar for Candida’s
last meal and the blend of Syclovir is completed. Syclovir Picks Up Nicotine, Toxins &
Chemicals - Perhaps able to absorb up to 1000 times its own weight in toxins, Syclovir is
excellent at helping to clean up the blood and cells. Candida and it cousins produce
toxic, liquid, mycotoxins throughout our bodies.
Treating Autism with Stem Cells, Immune Support, Nutrition and Anti-fungals
Gluten and casein raise opioid levels.
Opioids reduce cAMP, reducing the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin. Instead,
tryptophan takes alternative pathways and is excreted as urinary IAG (indolyl acryloyl
glycine) and 3-indoleacetate. Increased IAG can contribute to leaky gut and perhaps
increased blood brain barrier permeability.
"Glutathione is the major antioxidant
in cells important for detoxification and elimination of environmental toxins, and its
active form is reduced in about 80 percent of the kids with autism," says Dr. S. Jill
James, director of the biochemical genetics laboratory at Arkansas Children's Hospital
Research Institute.
A special zinc binding protein found in the
brain called metallothionin-3 is oxidized by the inflammatory processes initiated by the
fever. As this zinc binding protein is oxidized, zinc is released from its binding sites
in high quantities and this damages the nearby brain cells. Due to the release of zinc
into the brain from the damaged metallothionin-3 during an infectious process, certain
brain cell receptors (NMDA receptors) are injured by the zinc. This injury allows calcium
to enter the neurons. An increase in intracellular calcium damages and cripples the nerve
cell’s energy producing mitochondria. These crippled neurons then no longer function
well and become over excitable whenever they are asked to perform tasks. These changes may
well be the reason for the hyperactive or even bizarre behavior seen in these autistic
children.
Although genetics, infections and brain
damage (trauma) have been cited as causes of ADD and LD (Learning Disabilities), these
cases are quite rare compared to causes like a dysfunctional home, heavy metal toxicities,
nutritional deficiencies, and food and chemical allergies. The majority of cases are
caused by an immune defect and allergies to food additives, preservatives, chemicals, or
inhalants. To deal adequately with this illness, we must address all these potential
imbalances. Some of the nutritional deficiencies that correlate with LD or ADD are
calcium, magnesium, iodine, iron and zinc. On the other hand, high copper, lead, cadmium
and aluminum levels have also been seen in learning disabled children.
Herb-Nutrient-Drug Interactions: Facts You Need to Know
As the lines blur between supplements,
natural remedies and drugs, the answers aren't simple. Opinions on the topic vary widely
in both the natural healing and medical worlds. Some practitioners advise against using
herbs and supplements altogether while on drug therapy; others routinely recommend them,
especially if a drug is leaching nutrients from the body or causing side effects. Adding
to the confusion, almost every day brings a new media report, oftentimes biased or
incomplete, on the hazards of combining herbs with drugs.
Interest in these aspects came about as a
result of parental observation and study. Parents observed that particular foods appeared
to result in the appearance of bad behaviours in their children. These foods such as apple
juice, citrus fruits, chocolate and paracetamol were precisely those that were known to
precipitate migraine attacks in susceptible individuals. The parents also noted the
according high incidence of migraines within the families of people with autism. They
noted that certain enzymes tended to be functioning sub-optimally in migraine and wondered
if the same situation pertained in autism. They coerced Rosemary Waring, a well-known
researcher into these aspects, into testing a group of children with autism.
Digestion-gut-autism connection - the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
In many cases, children with neurological
issues such as autism and seizure disorder are also experiencing symptoms of chronic
constipation, periods of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and indications of intestinal bacterial
and fungal overgrowth. More and more parents and clinicians are begin-ning to connect the
function of the gut with the brain and are finding that correcting digestive imbalances by
altering the diet can lead to significant overall improvement in the child's mental and
physical health and in several cases reduce or even eliminate aberrant behavior and
seizure activity.
The good news is that SCD food tastes good.
