Marc Joseph Nutrition - Blog

As reported in The Huffington Post by David Kirby, journalist and author of the book Evidence of Harm, today marks the start of a key event in the vaccine-autism debate:

On Monday, one of the most important legal proceedings in American medical history will get underway at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington. There, a special panel of three judges will begin hearing evidence to support — and refute — the hypothesis that mercury in vaccines and/or the live-virus measles-mumps-rubella [MMR] shot caused autism or autism-like symptoms in some American children.

Monday will mark the first time ever that evidence of autistic harm from childhood vaccines is examined and cross-examined in a court of law. This is far from a slam dunk case for either side, and the stakes - professional, financial, emotional — could not be more intense.

The case being heard beginning today (Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services) is the first test case selected from over 4800 autism claims filed with the federal claims court (aka the Vaccine Court). Any decisions in the case will likely affect future guidance for other Vaccine Court and autism cases around the country.

The Stakes

Back in 1986, a vaccine compensation system was developed by Congress to limit the liability of vaccine manufacturers. A 75-cent tax has been levied on each vaccination shot and put in a compensation fund, which currently totals $2.5 billion.

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about the cancer-vitamin D link and highlighted an excerpt from an article that hinted at the pending release of a study with extremely promising findings:

[P]erhaps the biggest bombshell about vitamin D’s effects is about to go off. In June, U.S. researchers will announce the first direct link between cancer prevention and the sunshine vitamin. Their results are nothing short of astounding.

A four-year clinical trial involving 1,200 women found those taking the vitamin had about a 60-percent reduction in cancer incidence, compared with those who didn’t take it, a drop so large — twice the impact on cancer attributed to smoking — it almost looks like a typographical error.

Well, the paper has just been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. And the results are nothing short of spectacular.

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers randomly assigned postmenopausal women (age >55) to receive either 1400-1500 mg of calcium alone (Ca), the calcium plus 1100 IU vitamin D3 (Ca+D), or a placebo.

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If the increased risks for heart disease, cognitive decline, vision loss, kidney damage, peripheral nerve damage, and limb amputation haven’t provided enough incentive to take the nutritional and lifestyle steps to avoid developing type 2 diabetes, a recent paper published in the journal Diabetes Care may get your attention.

In the study, which included 355 men over the age of 30 with diabetes, researchers found that 42% of the men were deficient in testosterone. Specifically, 17% had low testosterone (hypogonadism), while another 25% had borderline low testosterone.

Additionally, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were negatively correlated with testosterone levels in this group of diabetic men, with the latter having the strongest association. Spare tire holders beware.

(Not So Good) Symptoms

Common symptoms of low testosterone in males include a decreased sex drive, reduced strength of erections, fatigue, reduced physical strength, inability to concentrate, and mood changes. Researchers for this study noted that the two most frequently observed symptoms were erectile dysfunction (70%) and decreased sex drive (63%).

What You Can Do

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At the recent “Diet and Optimum Health” conference sponsored by the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI) at Oregon State University, scientists presented research discussing some of the underlying mechanisms behind lipoic acid’s many beneficial effects.

“The evidence suggests that lipoic acid is actually a low-level stressor that turns on the basic cellular defenses of the body, including some of those that naturally decline with age,” said Tory Hagen, an LPI researcher and associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at OSU. “In particular, it tends to restore levels of glutathione, a protective antioxidant and detoxification compound, to those of a young animal. It also acts as a strong anti-inflammatory agent, which is relevant to many degenerative diseases.” …

… “Our studies have shown that mice supplemented with lipoic acid have a cognitive ability, behavior, and genetic expression of almost 100 detoxification and antioxidant genes that are comparable to that of young animals,” Hagen said. “They aren’t just living longer, they are living better — and that’s the goal we’re after.”

Sound promising? Sure.

But there are a few things you should know about lipoic acid before running out and buying it. In fact, without a proper dosing protocol, some people may want to avoid supplementing with it entirely.

What is Lipoic Acid

Lipoic acid is a compound that contains two sulfur, or thiol, groups. The oxidized form is referred to as lipoic acid (LA), while the reduced form is called dihydrolipoic acid (DHPLA).

