'My Favorite Five Articles Found in Recent Medical Journals'

Dr. Jai Maharaj · medicine forum Guru Wannabe Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 190

My Favorite Five Articles Found in Recent Medical Journals

Forwarded message from Fidyl <fidyl@yahoo.com>

[ Subject: My Favorite Five Articles Found in Recent Medical Journals
[ From: Fidyl <fidyl@yahoo.com>
[ Date: Sun, 1 May 2005

My Favorite Five Articles Found in Recent Medical Journals

McDougall Newsletter

Dairy for Weight Loss -- Another Big Fat Lie

Dairy products do not lead to alterations in body weight
or fat mass in young women in a 1-y intervention by
Carolyn Gunther, funded by the National Dairy Council, in
the April 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition found that the addition of extra dairy foods to
reach a calcium intake of over 1000 mg daily resulted in
an average weight gain for 135 young healthy women.1 The
"medium-dairy group" gained 0.7 of a Kg (1.5 pounds) and
the "high-dairy group" gained 1.5 Kg (3.3 pounds) over
the course of one year. The participants were encouraged
to add non-fat and low-fat milk to their diets in order
to replace other foods.

The final conclusion of the authors working for the dairy
industry was: "Results from this study show that dairy
products do not promote gains in body weight or fat mass
in young, healthy women. Therefore, public health
recommendations can encourage young women to increase
consumption of calcium through dairy products for
increased bone mass, without the threat of weight gain."

COMMENT:

The National Dairy Council has a new campaign, "Healthy
Weight with Dairy." They tell you, "Watching your
weight? Look to the fridge." This is grossly
irresponsible advertising to a gullible public, telling
them that they will lose weight by consuming more dairy
products. How did a food naturally designed to grow a
cow from 60 pounds to 600 pounds become the weight loss
miracle for the 21st century? The dairy industry does
not limit their marketing efforts to low-fat products --
the consumers are led to believe that cheese, ice cream,
and whole milk can be included in their weight loss
programs.

The dairy industry is lying to the public and getting
away with it, even though the scientific research they
pay for proves their dishonesty. Information on weight
gain from dairy products was presented at the "Dairy
Product Components and Weight Regulation" seminar given
at the 2002 Experimental Biology meeting (sponsored by
the dairy industry) on April 21, 2002, in New Orleans,
LA. Dr. Susan Barr wrote in a follow up article to
material she presented at this meeting, "Nine studies of
dairy product supplementation were located: In seven, no
significant differences in the change in body weight or
composition were detected between treatment and control
groups. However, two studies conducted in older adults
observed significantly greater weight gain in the dairy
product groups."2

(These two studies used low-fat dairy products.) She
summarizes, "In conclusion, the data available from
randomized trials of dairy product or calcium
supplementation provide little support for an effect in
reducing body weight or fat mass."2

In this latest study by Gunther, clearly showing weight
gain with low-fat dairy, they try to "make lemonade out
of sour lemons" by putting a positive spin on the results
-- concluding that young women can add "…bone mass,
without the threat of weight gain."

Even though the dairy industry spends more than $166
million annually to try to convince you that cow's milk
is "health food," the truth will never change: Dairy is
the most serious food danger facing men, women and
children in developed countries. For a detailed
discussion on dairy products, please read from my
newsletter archives my April 2003 article: "Dairy
Products - 10 False Promises" and my May 2003 article:
"Marketing Milk and Disease."

1) Gunther CW, Legowski PA, Lyle RM, McCabe GP, Eagan
MS, Peacock M, Teegarden D. Dairy products do not lead
to alterations in body weight or fat mass in young women
in a 1-y intervention.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Apr;81(4):751-6.

2) Barr SI. Increased dairy product or calcium intake: is
body weight or composition affected in humans?
J Nutr. 2003 Jan;133(1):245S-248S.

Cataracts from Vegetable Oil

Dietary fat intake and early age-related lens opacities
by Minyi Lu in the April 2005 issue of the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition found, "High intake of the
18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid and
linolenic acid may increase the risk of age-related
nuclear opacity."1 This study looked at 444 women (age
54 to 73 years) and compared their diets to discovery of
cataracts. Among these women, 55.5% were found to have
cataracts. In addition to vegetable fats in general,
they found mayonnaise and creamy salad dressing -- foods
high in vegetable oils -- to be associated with an
increase in cataracts.

COMMENT: A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of
the eye.

The lens is responsible for focusing light and producing
clear, sharp images. Degenerative lens opacification
(cataract formation) is the leading cause of blindness in
the world today and no one seems to know the cause.

The major sources of linoleic acid (omega-6 fat) are
sunflower, corn, soybean, and cottonseed oil -- found in
pure liquid forms in bottles and in ingredients in most
packaged foods. The omega-3 fat linolenic acid is found
in large amounts in soybean, canola, and flaxseed oils.