SCD baked goods are delicious, satisfying, and some are easy to make. Foods allowed on the
SCD include fruits, most vegetables, meat, nuts and honey. Some children are able to
tolerate properly prepared goat yogurt as well. The SCD is not a diet that limits simple
carbohydrate intake. Creative SCDers have come up with an incredible array of delicious,
easy-to-cook recipes. Recent research shows that 80% of autistic patients met the criteria
for malabsorption (B. Walsh). Also, the majority had low intestinal carbohydrate digestion
(K. Horvath). Carbohydrates are categorized into monosaccharides (single sugars),
disaccharides (double sugars), and polysaccharides (long strands of sugars). When the
intestinal wall is damaged and/or carbohydrate digestion is impaired, the body loses its
ability to absorb disaccharides and polysaccharides. Since they are not broken down and
absorbed in the small intestine, they are available to the yeast and bacteria in the large
intestine Toxic by-products of the yeast and bacteria can further damage the intestinal
tract worsening the problem and creating a vicious cycle.
A wide variety of debilitating and
supposedly incurable conditions may actually be due to chronic mercury poisoning. Mercury
poisoning can be easily cured if it is recognized. These conditions are seldom cured
because mercury poisoning is believed to be rare. It is not. It is quite common. Thus,
many people suffer needlessly. Many of today's "mystery syndromes" that
physicians don't know how to treat at all - fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, anorexia,
recurrent depression - aren't mystery syndromes. They are just mercury poisoning. Treating
them as mercury poisoning cures them, while the usual treatments are seldom effective in
the long term. This book gives practical guidance on how to tell if you really have
chronic mercury poisoning or some other problem. If mercury poisoning is your problem, the
book tells you how to get the mercury out of your body, and how to feel good while you do
that.
Taking antihistamines can be a great way to
fight off an allergic attack. But new research suggests it also might also make the next
attack come on stronger.
How about having someone (preferably no one
with a vested interest in the outcome) fund a study that actually delves into what is in
the blood of our autistic vs. nonautistic kids? Are heavy metals routinely seen in this
lab work or not? Now, that seems like a straightforward, nonflawed study.
Cranberry juice can prevent flu and stomach ulcers...but only in women
Drinking two glasses of cranberry juice a
day can ward off flu, stops teeth from rotting and keep away bladder infections and
stomach ulcers - but only in women.
Considering the number of prescriptions
written for these products, antibiotic-associated tendon damage appears to be relatively
rare. The risk may be higher in those taking corticosteroids such as prednisone,
particularly elderly people.
Allergic reactions to cellphones have also
been reported in Italy, Japan, Korea and Austria. Last year, Dr. Stefan Wohrl, a
dermatology professor at the University of Vienna in Austria, published an article in the
journal Contact Dermatitis about a 19-year-old female whose cellphone caused her to break
out in rashes on her hands, arms and stomach.
Dentists could one day be able to test
patients' saliva for early signs of breast cancer, scientists claimed yesterday.
Researchers who analysed the saliva of 30 women said they had found proteins which
indicated whether the sample came from patients with a tumour or healthy volunteers.
When the participants were divided into
four groups based on vitamin C levels, those with the highest concentrations of the
vitamin in their blood were found to have a 42 percent lower stroke risk than those with
the lowest concentrations.
Center for Science comments on high fructose corn syrup
Dr. Drewnowski is not quite right when he
says the Center for Science in the Public Interest has "come out in favor" of
high fructose corn syrup. We've merely acknowledged that it is likely no worse or no
better than cane sugar. We've also filed complaints and lawsuits against companies who
claim (falsely) that high fructose corn syrup is "all natural." And, we say
repeatedly, that Americans should cut back their consumption of all added sugars,
regardless of whether it comes from HFCS or cane or beet sugar.
Science boosts asparaginase efficacy for acrylamide cuts
Using the asparaginase enzyme to treat
French fries could reduce the formation of acrylamide by 60 per cent, a joint
Chilean-Danish study has reported.
A history of ear infections during
childhood appears to raise the risk of asthma later in life. According to recent research,
the rate of ear infections has increased significantly over the years, paralleling the
rise in asthma rates, BBC reported.
