HSI e-Alert - Fireworks in June

[Guest guest]

" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <hsiresearch

HSI e-Alert - Fireworks in June

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:47:15 -0400

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

Some pre-4th of July fireworks arrived in my e-mail inbox this week.

It was a warm blast of exclamation points exploding around sections of

italicized phrases and underscored sentences from HSI Panelist Allan

Spreen, M.D.

 

The e-mail begins: " Boy, you can sure tell conventional medicine is

out to get nutrient therapies! This week's Journal of the American

Medical Association (JAMA) has this absurd study on using fish oil as

an anti-arrhythmic agent. "

 

Throw a blanket on the lawn and grab a cold beverage as we enjoy the

bright lights bursting in air.

 

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What could go wrong?

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There are several types of arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms); some

cause only mild chest discomfort, while others prompt heart attacks

and strokes.

 

Researchers at the Wageningen Centre for Food Science in the

Netherlands recruited 546 subjects with arrhythmias to take two grams

of fish oil per day or a placebo. On average, the intervention group

took the fish oil supplement for 356 days. The conclusion: " Our

findings do not indicate evidence of a strong protective effect of

intake of omega-3 PUFAs from fish oil against ventricular arrhythmia

in patients with ICDs. "

 

ICDs - that's one little wrinkle I didn't mention. ALL subjects had

implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and they all had been

diagnosed with either malignant ventricular tachydardia (VT) or

ventricular fibrillation (VF).

 

Here's Dr. Spreen's take on ICDs, etc.: " The patients were so sick

that they already had ICDs implanted within them! The evaluation was

testing fish oil against malignant VT, the second worst type of

arrhythmia; VF, the absolute worst, deadliest, hardest to get and

hardest to stop arrhythmia; and sudden death! Even drugs won't work

against VF once a person gets it, which is the only reason why you'd

EVER surgically implant an ICD in a person in the first place!

 

" Fish oil is dose related. The study used 2 grams/day - that's not

enough for much of anything. And if you really need an effect you'd

start at 6 grams (and for VF you'd REALLY need an effect.) Now, re-run

the test with high-dose CoQ-10, some magnesium and some L-carnitine,

and you might have yourself an interesting study (though as sick as

these people already were it would still be iffy).

 

" Chances are good that any drug, nutrient, or properly performed rain

dance would fail that study. "

 

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Get real

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Unfortunately, the absurd aspects of the JAMA study sailed right over

the heads of media outlets that reported the study. Here are two

headlines I came across:

 

" Fish Oils may Not Protect Hearts "

 

" Fish Oil Won't Fix Abnormal Heart Rhythms: Study "

 

Meanwhile, back here on planet Reality, fish oil supplements HAVE

shown benefits for arrhythmia patients. For instance, in the e-Alert

" Fascinatin' Rhythm " (10/25/04), I told you about a study in which 65

subjects with arrhythmias (but no coronary heart disease or heart

failure) were divided into two groups. One group received three grams

of fish oil daily; the other received a placebo.

 

At the conclusion of the six-month trial, subjects in the fish oil

group showed a decrease in several types of arrhythmias. In addition,

triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels dropped, while HDL cholesterol

went up. In the placebo group, none of these levels changed, and

arrhythmias that were noted at the beginning of the study remained the

same.

 

I agree with Dr. Spreen's suspicions about the JAMA study. You have to

ask: What is the purpose of such an oddly designed study (let's just

say it: a stacked deck) in one of the most prestigious and widely read

medical journals in the world?

 

******************************

 

....and another thing

 

A family-size bucket of litigation was just dropped on KFC.

 

The plaintiff - Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) -

will ask the court to either stop KFC from using cooking oil that

contains dangerous trans-fatty acids, or make KFC display warning

signs for customers.

 

I wonder what part of " F " CSPI doesn't understand. As nearly every

schoolboy knows, fried foods are detrimental to health, whether

they're fried in oil with trans-fats or not. Granted, trans-fats make

them even worse, but still - they're FRIED!

 

Maybe the folks at CSPI haven't heard the word that's been coined to

refer to this type of food: junk. If a judge makes KFC put up signs

informing customers that the food is not healthy, I expect they'll

hear a loud, collective, " Duh! "

 

Laurie Schalow, a spokesperson for KFC, told CBS News: " All KFC

products are safe to eat. "

 

Well, you've got to give Laurie credit for A) Apparently making that

statement with a straight face, and B) Not trying to convince anyone

that KFC products are healthy.

 

At this point, however, there's no question that trans-fats are very

unhealthy, contributing to heart disease and other health risks. My

favorite quote about trans-fats is this one from a National Academy of

Sciences report: " The only safe intake of trans-fat is zero. "

 

So why hasn't KFC stopped using cooking oil with trans-fats? Laurie

again: " We have been reviewing alternative oil options, but there are

a number of factors to consider including maintaining KFC's unique

taste and flavor of Colonel Sanders' Original Recipe, supply

availability and transportation, among others. "

 

Really, is ANYONE surprised that in the line of fast food priorities

safety comes in behind flavor, supply availability and transportation?

 

If you'd like to find out more about the dangers of trans-fats, see

the e-Alert " Zero Denial " (5/1/06).

http://www1.youreletters.com/t/378855/2413923/787604/0/

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

 

****************************************************

 

 

Sources:

" Effect of Fish Oil on Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia and Death in

Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators " Journal of the

American Medical Association, Vol. 295, No. 22, 6/14/06, jama.ama-assn.org

" Fish Oils may Not Protect Hearts " Ivanhoe Newswire, 6/14/06, Ivanhoe.com

" Fish Oil Won't Fix Abnormal Heart Rhythms: Study " HealthDay News,

6/13/06, forbes.com

" KFC Sued Over Trans Fats " CBS/Associated Press, 6/13/06, cbsnews.com