Both of these fats are synthesized by plants (not
animals), and while part of the plant, they are safely
protected by antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibers and
other plant chemicals. As "free oils," both oils are
highly toxic. In this case, these oils seem to become
incorporated in the lens of the eye, and then they
oxidize, causing oxidative damage to the lens, leading to
clouding and visual impairment, called a cataract.

To avoid cataracts, another important dietary step to
take is to rid your diet of cow's milk, because the milk
sugar, lactose, is metabolized to galactose which is
known to damage the lens of the eye and evidence
indicates that heavy milk drinking can also cause
cataracts.2,3

There are many other reasons besides cataracts to avoid
consuming "free" vegetable oils, including obesity, type-
2 diabetes, excess bleeding, immune system suppression,
and the fact that they are well established to promote
cancer. See my home page article "Vegetable Fat as
Medicine" for more information.

1) Lu M, Taylor A, Chylack LT Jr, Rogers G, Hankinson SE,
Willett WC, Jacques PF. Dietary fat intake and early age-
related lens opacities.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Apr;81(4):773-9.

2) Simoons FJ. A geographic approach to senile
cataracts: possible links with milk consumption, lactase
activity, and galactose metabolism.
Dig Dis Sci. 1982 Mar;27(3):257-64.

3) Couet C, Jan P, Debry G. Lactose and cataract in
humans: a review.
J Am Coll Nutr. 1991 Feb;10(1):79-86.

Fosamax Makes Bones Brittle

Severely suppressed bone turnover: a potential
complication of alendronate therapy by Clarita Odvina in
the March 2005 issue of the Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology and Metabolism concluded, "Our findings
raise the possibility that severe suppression of bone
turnover may develop during long-term alendronate
therapy, resulting in increased susceptibility to, and
delayed healing of nonspinal fractures."1 They reported
on nine patients who suffered fractures while taking
alendronate (Fosamax) and six of them displayed either
delayed or absent fracture healing for 3 months to 2
years during treatment. Analysis of the bone under a
microscope showed markedly suppressed bone formation.

COMMENT: Fosamax (alendronate) and Actonel (risedronate)
have become popular for the prevention and treatment of
osteoporosis, especially since the recent scare about HRT
(estrogen/progestin) causing heart attacks, strokes, and
cancers. Studies have demonstrated an increase in bone
mineral density and a small reduction in fractures with
this treatment. For example, Fosamax taken for four
years by women who are free of fractures, but who have a
bone mineral density that would indicate they have
trouble and need treatment, found fractures of the spine
to occur in 3.8% in the placebo group and 2.1% in the
drug group.2 Thus, only a 1.7% reduction in risk of
fracture from 4 years of expensive drug therapy.

These drugs work by inhibiting the loss of bone (bone
resorption).

Unfortunately, it appears the bone activity (turnover)
can be over-suppressed. Maybe this is the reason there
has been a report of an increase in fractures with long
term (7 years) use of this kind of drug.3 Along these
same lines of concern for the damaging effects of this
treatment, a recent report was published showing areas of
dead (necrotic) bone in the jaws of 63 patients on this
kind of drug for periods of time as short as 6 months to
2 years.4

These drugs have also recently been shown to cause severe
bone, joint and muscle pain in women.5 The report
graphically described the problems for patients, "It (the
pain) was often described as 'severe,' 'extreme,'
'disabling,' or 'incapacitating.' Many patients were
unable to walk, climb stairs, or perform usual
activities. Some became bedridden, and others required
walkers, crutches, or wheelchairs."

So what is a woman to do? Osteoporosis is caused by the
consumption of high-protein, high-acid animal foods, like
cheese, fish, beef, and chicken. Your answer is to get
out of the broken bone business by eating well (alkaline
vegetables and fruits) and exercising. For a detailed
discussion please read my October 2004 newsletter
article:

"Resisting the Broken Bone Businesses: Bone Mineral
Density Tests and the Drugs That Follow."

1) Odvina CV, Zerwekh JE, Rao DS, Maalouf N, Gottschalk
FA, Pak CY.

Severely suppressed bone turnover: a potential
complication of alendronate therapy.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Mar;90(3):1294-301.

2) Cummings SR, Black DM, Thompson DE, Applegate WB,
Barrett-Connor E, Musliner TA, Palermo L, Prineas R,
Rubin SM, Scott JC, Vogt T, Wallace R, Yates AJ, LaCroix
AZ. Effect of alendronate on risk of fracture in women
with low bone density but without vertebral fractures:
results from the Fracture Intervention Trial.
JAMA. 1998 Dec 23-30;280(24):2077-82.

3) Ott SM. Fractures after long-term alendronate
therapy.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Apr;86(4):1835-6.

4) Ruggiero SL, Mehrotra B, Rosenberg TJ, Engroff SL.
Osteonecrosis of the jaws associated with the use of
bisphosphonates: a review of 63 cases.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2004 May;62(5):527-34.

