Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 " HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch HSI e-Alert - Cell Mate Wed, 09 Feb 2005 06:59:00 -0500 HSI e-Alert - Cell Mate Health Sciences Institute e-Alert **************************************************** February 09, 2005 **************************************************** Dear Reader, First, let's go down to the cellular level. Then we'll go worldwide. Each cell of the body is like an individual household. It monitors its needs, distributes its resources, and does what it has to do to survive. This cell self-management is illustrated in a recent laboratory experiment from Duke University Medical Center. Researchers showed that when yeast cells were deprived of iron, the hierarchy of the cell rationed the available iron, making sure the most vital functions of the cell received what little iron was available, while cutting back on the iron supply to more than 80 different genes that require iron to function. The genes that went without included genes responsible for protecting the cell from free radicals, genes that copy the cell's DNA for long-term survival, and genes that generate energy. The Duke team believes that when iron supply is low, this rationing may occur throughout the entire body, setting up grim health consequences over time. Now from the cell we go worldwide: By some estimates, more than two billion people suffer from iron deficiency, and many are not even aware of it. What's worse, according to a Pennsylvania State University study, is that even mild iron deficiency may be enough to impair cognitive function. ----------- Iron maidens ----------- The Penn State researchers recruited 113 women, aged 18 to 35. At the outset of the study, a round of cognitive abilities tests were administered. In addition, blood samples separated the women into three categories: 30 were iron sufficient, 53 were iron deficient, and 30 were iron deficient anemic. In the initial tests, women who were iron deficient (but not anemic) scored significantly worse than women who were iron sufficient. Women with anemia also scored worse, but took longer to complete the tests. And in general, the worse the anemia, the longer they took. In the four months following the first tests, the women were randomly selected to receive either a 60 mg iron supplement daily, or a placebo. At the end of this period, the subjects took another round of tests. On average, the women who took the supplements (regardless of their previous iron status) scored just as well on the tests, and just as quickly, as the women who were iron sufficient at the outset of the study. The authors of the study concluded that their research demonstrates, " that iron status is related to information processing in adult women. " Simple, right? Keep that iron level high, and you'll keep cognitive abilities sharp. But there's something potentially wrong with this picture. ----------- Just add iron? ----------- The problem with the Penn State research is also the key to its success: iron supplements. These supplements may have done wonders in the short run, but as an ongoing therapy, iron supplementation has several pitfalls. As long-time e-Alert readers know, HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., is an advocate of vitamin dosages well above the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for most supplements. But not for iron, which can create problems in high doses. Dr. Spreen says, " The RDA of iron is far too high. Plus, even if you were proven to have anemia, I wouldn't treat it with inorganic iron. The mineral is too reactive in the body when it is not insulated from the system by being encased within the heme structure of hemoglobin. Free radical formation from free iron is just too much of a threat. " Dietary sources of heme iron come exclusively from red meat, fish, pork, and poultry, with beef liver and chicken liver having the highest amounts of iron. An additional intake of vitamin C can also help the body absorb iron. ----------- Check it out ----------- The two primary causes of anemia are iron-poor blood (often triggered by menstruation or internal bleeding), and a deficiency in two critical vitamins: folic acid and vitamin B-12. Getting good amounts of these nutrients is especially important for seniors because as we age our ability to absorb vitamins from food diminishes. Consequently, our tendency to develop anemia rises. Unfortunately, many mainstream doctors see so many elderly patients who have anemia that the condition is widely regarded as a normal part of aging. As a result, when anemia is diagnosed it often goes untreated. This is a critical mistake because in recent years, research has shown that anemia dramatically increases the risk of mortality for those with chronic health problems such as heart disease and cancer. Anemia is easily diagnosed with a typical blood test, so ask your doctor to check your next blood test for a reading of your red cell blood count - especially if you're feeling unusually fatigued. If you do have an anemic condition, the next step is to find out the cause. But if your doctor downplays anemia's importance, or if he recommends a prescription drug, seek a second opinion from a doctor who's knowledgeable about the nutritional problems that can cause an anemic condition. **************************************************** ....and another thing Imagine having a mild iron deficiency that causes cognitive impairment while also taking a drug that contributes to memory loss in some patients. That's what you call being hit while you're down. Studies have shown that the use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may cause mild memory lapses. But in the worst cases, the side effect is known as total global amnesia (TGA) in which memory is completely lost for periods lasting from several minutes to several hours. This phenomenon has been documented in clinical trials. And while the number of patients who suffer from statin-related TGA is very small, a compelling first-hand account illustrates how dangerous this problem can be for that minority. In a book titled " Lipitor: Thief of Memory " (Infinity Publishing, 2004), one man's battle with TGA is described in detail. But this man is not your average statin user; he's Duane Graveline, M.D., a former astronaut, medical research scientist and family doctor. During his first TGA experience (several weeks after beginning a statin regimen) Dr. Graveline wasn't able to recognize his wife or children. He suspected the statin was to blame, so stopped taking it. Later his doctor encouraged him to begin taking the statin again, and again he suffered a particularly bad TGA episode - for a period of about 12 hours, virtually all of his adult memories simply vanished. When Dr. Graveline's experience was published in a syndicated newspaper column, the response was enormous; hundreds of people wrote to share their experiences of memory loss associated with statin use. This prompted Dr. Graveline to devote himself to an investigation of statin-related TGA case histories and what he calls the medical establishment's " misguided war on cholesterol. " Dr. Graveline's book is available at bookstores and through amazon.com. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute **************************************************** Sources: " Coordinated Remodeling of Cellular Metabolism During Iron Deficiency Through Targeted mRNA Degradation " Cell, Vol. 120, No. 1, 1/14/05, cell.com " Iron Status Alters Cognitive Functioning in Women During Reproductive Years " Experimental Biology 2004, Abstract #3128, April 2004, select.biosis.org " Moderate Iron Deficiency Affects Cognitive Performance - But Iron Supplementation Improves it " Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 4/19/04, eurekalert.org " Distracted Young Women May Need More Iron " Dan Lewerenz, Associated Press, 4/28/04, ajc.com " In What Extent Anemia Coexists with Cognitive Impairment in Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece " BioMed Central Family Practice, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2001, pubmedcentral.nih.gov " Statins, Memory Loss, and the Misguided War on Cholesterol " Anthony Colpo, The Omnivore, theomnivore.com **************************************************** Copyright ©1997-2005 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. 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