Careful and selected use of antibiotics in the 20th century undoubtedly saved some lives, but far fewer than most people realize. The widespread and largely indiscriminate use of antibiotics, the very common abuse of this class of drugs that we still see, has caused illness and death already and has changed the medical (and possibly ‘health’) landscape, making it a much more dangerous place. It now appears that detailed accounting of some of this antibiotic damage is beginning to emerge.
A study recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology set out to look for an association between non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and the use of common medications. Cases of NHL are on the rise, especially in the U.S. where it’s most frequently diagnosed in older people. About four percent of cancer deaths are attributable to NHL.
Researchers in Sweden recruited more than 6,000 subjects in Sweden and Denmark; about half were NHL patients. When the subjects’ lifetime medication use was examined, researchers found a clear association between NHL risk and the use of antibiotics more than 10 times during adulthood.
In addition, regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) was "marginally associated" with a higher risk of NHL.
Of course researchers can’t conclude that antibiotic or NSAID use may actually cause NHL; it’s possible that a patient’s unique susceptibility to infections or inflammation (prompting antibiotic and NSAIDs use) might be the root cause. Nevertheless, most of the other medications examined were not associated with NHL risk.
There is a tendency for people to shrug or to benignly think, time will tell. Unfortunately, it will.
There are plenty of vey powerful natural antibiotics available. They do not cause the side effects and adverse effects known to be associated with antibiotic use and their long history of use means that a link with NHL is extremely unlikely. See a naturopathic doctor and avoid pharmaceuticals "like the plague". It’s your life.
When the FDA does the right thing I praise them. I think they need the reinforcement so I’m happy to offer mine. However, I frequently find myself unable to praise them because they so often fail to do the right thing.
Why is this? Well, that’s actually quite a big question so let’s just say that I disapprove of their very clear bias in favor of Big Pharma and against natural health in general and nutrition in particular. It seems I am far from being alone in my views.
On November 9, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) and seven other members of Congress introduced the Health Freedom Protection Act (H.R. 4282) to prevent the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from censoring information about dietary supplements. That’s pretty amazing really, that it should come down to a need for legislation to force the FDA to do the right thing and to stop them doing the wrong thing.
According to The Liberty Committee, "In 1994, the U.S. Congress ordered the FDA to let the public have access to scientific articles and publications on the role of nutrients in disease by passing the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)….Yet, censorship by the FDA goes on!" That is why H.R. 4282 was introduced and is being pushed by a coalition of some 50 companies and organizations. It appears that the FDA is recalcitrant.
Congressman Paul explains that the Health Freedom Protection Act specifically will:
- stop the FDA from censoring truthful claims about dietary supplements;
- stop the FDA from prohibiting the distribution of scientific articles and publications regarding the role of nutrients in protecting against disease; and
- address the FTC’s violations of the First Amendment.
These are entirely worthy objectives and I praise Congressman Paul for this initiative. Considering the rapid advances being made in nutritional health science within the nutrigenomics field, it is a pleasant thought indeed that perhaps the heights of pharmaceutical dominance have already passed.
The doctors and nutritionists at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) offer five tips for eating right during the holiday season to combat stress and depression.
"This time of year can be stressful, and many people make the mistake of turning to sugary or fatty junk foods for comfort," says Tim Radak, DrPH, R.D., associate nutrition director at PCRM. "But low-fat vegetarian foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the best mood-boosters during the holiday season."
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition. PCRM also conducts clinical research studies, opposes unethical human experimentation, and promotes alternatives to animal research. They offer the following tips.
Five tips to boost your mood:
1. Favor Fiber and Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates cause the brain to produce more serotonin, a hormone that relaxes us. Also, a diet high in fiber fills you up and helps prevent late-night binging. Some examples of healthy comfort foods include baked sweet potatoes, minestrone soup, or sautéed vegetables over rice.
2. Load up on Fruits and Vegetables
Chronic stress can weaken our ability to fight disease. By upping our intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, we can boost our immune system. Acorn squash and carrots are examples of great sources of the antioxidant beta-carotene. Citrus fruits provide plenty of vitamin C, another stress-busting antioxidant.
3. Fight the Fat
Fatty foods such as meat or cheese dishes contribute to making us feel lethargic as the body metabolizes the excess fat and calories. This is clearly not a good way to reduce stress. And some studies have found that even one high-fat meal can increase our risk of a heart attack.
4. Skip the Sugar
Sugar tends to calm us – at first. The problem with sugar is that it’s a simple carbohydrate, so it enters and leaves the bloodstream rapidly, causing us to, in effect, "crash". On the other hand, the complex carbohydrates found in pasta, beans, and lentils soothe without bringing us down.
5. Can the Caffeine
Many of us deal with a stress-induced lack of sleep by turning to coffee, tea, and colas. Unfortunately, for some people, caffeine stays in the bloodstream longer than many realize and tends to rev up our metabolism, making us reach for more food. Cutting back on caffeine can also help with both sleeping problems and the jitters.