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The growing influence of China on the world’s food market is indisputable:

According to the latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, China produced nearly half of the world’s vegetables—five times the U.S. share. China also produced 16% of the world’s fruit, more than double the U.S. share. And its growth in agriculture, as in manufacturing, is staggering. In the last four years for which data are available, China added 5.7 million acres to the cultivation of vegetables. That’s 50% more than the total land used for vegetable farming in the U.S.

Yet, this recent Business Week article raises questions regarding potential produce contamination:

What’s not to like about reasonably priced berries in January? Well, some food experts are concerned. The trouble is that perishable commodities shipped over vast distances are some of the most vulnerable to contamination and other issues. Rutgers’ Hallman points out that much fresh produce is meant to be eaten raw, and there’s no way to kill microorganisms they may contain, the way food companies can use irradiation on poultry or meat. “The longer the distance that the fresh produce travels, the more chances there are for contamination from mishandling and more time for the microbes to multiply,” says Hallman.

China’s record with food imports isn’t reassuring. Just last month, 107 food imports from China were detained by the Food & Drug Administration at U.S. ports, according to The Washington Post. Among them were dried apples preserved with a cancer-causing chemical and mushrooms laced with illegal pesticides.

Organic produce from China may have risks, too:

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Chronic inflammation is an important factor in many conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), arthritis, digestive disorders, and more.

In a recent study published in the top journal Science, researchers at the University of Chicago identified what seems to be a key link between the immune system and high blood lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels.

Specifically, the scientists found that when tumor necrosis factor cytokines (immune system messengers) were over-expressed on T cells (white blood cells that regulate immune response and attack virus-infected, foreign, and cancer cells) in mice, that blood lipid levels rose.

Since the liver and intestines are believed to be primarily responsible for regulating blood lipid levels, the researchers also looked at the livers of the mice. The liver secretes an enzyme called hepatic lipase, which breaks down lipids (e.g., VLDL, triglycerides). The scientists observed that the livers of mice that had T cells expressing greater inflammatory cytokines produced less hepatic lipase, and thus had higher blood lipid levels.

As one of the study’s co-authors notes, the implications of this finding could be far-reaching:

“Those with inflammatory problems such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel syndrome have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, often associated with elevated lipid levels,” added co-author Godfrey Getz, MD, PhD, professor of pathology, biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Chicago. “This study may explain why.”

Causes of Increased Inflammation

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There’s a good amount of published research suggesting that the carotenoids (plant pigments) lutein and zeaxanthin may help to maintain vision and prevent the development of conditions such as age-related macular decline (AMD) and cataracts.

A recent study took a look at the potential benefit of lutein and zeaxanthin for skin health. Both nutrients are naturally found in the skin, and, as in the eye, are believed to have both antioxidant and light-filtering capability. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers found that groups of individuals given oral and topical lutein/zeaxanthin were significantly less affected by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Specifically, after just two weeks, the groups given daily oral lutein/zexanthin supplementation (6 mg lutein, 0.6 mg zeaxanthin), topical lutein/zeaxanthin application (5% liquid), or both oral supplements and topical application, had improved their sensitivity to UV radiation by 4 times, 2 times, and 6 times, respectively.

Not only did the carotenoids protect the study participants’ skin from UV radiation damage, but the nutrients also improved the lipid (fat) content, hydration, and elasticity of the skin.

Sun exposure is the primary way for people to get the extremely important and often deficient vitamin D. At the same time, too much sun exposure can damage the skin. Good intake of lutein and zeaxanthin may help to offset this potential risk.

Sources of Lutein & Zeaxanthin

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And on it goes. The latest salvo against nutritional supplements is a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that suggests men taking “excessive” multivitamins are at increased risk for advanced and fatal prostate cancers.

Specifically, researchers found that men who took multivitamins more than 7 times a week had a 32% and 98% greater risk of developing advanced and fatal prostate cancers, respectively.

Advanced prostate cancer is certainly serious condition, but let us count the ways why the results of this study should not be of significant concern:

- No association was observed between multivitamin use and overall prostate cancer risk.