Studies on rodents and people suggest a
diet rich in DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, helps delay or prevent
Alzheimer's disease. Now University of California, Los Angeles researchers have come up
with a possible explanation.
This site is to help inform people of the
exciting research done on DCA by scientists at the University of Alberta. In January 2007,
a team of scientists at the University of Alberta published a paper in the scientific
journal, Cancer Cell, describing the discovery that a simple, cheap molecule, DCA, worked
to reactivate the apoptosis mechanism of cancer cells, causing rapid shrinkage of tumors
in rats. Mitochondrial reactivation represents an entirely new approach to treating
cancer.
Can Colon Cancer Screenings Cause More Harm Than Good?
Screenings for colorectal cancer may not
benefit patients with severe illnesses, and they may even cause harm, Yale School of
Medicine researchers revealed.
Different foods break down at different
speeds, causing different toxic reactions depending upon the food and your personal body
chemistry. Therefore, without scientific testing, it is very difficult to judge which
foods cause which reactions and when. The latest trendy diets may be good for general
information, but everyone's system is different. Find out which foods are toxic to your
particular system, this will help you be healthier and more energetic than ever before.
Is Candida the hidden link between what you eat and how you feel?
Common foods such as bread, cheese, alcohol
and sugar can cause a host of physical, mental and emotional problems if you suffer from
Candidiasis. Even when you are healthy, bacteria and yeasts, including Candida albicans,
are present on your skin and in your mouth, nose and digestive tract. Normally, these
micro-organisms exist on and in you without causing any harm. In fact, the micro-organisms
present in the lower digestive tract are highly beneficial in assisting in the digestion
of food and in synthesizing vitamins which are essential to your good health.
Immediate food reaction is a fixed food
allergy. The food to which you are allergic will almost always provoke an immune reaction
when ingested. In immediate reactions the body over produces what is called Immunoglobulin
E antibodies, (IgE). Symptoms with a delayed food allergy can take up to three days to
appear. This type of reaction is primarily IgG mediated. Unlike immediate food reaction,
delayed food reaction is not a fixed food allergy. It is cyclical in nature. For example,
you may be IgG sensitive to milk. If you were to increase your intake and/or frequency of
milk consumption, it is at this point that symptoms would likely appear.
Wetenschappelijke gegevens wijzen op een
positief verband tussen een vegetarisch voedingspatroon en een lager risiko op
verschillende chronische degeneratieve ziektes en aandoeningen, inclusief zwaarlijvigheid,
hart en vaatziekten, hypertensie, suikerziekte en sommige kankers. Om volwaardig te zijn
moet een vegetarisch voedingspatroon degelijk gepland worden, net zoals om het even welke
andere voedingswijze.
Canola oil has a number of undesirable
health effects when used as the main source of dietary fats, although these side effects
can be offset by the intake of saturated fats.
Coconuts play a unique role in the diets of
mankind because they are the source of important physiologically functional components.
These physiologically functional components are found in the fat part of whole coconut, in
the fat part of desiccated coconut and in the extracted coconut oil. Lauric acid, the
major fatty acid from the fat of the coconut, has long been recognised for the unique
properties that it lends to nonfood uses in the soaps and cosmetics industry. More
recently, lauric acid has been recognised for its unique properties in food use, which are
related to its antiviral, antibacterial and antiprotozoal functions. Now, capric acid,
another of coconut's fatty acids, has been added to the list of coconut's antimicrobial
components. These fatty acids are found in the largest amounts only in traditional lauric
fats, especially from coconut. Also, recently published research has shown that natural
coconut fat in the diet leads to a normalisation of body lipids, protects against alcohol
damage to the liver and improves the immune system's anti-inflammatory response. Clearly,
there has been increasing recognition of the health-supporting functions of the fatty
acids found in coconut. Recent reports from the US Food and Drug Administration about
required labelling of the trans fatty acids will put coconut oil in a more competitive
position and may help its return to use by the baking and snack-food industry, where it
has continued to be recognised for its functionality. Now it can be recognised for another
kind of functionality: the improvement of the health of mankind.