I consider the PCRM recommendations to be reasonable, but would modify them slightly. Recommending carbohydrates for mood enhancement is a cheap trick. It will work, but I can’t recommend it myself. Their suggestion in number 1 that it be combined with fibre is definitely important if you choose this approach.
The reference in number 3 to increasing the risk of heart attack by having just one fatty meal is strange. This appears to be a distortion of the facts and does not apply universally. Frankly, I think they reflect the old-fashioned medical fat paranoia in this comment and I think it can safely be dismissed. Obviously blaming a single meal for a serious event such as a heart attack is a grand exercise in denial.
Anyway, there is food for thought in the list above. Enjoy you mood food this festive season.
A study reported in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice (2005;11:302,14) found that chromium supplements can relieve symptoms in people with reactive hypoglycemia suffering from atypical depression.
Atypical depression is one of the most common forms of depression. It is characterized by mood swings (increased sensitivity to being rejected by another person and improved mood when something good happens), increased appetite, excessive sleepiness, and sluggishness. Compared with other forms of depression, atypical depression tends to persist longer and is associated with more thoughts of suicide.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that, among others, plays a role in regulating blood sugar by enhancing the action of insulin. In people with a common blood-sugar-regulation disorder known as reactive hypoglycemia, chromium supplementation prevents the excessive decline in blood-sugar levels and decreases the associated symptoms.
Chromium also influences the sensitivity of certain receptors on brain cells that help control a person’s mood. Chromium supplementation has been shown in previous studies to be beneficial for people suffering from dysthymia, a mood disorder related to depression.
The symptoms of atypical depression overlap with those associated with reactive hypoglycemia. If atypical depression is a manifestation of reactive hypoglycemia in some people, then chromium supplementation might be helpful for them.
In this study, 75 people with atypical depression received either 600 mcg per day of chromium (as chromium picolinate) or a placebo for eight weeks. The proportion of people who improved by at least 50% was greater in the chromium group than in the placebo group (54% versus 36%), although this difference was not statistically significant.
However, significant differences were seen when the analysis was restricted to those people who reported that they had severe carbohydrate craving (a possible indicator of abnormal glucose metabolism). In that subset, the proportion of responders was 65% in the chromium group and only 33% in the placebo group, a statistically significant difference. Unlike reports of drug trials, no significant side effects were observed in people taking chromium.
As Alan R. Gaby, MD (former professor of Nutrition at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences) observes, "the results of this study indicate that people with atypical depression who also crave carbohydrates are likely to improve if they take 600 mcg of chromium per day. If chromium works by improving blood-glucose regulation, then its effects might be enhanced by dietary changes (avoiding refined sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, and eating small, frequent meals) and by supplementing with other blood-glucose-stabilizing nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and copper. Regular aerobic exercise may also relieve depression, possibly by improving insulin sensitivity and blood-sugar control."
According to a study published in the Journal of Dental Research (2005;84:35,8), people who suffer from a loss of taste sensation may benefit from supplementing with the mineral zinc. Can it be that dentists are so far behind? This has been very ordinary knowledge for a very, very long time. I know children of grade-school age who could have saved the dentists a lot of bother.
Dysgeusia is an impairment of taste function that can range from a distorted sensation of taste to a complete loss of taste. It can be caused by upper respiratory tract infection, hormonal changes, tobacco smoke, or nasal polyps. Certain medications, like the blood pressure lowering drug captopril (Capoten) and antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl), may also cause an altered sensation of taste. Sometimes, the cause of dysgeusia is unknown; this is called idiopathic dysgeusia.
Cells located in the taste buds on the tongue and on the roof of the mouth carry messages to the brain about the taste of different substances. These cells are constantly replaced as they become old or damaged.
Taste is influenced by the sense of smell. For example, it is difficult to taste foods when the nose is obstructed, as you may recall from your last episode of the common cold. Loss of taste can decrease the pleasure in eating and lead to a loss of social contact, weight changes, and depressed mood.
The dentists’ new study investigated the use of zinc in the treatment of idiopathic dysgeusia in 50 people. They received either 140 mg of zinc gluconate per day (providing 20 mg of elemental zinc) for three months or a placebo. Taste tests measured taste function before and after treatment, and the people rated the severity of their dysgeusia. Tests were also given to assess mood changes and depression that may be related to taste impairment.
Taste sensation improved significantly in the zinc group compared with the placebo group. In addition, 50% of the people in the zinc group rated their dysgeusia as improved, compared with only 25% of the people receiving placebo. Depression also improved significantly in the zinc group; there were no such changes in the placebo group. Zinc treatment was not associated with any adverse effects.
Zinc is an essential mineral needed for wound repair, healthy immune function, and proper growth. Oysters are the most abundant food source of zinc; meat, fortified cereals, beans, and wheat germ also contain high amounts of the nutrient. And as we all know and our dentist friends have just learned, inadequate zinc intake can lead to taste dysfunction.