High Fructose Corn Syrup Injures the Brain; DHA Offsets Damage

Average Americans toss their health in the trash bin, accomplishing this feat by consuming 35 pounds of high fructose corn syrup per year. Don’t expect them to have enough intelligence on their own to figure out this behavior is wrong, as the latest animal study suggests they may be too dumb to figure it out. 

UCLA researchers trained mice to run a complex maze. Then they fed them high fructose death syrup for six weeks. A special group of mice also got to consume omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement.. 

The high fructose group experienced brain injury and reduction of synaptic plasticity Ability of the connection or synapse between two neurons to change in strength because of either use or lack of use., which also showed up as poor recall of what they had learned. They developed insulin resistance and their brain function could be described as rigid and dull. On the other hand, mice that also consumed DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. showed little damage from the high fructose intake.

“Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Eating a high fructose diet over the long term alters your brain’s ability to learn and remember information. But adding omega-3 fatty acids to your meals can help minimize the damage. Our findings suggest that consuming DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. regularly protects the brain against fructose’s harmful effects. It’s like saving money in the bank. You want to build a reserve for your brain to tap when it requires extra fuel to fight off future diseases.”

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DHA Helps Preserve Eyesight During Aging

Eyesight is a weak link in the aging process. Retinal function progressively declines even in healthy aging and is sped up by a variety of health issues. Loss of vision issues are at epidemic levels in older Americans. The authors of a new study conclude, “Dietary DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. could have broad preventative therapeutic applications (acting on pathologic and normal age-related ocular processes).” 

One hallmark of the aging process is accumulation of lipofuscin. Lipofuscin is an accumulation of damaged fat fragments. When these occur under your skin we call them age spots. They occur in your brain and block memory. When they occur at an accelerated rate they typify poor health and disease risk. Lipofuscin accumulation in the retina is highly associated with age-related macular degeneration.

In order to study the effect of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. on this issue scientists used a transgenic mouse model (mutant human ELOVL4; E4), which displays extensive age-related retina dysfunction and massive lipofuscin accumulation. They measured the lipofuscin accumulation by determining the levels of one of the components of the lipofuscin called A2E. The effect of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. was also measured in normal mice.

Supplementation for one to three months had no effect. As supplementation continued, improvement was noted in both types of mice.  The longer the mice were supplemented (up to 18 months in this study), the better the results.  In the mutant mice destined for retinal disease, problems were arrested mid-degenerative stage, preventing the onset of retinal disease.  In the normal mice the typical lipofuscin accumulation in the retina was prevented.  This study provides a specific and important mechanism demonstrating how DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. protects eyesight.

This study supports the ongoing use of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. to preserve eyesight.  A few months of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. is likely to do little, whereas the ongoing use of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. started earlier in life is much more likely to have large benefits for eyesight preservation.  This is similar to the idea of looking in the mirror at age 80 and wondering what you can do about your wrinkles.  It would have been a lot better to get started at an earlier age.  Since loss or serious reduction in eyesight has such a profound impact on quality of life this is yet another example of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

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DHA Helps Make Healthier Cholesterol

Many studies associate DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. intake with a reduction in cardiovascular disease, even though DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. is not considered a nutrient that typically lowers cholesterol.  A new study in Eskimos proves that DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. intake influences the quality of cholesterol you have, regardless of whether or not you are overweight.

When you get a basic lab test that shows your LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol, it does not show what kind of condition your cholesterol is in.  We are learning more and more that quality, both in terms of LDL and HDL, makes a huge difference to the potential for cardiovascular risk.  For example, only damaged LDL cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein. It is a group of lipids and proteins that allow lipids like cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat soluble nutrients (Vitamin A, D, E , K, Q 10, carotenes) to be transported with the water-based bloodstream. becomes plaque, regardless of the amount of LDL in your blood.  Thus, a person with low LDL can readily be making plaque if free radicals or toxins are damaging the LDL they do have.

Cholesterol testing will undoubtedly improve in the next decade or so as we learn more and more about the nature of cholesterol quality, both for LDL and HDL.  Some insight into cholesterol quality can be obtained by measuring the size of cholesterol particles.  For example, if VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) particles are larger they have a higher tendency to contribute to disease, whereas if HDL particles are larger in size they tend to be of better quality.