Cancer as well as heart disease can be
prevented by taking a ratio of at least 1:1 up to 2.5:1 unadulterated parent omega-6 to
omega-3 essential fatty acids plus specific vitamins and minerals.
A growing number of allergy sufferers in
the United States are turning to the ancient therapy of acupuncture to bring them relief
from the sneezing, congestion and watery eyes that plague them.
The researchers found that consuming a
one-ounce (28.3 gram) serving of nuts five or more times a week resulted in a 27 percent
lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those in the study who rarely or never ate
nuts. Women who ate between 1 ounce and 4 ounces of nuts a week had a 16 percent lower
risk, even when they had other diabetes risk factors.
Smoking, alcohol, low fruit/vegetables intake, not exercising decreases life 14
years
We examined the prospective relationship
between lifestyle and mortality in a prospective population study of 20,244 men and women
aged 45–79 y with no known cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline survey in
1993–1997, living in the general community in the United Kingdom, and followed up to
2006. Participants scored one point for each health behaviour: current non-smoking, not
physically inactive, moderate alcohol intake (1–14 units a week) and plasma vitamin C
>50 mmol/l indicating fruit and vegetable intake of at least five servings a day, for a
total score ranging from zero to four. After an average 11 y follow-up, the age-, sex-,
body mass–, and social class–adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals)
for all-cause mortality(1,987 deaths) for men and women who had three, two, one, and zero
compared to four health behaviours were respectively, 1.39 (1.21–1.60), 1.95
(1.70–-2.25), 2.52 (2.13–3.00), and 4.04 (2.95–5.54) p < 0.001 trend.
The relationships were consistent in subgroups stratified by sex, age, body mass index,
and social class, and after excluding deaths within 2 y. The trends were strongest for
cardiovascular causes. The mortality risk for those with four compared to zero health
behaviours was equivalent to being 14 y younger in chronological age.
The evil in carbs lies in the sugar not the starch
On a chemical level, fructose appears
"unique" in its ability to trigger spikes in uric acid in the body, Johnson
said. High levels of the acid hamper insulin, the hormone that helps the body use and
store sugar.
The wake-you-up pill ...how a controversial thyroid supplement could help
tiredness
His approach is highly controversial and is
rejected by mainstream doctors in the UK. However, he points out that in America the
official guidelines have recently been revised - as a result patients who would be
classified as normal in the UK would be given treatment in America. According to some
estimates, as many as a million Britons suffer from poor thyroid function. The thyroid's
job is to produce a number of hormones that keep the body's various functions working at
the right pace.
Elucidating the Binding Characteristics of Bisphenol A
These findings raise the immediate question
of whether reported BPA-related endocrine disruption might actually be mediated through
ERR-? rather than through ER. Additionally, the researchers stress the need to determine
the normal physiologic roles of ERR-? as well as the ways in which BPA might affect these
roles. Given the strong expression of ERR-? in the fetal brain and placenta, further
information is especially urgent with regard to outcomes for newborns.
Hydrophilic Fungi and Ergosterol Associated with Respiratory Illness in a
Water-Damaged Building
by showing that mold levels in dust were
associated with new-onset asthma in this damp indoor environment. Hydrophilic fungi and
ergosterol as measures of fungal biomass may have promise as markers of risk of
building-related respiratory diseases in damp indoor environments.
Winemaking Waste Proves Effective Against Disease-Causing Bacteria in Early
Studies
A class of chemicals in red wine grapes may
significantly reduce the ability of bacteria to cause cavities, according to a study
published recently in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Commission report confirms the potential benefits of banning conventional
battery cages for laying hens
There is substantial evidence that banning
the use of conventional battery cages for laying hens could considerably improve the
health and welfare of these birds, according to a report published by the Commission
today. An EU ban on conventional battery cages is due to enter into force from 2012, in
line with Directive 1999/74/EC on minimum standards for laying hens, and the report
concludes that the 2012 deadline should be maintained. Today's report details a number of
independent scientific and socio-economic studies which lend support to this measure by
outlining the clear benefits of changing to so-called 'enriched' cages or alternative
(free range or barn) rearing systems for laying hens. The report also lists a number of
recommended actions for the period leading up to the ban, including campaigns to promote
public awareness of the way hens are reared, in order to provide competitive opportunities
for EU producers.
