Abstract

Purpose : To determine whether there is a significant relationship between the consumption of alcohol , purines and boron , and the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome or frequent diarrhoea.

Design : Statistical survey of diets .

Materials and Methods : 120 individuals, seeking help with chronic health problems, were assessed for their intake of purines, alcohol and boron, which are dietary items that use body stores of vitamin B2 and molybdenum. They stated whether they had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or frequent diarrhoea. The proportions with different types of diet who had symptoms were compared. The group was extended to 578 individuals, and the calculations repeated, both for the whole group, and for males and females separately. Statistical significance was assessed, using a chi-squared test.

Results : In all three groups, those with higher intakes of alcohol, purines and boron had a higher prevalence of IBS or frequent diarrhoea. The relationship was found to be significant.

Conclusions : Reducing alcohol, purines and boron in the diet of patients with IBS or chronic diarrhoea may be a cost-effective treatment. A randomized study would be helpful to assess the results of such an intervention.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the evidence linking coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths with milk consumption, and the evidence against such a link. Design: Literature-based review, together with some statistical analysis. Materials and Methods: Analysis of data from a Medline search and standard statistical sources. Results: Several studies have been published showing a high positive correlation between milk consumption in different countries and rates of death a few years later from CHD. One investigation showed that countries which reduced milk consumption later had reduced rates of CHD death, while the only country studied which increased its milk consumption had an increased rate of CHD death. A variety of possible reasons for a link between milk and CHD have been suggested. On the other hand, several studies of smaller groups of people suggest that milk does not correlate with CHD. These studies have serious weaknesses. In no case was there any attempt to find the total exposure to milk, in all foods and drinks. In some studies, age and social class were ignored. One study, widely quoted as showing that CHD is not caused by milk consumption, was actually concerned with strokes. However, CHD deaths are negatively correlated with deaths from strokes. The Masai drink much milk, but it is fermented. They do have atherosclerosis but rarely die of CHD because of the large lumen of their arteries, and probably because few live long enough. A reason why affluent countries tend to have a higher incidence of CHD may be that people susceptible to CHD are the same as those susceptible to infection. In poorer countries, they tend to die of infection before they would have died of heart disease. These susceptible people may be those with clinical or subclinical degrees of hypothyroidism. Conclusions: Milk consumption does appear to be strongly related to CHD death in communities where susceptible people live long enough. Research into the diets of large numbers of people could usefully be preceded by sampling the questions on a subgroup to determine if the data collected will give accurate information on total milk consumption. A randomized controlled study on the effects of a milk-free diet on people with angina would be worthwhile.

Abstract

Background: Certified death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) are positively correlated country-by-country with milk consumption, particularly with that of the non-fat portion of milk. CHD death is also associated with circulating antibodies against milk fat-globule membrane (MFGM), raising the possibility that milk intake might be a specific risk factor for CHD. We studied the epidemiology and immunology of milk to see if the association is causal. Methods: We plotted the intake of various foods country-by-country against CHD death rates to see if they were correlated in space and/or in time. We prepared fluorescein-tagged human antibodies against bovine MFGM to see if they showed any auto-reactivity against human tissue. Results: Milk showed a positive correlation with CHD death rates in both space and time ( r >0.9 in some cases). Beef was not correlated and cheese was negatively correlated, though not strongly. Wine was strongly negatively correlated. Human anti-bovine MFGM antibodies bind to human large granular lymphocytes and also to human platelets, causing aggregation. Conclusions: We suggest that non-fat aspects of milk, particularly the Ca/Mg ratio, lactose and MFGM antigens, have specific coronary atherogenic effects, both biochemical and immunological, and the simultaneous attack from these three directions may explain why this foodstuff has such a strong effect. Wine appears to be an antidote for the harmful effects of milk.

Design: A case-control study of the plasma cysteine and sulphate levels and cysteine/sulphate ratio in chronically ill patients.

Materials and Methods: Eighty-one chronically ill patients of a nutrition clinic were suspected of having abnormal levels of sulphate and/or cysteine.
Their plasma was checked to determine their cysteine and sulphate levels and cysteine/sulphate ratio. These were compared with the results of 177 controls. They were grouped according to their results, and their symptoms were listed.

Results: Only one patient had a ratio within the reference range, whereas
175 of the controls did. Patients already being treated with relevant nutritional supplements at the time of testing were less likely to have a ratio over 1000. Some close relatives shared abnormal test results, but manifested different symptoms.

Conclusion: Patients with chronic conditions including myalgic encephalomyelitis, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, arthritis, multiple chemical sensitivity and depression are likely to benefit from tests for cysteine and sulphate, and from treatment designed to improve these levels.

Oral fish oil, vitamin B2, pantothenate and molybdenum, and Epsom salt baths may help patients with low sulphate. Vitamins B2 and B6, zinc and magnesium, and a low protein diet may reduce high cysteine levels. N-acetyl cysteine, zinc and vitamin C may help those with low cysteine levels. Patients with abnormal levels of sulphate might be counselled against working in polluted conditions, where efficient sulphate conjugation is required, and against using pesticides. They might be advised to be cautious in their use of drugs, and possibly vaccines too. Further work is suggested, to investigate to what extent abnormalities in cysteine and sulphate levels are genetically determined, and to test the efficacy of the treatments outlined, both at improving the cysteine and sulphate levels, and health.

Abstract

Purpose: To collate evidence on nutrient deficiencies caused by drugs.

Design: Search of Medline and other databases, and published literature.

Materials and methods: Medline, Scirus and Google Scholar databases, journal articles and books.

Results: There is evidence that many drugs, medicinal or recreational, produce deficiencies in
vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and / or amino acids. Some drugs cause multiple deficiencies. They may reduce conversion of vitamins to their active forms, or inhibit the production of important metabolites. By killing beneficial bacteria in the gut, they may cause vitamin deficiency. They may reduce absorption, or cause excretion of nutrients.

Conclusions: Many drugs have been identified, which appear to cause deficiencies in essential nutrients and their metabolites. Nutrients could be prescribed with drugs, to limit the damage done, provided that this does not undermine the action of the drugs. Further research is needed to confirm the results of those studies that have been carried out, and to find out about nutrient depletion from new drugs.