In the new study researchers were able to show that DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. intake was linked to healthier cholesterol particles, thus providing novel insights into one way DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. helps reduce cardiovascular disease risk.  The intake of this omega-3 essential fatty acid was linked to having fewer VLDL particles, plus the VLDL was smaller in size.  DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. contributed to a higher number of HDL (good cholesterol) and the HDL particles were larger. 

You need cholesterol, both LDL and HDL, to carry on many important functions in your body.  This study means that DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. contributes to having LDL and HDL that is more metabolically fit and less likely to cause health problems.

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DHA Inhibits Prostate Cancer

Italian researchers have demonstrated for the first time that DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. directly inhibits two of the most important tumor promoting activities involved with prostate cancer progression.  This study means that all men over the age of 50 should have a high level of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. intake, at least 1 gram per day of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement..

DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. is needed by every cell of your body to function normally.  This new study documents how DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. directly disrupts the process of prostate cancer growth – a rather dramatic finding.  DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. blocks replication and invasiveness, which is very good news for men.

There are a lot of reasons for men to load up on DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. including heart health, brain function, metabolism, and sex hormone function.  This study provides solid science to use DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. for prostate cancer prevention and, when needed, as a part of a prostate cancer treatment protocol (in conjunction with appropriate medical options).

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Magnesium is Vital for the Prevention of Osteoporosis

It has long been known that a magnesium rich diet of fresh fruit and vegetables is associated with better bone health, regardless of calcium intake.  A new study documents precise mechanisms explaining why magnesium is indispensable to healthy bones and the prevention of osteoporosis.

Osteoblasts are your important bone building carpenter cells.  The research shows that when they run low on magnesium they get in a bad mood and start cranking out a highly inflammatory signal (inducible nitric oxide – iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). ).  This results in two adverse outcomes for bones.

First, the iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). prevents the generation of new osteoblasts.  In essence the bones are reasoning that if there is not enough magnesium then the intake of nutrients for building bone is probably lacking, so there is no need for any more carpenters.  As far as bones are concerned the lack of magnesium is signaling a housing crisis and the magnesium-needing osteoblasts are headed for the unemployment line.

Second, the increase of iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). within bone triggers excessive activation of the demo crew known as osteoclasts Type of bone cell that removes old, damaged bone by the process bone resorption..  The adverse inflammatory increase of osteoclast activity combined with a relative decrease of osteoblast activity is the hallmark of bone loss, eventually leading to osteoporosis.

Magnesium deficiency is common in just about anyone struggling with virtually any ongoing health issue.  Magnesium is rapidly depleted by stress and lost in sweat (from exercise).  It is typical in individuals who feel agitated, irritated, anxious, and/or have trouble sleeping.  It isn’t the only reason for these issues but it certainly is a common finding in any of them.

In addition to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, supplemental high quality magnesium (not magnesium oxide), ranging in daily doses from 200 mg on the low end up to 800 mg on the high end can be quite helpful in replenishing magnesium status.  Remember, your bones take the brunt of all the stressors in your life.  Adequate magnesium is basic for your bones and vital for many other aspects of health.

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Female fat prejudice persists even after weight loss, study finds

ScienceDaily (May 29, 2012) — Overweight women may never escape the painful stigma of obesity - even after they have shed the pounds, new research suggests.

See Also:Health & MedicineObesityDiet and Weight LossMind & BrainDieting and Weight ControlNutrition ResearchScience & SocietyPublic HealthSportsReferenceBody mass indexOverweightGeneral fitness trainingNutrition and pregnancy

The study, by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, The University of Manchester, and Monash University, examined whether anti-fat prejudice against women persisted even after they had lost significant weight and were now thin.

The researchers asked young men and women to read vignettes describing a woman who had either lost weight (70 pounds/32 kilograms) or had remained weight stable, and who was either currently obese or currently thin. Participants were then asked their opinions about this woman on a number of attributes, such as how attractive they found her, and their overall dislike for fat people.

The team found that participants in the study - published in the journal Obesity - expressed greater bias against obese people after reading about women who had lost weight than after reading about women who had remained weight stable, regardless of whether the weight-stable woman was thin or obese.

"We were surprised to find that currently thin women were viewed differently depending on their weight history," said Dr Janet Latner, study lead at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, US. "Those who had been obese in the past were perceived as less attractive than those who had always been thin, despite having identical height and weight."