Following the lead of New York City and
Brookline, health regulators in Boston last night took the first step toward banning
artery-clogging trans fat from French fries, doughnuts, and other food sold in restaurants
and corner stores.
Scientists at Aberdeen’s Rowett
Research Institute have shown that a high protein, low carbohydrate diet is most effective
at reducing hunger and promoting weight loss, at least in the short term. Their work has
just been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Whole Grains Found to Stabilize Blood Sugar For up to Ten Hours
When eaten as part of a breakfast with a
low glycemic index, whole grains can help control blood sugar all day long, according to a
study conducted at Lund University in Sweden. A breakfast with a low glycemic index even
appeared to improve alertness and mental function.
Fatty Liver Risk Linked To High Glycemic Index Diet
Eating carbohydrates high on the glycemic
index (GI) produced not only fatter mice, but mice with fatty livers according to a
recently published study (1). For twenty-five weeks two groups of mice were fed a diet
high in carbohydrates. One set had carbohydrates high on the GI while the other group
received carbohydrates low on the GI. At the end of the study, both sets of mice weighed
about the same, but the group that ate high on the GI had twice as much total body fat,
twice as much fat in their blood and twice as much fat around their livers.
Study "Disproving" Mercury-Autism Link Published in Journal with
Financial Ties to Vaccine Manufacturers
While the mainstream press is widely
reporting a new study "disproving" any link between autism and
mercury-containing thimerosal in vaccines, no one has bothered to point out that the study
was published in a medical journal stacked full of ads from the very same drug companies
that manufacture and market vaccines. The Journal, the Archives of General Psychiatry, is
the pro-drug psychiatric arm of the American Medical Association, a pill-pushing
organization tarnished by a history of conspiracy against alternative medicine and the
promotion of toxic substances like cigarettes with full-page ads in its flagship
publication, JAMA.
HPV Vaccine Researcher Criticizes Drug Marketing as "Public Health
Experiment"
A researcher who has spent 20 years
studying human papillomavirus (HPV) and did the bulk of the work that was used to develop
a vaccine for several strains of the virus has warned that mandating the vaccine for girls
under the age of 18 may actually backfire, causing cervical cancer rates to go up.
For the last several years, HPV vaccines
have been marketed to the public and mandated in compulsory injections for young girls in
several states based on the idea that they prevent cervical cancer. Now, NewsTarget has
obtained documents from the FDA and other sources (see below) which reveal that the FDA
has been well aware for several years that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has no direct link
to cervical cancer.
Heart Health Improved with Vitamin E for 40% of Type 2 Diabetics
Approximately 20 million Americans have
Type 2 Diabetes. Researchers in Israel report that vitamin E supplements could offer an
inexpensive way to significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and related deaths for
the 40% of Type 2 diabetics who carry a particular version of a gene called haptoglobin
(Hp) 2-2.
Wine polyphenols reduce damage caused by fatty food
For centuries, many people have considered
wine to be an essential component of a satisfying meal. In the January, 2008 issue of the
Journal of The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Israeli
researchers reveal a new reason why drinking wine with meals may be healthy as well as
pleasurable.
In the meantime, the CDC, EPA and FDA
continue to deny the toxic nature of aluminum in our environment and medications. As a
result, several scholars have come forward to post known scientific studies on
aluminum’s toxic nature. One excellent resource is www.frankmckinnon.com/aluminum
Another one is the Leading Edge Research Group www.trufax.org where they have a three-part
article on aluminum toxicity.
Mattresses and Bedding Can Cause Environmental and Health
Traditional mattresses and bedding contain
a slew of potentially harmful chemicals that can “off-gas” from fabrics, padding
and framing and get inhaled or ingested. One of the most harmful is formaldehyde, which is
used in many adhesives and can cause eye and throat irritation, headaches and nervous
system disorders.
