Guest guest Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 Wed, 29 Oct 2003 00:33:03 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson Reversal of Fortune Reversal of Fortune Health Sciences Institute e-Alert October 29, 2003 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, If you're one of the millions who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (which affects 40 million in the U.S. alone), you know all too well the uncomfortable symptoms: diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating. To make matters worse, IBS can be triggered by a number of factors, including stress, hormonal changes associated with menopause, and even the disruption of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin that helps regulate the digestive system. And because selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, increase serotonin levels, SSRIs are sometimes prescribed to treat IBS. Anti-gas and anti- diarrheal medications are also prescribed, as well as acid reflux drugs. But before you sign on for an expensive round of drugs with who-knows-what side effects, you need to know about a new study that confirms what we've known for a long time at HSI: a dietary adjustment is often the only treatment necessary to relieve IBS. ----------------------------- Avoidance techniques ----------------------------- The next time you're at the grocery store, pick out a few products at random - cereal, soft drinks, crackers, etc. - and look for " fructose " on the ingredients panel. More often than not, you'll find it there. Fructose was once embraced as the healthy alternative to sugar, but the evidence now suggests that fructose can be just as harmful as table sugar. And it may also trigger irritable bowel syndrome. As part of their ongoing fructose research, a team of gastroenterologists at the University of Iowa (UI) recently conducted a one-year study to determine if IBS symptoms could be reduced with a fructose-restricted diet. A group of 80 IBS patients were given a fructose intolerance breath test. This test checks for the presence of gases in the breath that are produced when fructose is not properly absorbed in the digestive tract. Thirty subjects were found to be fructose intolerant. Each member of this group was given detailed information about dietary sources of fructose and how to avoid them. Over the course of the following year, four patients dropped out of the study. When the remaining subjects were interviewed to determine their level of IBS symptoms and assess their compliance with the fructose-free diet, 54 percent had successfully remained on the diet. This group showed a significant decline in IBS symptoms, and some reported complete absence of abdominal pain. All of the subjects who didn't stick to the fructose-free diet showed no improvement in their IBS symptoms. Reporting these findings at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology earlier this month, the IU researchers noted that their previous fructose research indicated that perhaps more than half of all IBS patients are fructose intolerant (particularly those with persistent diarrhea). And many of these patients might easily reduce their symptoms simply by avoiding fructose foods. ----------------------------- Absorption issues ----------------------------- Fructose intolerance could more accurately be described as fructose malabsorption. If your body is unable to absorb fructose during digestion, the fructose passes into the colon where it's consumed by bacteria. When bacteria digests fructose in the colon, acids and gases are produced that trigger IBS symptoms such as bloating, cramping and diarrhea. Some of the gases pass into the bloodstream, and can then be detected in the breath, which is why the breath test is an effective way to diagnose fructose intolerance. But IBS patients who try to remove fructose from their diets have their work cut out for them. Fructose is found primarily in alcoholic beverages, corn, and corn-based products. Unfortunately, derivatives like corn oil, corn syrup, and fructose syrup are used in a wide variety of foods. In the e-Alert " Back to the Garden " (11/19/02) I told you about a review of nutritional data from the Department of Nutrition at the University of California, Davis, revealing that America's consumption of fructose rose more than 25 percent between 1970 and 1997; due primarily to its use in processed foods. In animal studies, the UC team found that fructose consumption contributes to insulin resistance, an impaired tolerance to glucose, high blood pressure, and elevated levels of triglycerides. And although the data in humans is not quite as conclusive as the animal trials, the researchers report that an increased intake of fructose may increase body weight and encourage insulin resistance, both of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. If you have any of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, you certainly can't go wrong by reducing your fructose intake. Then ask your doctor about taking a fructose breath test. If your doctor isn't familiar with this test, you may be able to find a physician who is by checking the web site for the American College for the Advancement of Medicine (acam.org). ************************************************************** To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopy.html Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert. ************************************************************** ... and another thing What does it take to create a household word? In the e-Alert " Crashing the Market " (10/20/03) I told you about a new cholesterol-lowering statin drug called Crestor, manufactured by AstraZeneca (AZ). Crestor has only been available in the U.S. for a few weeks now, but the AZ marketing gurus have already managed to start wedging their product into the public consciousness. In a recent issue of Fortune magazine I found an article weighing the pros and cons of using non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to promote heart health. When the subject of statin drugs comes up, two brand names are mentioned as examples: Lipitor and Crestor. Not bad for rookie product: a high-profile mention beside the Michael Jordan of patent drugs. Of course, the Fortune article goes on to tick off all the wonderful things that statin drugs are reputed to do; like lowering the risk of Alzheimer's, diabetes, stroke, maybe even cancer and depression. And the article adds, " ... as well as heart disease, of course. " Well, of course! Unless of course statins don't actually do any of those things effectively. The full text of all the studies that would question Fortune's sweeping statement could fill a book the size of the Manhattan Yellow pages. But I'll give Fortune credit where it's due: The article also suggests that before you take any drugs you should lose weight, exercise, and get a dental checkup for gum disease, which can promote inflammation. Nice call, Fortune. In any case, Fortune has done its small part to help bump Crestor up into the front line of statins. But AZ's new wonder drug still has a long way to go before it's a household word. David Letterman jokes about taking Lipitor. When he starts using Crestor in his punch lines, you'll know its time has come. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " ACG: Fructose Linked to Irritable Bowel Symptoms " Charlene Laino, DocGuide.com, 10/17/03, docguide.com " Fructose Intolerance? " NutraIngredients.com, 10/13/03, nutraingredients.com " Gas, Bloating: Always Uncomfortable? " Jeanie Lerche Davis, WebMD, 10/22/03, webmd.com " Fructose, Weight Gain, and the Insulin Resistance Syndrome " American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2002 Vol. 76, No. 5, 911-922, ajcn.org " Fructose is Not an Acceptable Sugar " Dr. Joseph Mercola, mercola.com, 11/13/02, mercola.com " What Should You Do? If you're pondering taking anti- inflammatory drugs like aspirin, here are a few pointers " David Stipp, Fortune, 10/13/03, fortune.com Copyright ©1997-2003 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. 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