One of the more disturbing findings from the study, the researchers noted, was that negative attitudes towards obese people increase when participants are falsely told that body weight is easily controllable.

Co-author, Dr Kerry O'Brien, from the University of Manchester's School of Psychological Sciences and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said: "The message we often hear from society is that weight is highly controllable, but the best science in the obesity field at the moment suggests that one's physiology and genetics, as well as the food environment, are the really big players in one's weight status and weight-loss.

"Weight status actually appears rather uncontrollable, regardless of one's willpower, knowledge, and dedication. Yet many people who are perceived as 'fat' are struggling in vain to lose weight in order to escape this painful social stigma. We need to rethink our approaches to, and views of, weight and obesity."

The findings, say the authors, demonstrate that residual obesity stigma persists against individuals who have ever been obese, even when they have lost substantial amounts of weight. Obesity stigma is so powerful and enduring that it appears to even outlast the obesity itself.

Dr Latner added: "Descriptions of weight loss, such as those often promoted on television, may significantly worsen obesity stigma. Believing that obese people can easily lose weight may make individuals blame and dislike obese people more.

"The findings demonstrate that residual obesity stigma persists against individuals who have ever been obese, even when they have lost substantial amounts of weight. Obesity stigma is so powerful and enduring that it may even outlast the obesity itself. Given the great number of people who may be negatively affected by this prejudice, obesity discrimination clearly needs to be reduced on a societal level."

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Fatty acid found in fish prevents age-related vision loss, study suggests

ScienceDaily (May 30, 2012) — An omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, known as DHA, prevented age-related vision loss in lab tests, according to recent medical research from the University of Alberta.

See Also:Health & MedicineHealthy AgingEye CarePersonalized MedicineMind & BrainPerceptionSchizophreniaDementiaReferenceOily fishVisual fieldVitreous humourPeripheral vision

Yves Sauvé, a researcher in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, and his team discovered that lab models fed DHA did not accumulate a toxic molecule at the back of the eyes. The toxin normally builds up in the retina with age and causes vision loss.

"This discovery could result in a very broad therapeutic use," says Sauvé, whose work was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

"In normal aging, this toxin increases twofold as we age. But in lab tests, there was no increase in this toxin whatsoever. This has never been demonstrated before -- that supplementing the diet with DHA could make this kind of difference."

The team recently started another study, looking at people who have age-related macular degeneration, a condition that results in loss of central vision and is the main cause of blindness in people over the age of 50. The researchers will look for DNA markers in the blood of study participants. The team wants to determine whether participants with certain genetic markers will respond better to increasing amounts of DHA in their diet, and if so, why.

Sauvé is a researcher in the departments of ophthalmology and physiology at the U of A.

Various organizations funded the research; the primary funder was the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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Health benefits of vitamin D dependent on type taken

ScienceDaily (May 31, 2012) — New research funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has shown that vitamin D3 supplements could provide more benefit than the close relative vitamin D2. The findings published in the June edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition could potentially lead to changes in the food industry when it comes to fortification.

See Also:Health & MedicineVitaminVitamin DDietary SupplementVitamin CVitamin BVitamin AReferenceB vitaminsEssential nutrientMicronutrientFood groups

Vitamin D is important for bone and muscle health and there is concern that we don't get enough of the 'sunshine' vitamin through exposure to sunlight or through diet. As a result, some foods are fortified with vitamin D. Fortification is usually with vitamin D2, as this is not derived from animals. However this new research, carried out by scientists from the University of Surrey, suggests that vitamin D3 is the more beneficial of the two types of vitamin D in raising the vitamin D levels in our blood when given as a supplement.

The research clearly showed that vitamin D3, the type of vitamin D found in foods including eggs and oily fish, is more effectively converted by the body into the hormone responsible for health benefits in humans.

Dr Laura Tripkovic, who led the study, explains: "We know that vitamin D is vital in helping to keep us fit and healthy, but what has not been clear is the difference between the two types of vitamin D. It used to be thought that both were equally beneficial, however our analysis highlights that our bodies may react differently to both types and that vitamin D3 could actually be better for us."

The researchers analysed the results of 10 separate studies, involving over 1,000 people in total, comparing the health benefits of vitamin D2 and D3, and found "a clear favouring" of vitamin D3 supplements raising vitamin D serum levels in humans.