5) Wysowski DK, Chang JT. Alendronate and risedronate:
reports of severe bone, joint, and muscle pain.
Arch Intern Med. 2005 Feb 14;165(3):346-7.

The Mediterranean Diet Prolongs Life

Modified Mediterranean diet and survival: EPIC-elderly
prospective cohort study by Antonia Trichopoulou in the
April 8, 2005 issue of the British Medical Journal found,
"The Mediterranean diet, modified so as to apply across
Europe, was associated with increased survival among
older people."1 The reduction in mortality was 8%.

This study of 74,607 men and women, aged 60 and more,
looked at dietary habits and found people who are relying
on more plant foods lived longer. They could not show
any particular benefits from olive oil consumption.

COMMENT: Friends are always asking if you have evidence
that your efforts to eat healthier will translate into
more life. They may be even so unkind as to remark,
"Being a vegetarian won't make you live any longer -- the
boredom just makes life seem longer." The Mediterranean
diet research is the largest study ever done to address
the question of diet and survival. And yes, diet does
work.

They also found that the Mediterranean diet is a healthy
diet in spite of the olive oil -- it is a great diet
because of the higher intake of fruits and vegetables and
lower consumption of meats and dairy. Considering all
the evidence published to date, including that of the 7th
Day Adventist vegetarians showing 10 years longer
survival than the average resident of California,2 I have
no trouble telling you that the more you eat healthy
foods (exemplified by the McDougall Diet) the greater
your chances of a longer, healthier life.

1) Trichopoulou A, Orfanos P, Norat T, Bueno-de-Mesquita
B, Ocke MC, Peeters PH, et. al. Modified Mediterranean
diet and survival:
EPIC-elderly prospective cohort study.
BMJ. 2005 Apr 30;330(7498):991.

2) Fraser G. Ten years of life. Is it a matter of
chance?
Arch Intern Med 161:1645-52, 2001.

Raw Food Vegetarians Have Strong Bones and Better Heath

Low bone mass in subjects on a long-term raw vegetarian
diet by Luigi Fontana in the March 28, 2005 issue of the
Archives of Internal Medicine found, "A raw food
vegetarian diet is associated with low bone mass at
clinically important skeletal regions but is without
evidence of increased bone turnover or impaired vitamin D
status."

They studied 18 vegetarians, average age of 54 years, 7
women and 11 men, who restricted their diet to raw foods.
The vegetarians were found to be much trimmer than a
control group of non-vegetarians.

The bone mineral density (BMD) was lower, but there was
no indication of poor bone health with no evidence of
bone loss based on biochemical markers. The vegetarians
also had lower levels of Vitamin D, C-reactive protein
(meaning less risk of heart disease), and lower IGF-1
levels (indicating less risk of future cancer).

These people's diets focused on raw vegetables, fruits,
nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, cereals and olive oil.
Their diet was 9.1% protein, 43.2% fat and 47.7%
carbohydrate.

COMMENT:

Raw food vegetarians eat only plant-derived foods that
have not been cooked and are largely unprocessed. Their
lower BMD was because they were trimmer (not overweight).
Heavier people make more estrogen in their body and must
carry around more weight -- both conditions make the
bones look thicker (greater BMD). This study reiterates
the message that BMD is not necessarily a valid sign for
strong, fracture-resistant bones, and that a diet that
avoids animal products, and instead focuses on plant
foods, results in robust health.

The reason I recommend a starch-based diet of mostly
cooked foods rather than a raw food diet is because the
main ingredients of a raw food diet (as this example
illustrates) are fat (nuts, seeds, and olive oil) and
sugar (fruits and juices). Here, the diet was reported
to be almost half fat. Don't misunderstand me; a raw
food diet is much preferable to the usual American diet.

I believe most people accustomed to the American diet
would find the transition to a starch-based diet easier
because the dishes are so familiar (oatmeal, pancakes,
soups, spaghetti, burritos, mu shu vegetables, etc.). A
cooked food diet is tastier (subjective opinion), less
expensive, more varied, and more easily digested. Most
importantly, a diet based on familiar starches (potatoes,
rice, corn, beans, whole wheat flour) will be much lower
in fats and simple sugars, and ultimately will be more
likely to allow people to regain lost health and
appearance. I believe it is easy to maintain this way of
eating for a lifetime; and much easier than maintaining a
raw foods diet.

I do encourage people to add plenty of uncooked fruits,
and green and yellow vegetables, to their diet, and I
often take advantage of the fact that raw vegetables
encourage greater weight loss, and lower insulin and
blood sugar levels than can be achieved with cooked
foods.

Fontana L, Shew JL, Holloszy JO, Villareal DT. Low bone
mass in subjects on a long-term raw vegetarian diet.
Arch Intern Med. 2005

Mar 28;165(6):684-9.

End of forwarded message from Fidyl <fidyl@yahoo.com>

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