- No association was observed between multivitamin use and localized prostate cancer risk. With regular screening (prostate specific antigen - PSA & digital rectal exam - DRE) now much more common, the vast majority of prostate cancers are caught at a localized, early stage. Many treatment options are available and prognoses are good in such cases. In fact, most older men, and many younger men, have cancerous cells in their prostates. Yet, since the cancer is often slow growing, those affected individuals identified through screening often go on to die years later from another condition.

(Just to be clear, I’m not trivializing prostate cancer and its potential effects. It is the most common form of cancer affecting men, and more aggressive forms of prostate cancer, although infrequent, can be deadly. Regular screening and accurate diagnosis are important.)

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Two recent studies in the Archives of Ophthalmology suggest that individuals with greater consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and higher vitamin D levels may be at lower risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness for people over age 50.

There are two primary forms of AMD, the dry form, which is caused by loss of cells in the epithelial layer in the retina, and the wet (or neovascular) form, which is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.

Omega-3

In the first study, researchers divided participants into five groups (quintiles) based on total omega-3 fat intake and found that the individuals in the top quintile were 39% less likely to develop wet AMD than people in the lowest quintile of intake. Scientists also looked at a specific omega-3 fatty acid (DHA - docosahexanoic acid), which is found in high concentration in the retina, and observed a 46% reduction in AMD risk when comparing the highest and lowest quintile of intake.

Additionally, fish intake positively correlated with reduced wet AMD risk in the study, but as discussed earlier, I would be reluctant to eat high levels of fish given the potential risk for toxin exposure. Vision disturbances are common in mercury poisoning cases. Contaminant-tested fish oil supplements are much preferred as a safer omega-3 source.

Interestingly, researchers found that high consumption of arachidonic acid (AA) was associated with a 54% increase in wet AMD risk. AA is an omega-6 fatty acid found in high quantities in red meat, dairy, and egg yolks, as well as metabolized from vegetable oils, such as corn and soybean oils commonly used in processed, packaged, and restaurant-prepared foods. This finding once again suggests that it is important to not only ensure adequate omega-3 intake, but also to moderate omega-6 intake, in order to manage inflammation. I addressed this topic in an earlier post.

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Two of the most important steps you can take for good long-term health are to:

1. Make sure you’re getting your body’s cells the nutrients they need to function well.
2. Avoid exposure to toxins that can damage cells and/or interfere with your body’s ability to use nutrients.

With regard to the first step, good nutrition, through both diet and supplementation, is obviously key.

With regard to the second step, one of the common sources of potential regular toxin exposure is through personal care products, e.g.:

• Hair Care - shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, gel/mousse
• Skin Care - soap, lotion, deodorant, shaving, sunscreen
• Oral Care - toothpaste, mouthwash, teeth whitener
• Nail Care - polish, remover
• Cosmetics - eyeliner, lipstick, mascara
• Fragrances - perfumes, many products above

Today there is no law requiring personal care and cosmetics products to be safety tested before being sold.

By law, the government cannot mandate safety studies of cosmetics products or their ingredients, and only 13 percent of the 10,500 ingredients in personal care products have been reviewed for safety by the cosmetic industry’s own review panel. For virtually every product on the market, safety decisions are made behind closed doors, guided by an industry-funded panel, without the benefit of peer-review or independent pre-market safety testing.

Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group, a consumer watchdog organization, has put together an extremely useful database called Skin Deep that has safety ratings for over 25,000 different personal care products.

It’s definitely worth checking out. Find the products you use and see how they rate. You can search by product name, category, brand, etc.

You might be surprised to see what chemicals are potentially in the products you’re using. Everything from endocrine disruptors (e.g., phthalates, parabens) to heavy metals (e.g., mercury, lead) to carcinogens (e.g., petroleum byproduct contaminant 1,4-dioxane). The database can help you to make safer product choices for you and your family.

Note: If you find the database useful, consider supporting the non-profit Environmental Working Group and/or signing the petition on the Skin Deep main page asking Congress to take action to help make personal care products safer.

Image: Environmental Working Group

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Marc Joseph Nutrition