The researchers are now conducting a further study to see if the same results are found when using lower doses of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 added to foods, rather than given as stand-alone supplements. Dr Tripkovic and her team will look at over 300 people to find out if vitamin D3 is better, and if so why this is the case. They will also look at how gender, ethnicity and genetic make-up may play a role in how our bodies use both types of vitamin D.

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Healthy habits can prevent disease

ScienceDaily (June 4, 2012) — Five new studies provide evidence to support simple steps we can take to prevent illness and improve our overall health. In the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine, researchers report on fish consumption to reduce the risk of colon cancer; the effectiveness ofhypnotherapy and acupuncture for smoking cessation; regular teeth cleaning to improve cardiovascular health; the effectiveness of primary care physicians in weight loss programs; and the use of low-dose aspirin to reduce cancer risk.

See Also:Health & MedicineColon CancerDiet and Weight LossBreast CancerDiseases and ConditionsCancerOvarian CancerLiving WellReferenceHealth benefits of teaMetastasisColorectal cancerTumor suppressor gene

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the Western world. Research linking fish consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer has been inconclusive, although people who live in countries with high levels of fish consumption are known to develop the disease less frequently. Now, scientists from Xi'an, China, have reviewed the literature and find that eating fresh fish regularly reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 12%. They evaluated 41 studies on fish consumption and colorectal cancer risk published between 1990 and 2011 and tracked cancer diagnoses. The protective effect of fish consumption is more prominent in rectal cancer than in colon cancer. The risk reduction for rectal cancer was as much as 21%, whereas the reduction for colon cancer was 4%.

"Despite the fact that colon and rectal cancer share many features and are often referred to as colorectal cancer,' they tend to demonstrate many different characteristics," notes lead author Daiming Fan, of the Fourth Military Medical University. "One possible reason for the difference may be because colon cancers are generally more molecularly diverse, whereas rectal cancers mostly arise via a single neoplastic pathway."

Mark J. Eisenberg, MD, MPH, of McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec, and colleagues report that the use of unconventional smoking cessation aids, including acupuncture and hypnotherapy, results in substantial increases of smoking cessation. A meta-analysis of 14 trials found that smokers who underwent hypnotherapy were 4.55 times more likely, and those who underwent acupuncture were 3.53 times more likely, to abstain from smoking than those who did not. Aversive smoking may also help smokers quit; however, there were no recent trials investigating this intervention.

Regular tooth scaling is associated with a decreased risk for future cardiovascular events. A study by H-B. Leu, MD, of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, and colleagues examined 10,887 subjects who had undergone tooth scaling, and 10,989 subjects who had not received tooth scaling. During an average follow-up period of seven years, the group that had undergone tooth scaling had a lower incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and total cardiovascular events. Increasing frequency of tooth scaling correlates with a higher risk reduction.

A study by William C. Haas, MD, of East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, and colleagues finds thatphysicians in primary care practices can be as effective as weight loss clinics in helping the moderately obese lose weight. Patients received behavioral modification sessions and a diet plan partially or fully supplemented by meal replacements at either a primary care clinic or a weight loss center. Primary care clinics were as effective as weight loss centers at reducing weight, and better at reducing body fat. Regardless of location, participants completing 12 weeks of treatment lost an average of 11.1% of their body weight. Participants who selected full meal replacement had better results.

Low-dose aspirin, a common strategy for preventing cardiovascular disease, can also reduce nonvascular deaths, including cancer deaths. A meta-analysis of 23 randomized studies by Edward J. Mills, PhD, MSc, of the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues offers conclusive evidence that low-dose aspirin offers cancer preventive effects, and showed significant treatment effects after approximately four years of follow up.

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Will a NYC supersize soda ban help obesity battle?

ScienceDaily (June 4, 2012) — In an effort to reverse the supersize citizens of his city, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed a ban on the sale of large sodas. Experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say by focusing on one product we could be missing the big picture in the obesity battle.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityMind & BrainDieting and Weight ControlNutrition ResearchScience & SocietyPublic HealthEducational PolicyReferenceSoft drinkSugar substituteClinical trialHigh fructose corn syrup

In 2009, a team of researchers from the UAB School of Public Health and Purdue University reviewed five randomized trials that studied the effect of drinking sugar-sweetened beverages on body weight.

"We found no significant effect on overall weight reduction as a result of reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages," explains Kathryn Kaiser, Ph.D., instructor in the SOPH. "Since this was published, two other randomized trials have been published, and neither showed large effects on weight change."

"My hope for the public debate and our leaders' focus is that we direct energy and resources toward the design and conduct of randomized trials that will definitively answer the questions about actions that can significantly reduce weight. From this type of effort, policies may be better informed," Kaiser says.

Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., assistant professor of biostatistics in the SOPH, doesn't think limiting the sale of larger size sodas will do anything to combat the obesity epidemic.

"I think to say people drinking large sodas at events is the cause of obesity is short sighted and it is making a villain out of something that may not be the true villain," Judd says. "I think that while reducing consumption of sugar sweetened beverages is important, I don't think making it unavailable in certain settings is a way to accomplish that."

Judd adds that individuals are ultimately responsible for their own health and the actions they take related to it.

"People make their own choices and we can't force them into those decisions. A public health effort must be made so they can better understand the consequences of their choices," says Judd.

Kaiser and Judd have no financial interest in, nor have received payments from, any food or beverage company.

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Approved Viagra copies flood drugstores in Korea

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Is Chagas the New AIDS?

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Chagas disease, a parasitic infection spread to humans by insects, is not the new HIV/AIDS of the Americas, according to infectious disease experts who called the comparison “unrealistic” and “unfortunate.”

Responding to an editorial posted Monday in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases and the media attention that followed, Rick Tarleton, president of the Chagas Disease Foundation, said the diseases have little in common beyond disproportionately affecting poor people.

“I think it’s an unfortunate comparison,” said Tarleton, a distinguished research professor at the University of Georgia studying Chagas disease. “There are stigmas attached to HIV/AIDS that themselves are inappropriate, but it would be even more inappropriate to apply them to something like Chagas disease.”

About 300,000 people in the U.S. have Chagas disease, an infection transmitted to humans by blood-sucking insects. But almost all of them became infected before coming to the U.S. from Mexico, Central America and South America, where roughly 10 million people have the disease.

“It’s difficult to say whether the type of attention this is generating is going to be good or bad for people with the disease,” said Tarleton, describing how many people with Chagas disease face obstacles in getting care. “I don’t think the comparison to HIVAIDS is a realistic one, and I don’t expect it to serve the situation terribly well.”

But Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of Baylor College of Medicine’s National School of Tropical Medicine, said he penned the provocative editorial to rally resources for people with Chagas disease.

“I wanted to call attention to the disease; make people aware of it,” said Hotez, adding he had no intention to diminish the impact of HIV/AIDS. “I believe that Chagas disease is every bit as important as the AIDS problem, but no one’s ever heard of the disease.”

When asked whether drawing a connection to HIV would stigmatize people with Chagas disease, Hotez replied “I don’t think it can get any worse for them.”

“They already lack access to medical care and many governments are ignoring the problem,” he said. “They’re already treated as outcasts.”

The insects that transmit Chagas disease, nicknamed “kissing bugs” for their tendency to bite people’s lips, infest low-income housing in countries where the disease is endemic. They bite at night, allowing parasites from their feces to infect the itchy wound. Insecticide can kill them, but few can afford it.

“For most of the people affected, it’s not an avoidable infection,” said Tarleton. “It is totally preventable, but largely unavoidable in certain regions.”

But unlike HIV, Chagas disease is largely asymptomatic. Only 30 percent of those who get it develop serious health problems such as heart failure.

“An HIV infection without treatment is essentially a death sentence, but most people with Chagas disease live with the infection for many decades and some people live a perfectly long life without any treatment,” said Tarleton.

And unlike HIV, Chagas disease can be treated in three months.

“In Chagas disease, there are treatments that cure the infection,” said Tarleton.  Current HIV treatments are life-long. “The downside is there is toxicity associated with those drugs in a substantial number of people, and it’s difficult to determine how effective the drugs are. They can cure the infection, but they don’t always cure the infection.”

Those drugs also come at a cost upward of $11,000, according to the editorial, making them out of reach for most.

Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., and president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, agreed there’s much to be done to improve care for people with Chagas disease.

“This might be called a forgotten disease of forgotten people — impoverished people in the developing world. And there have not been major efforts to find better drugs to combat this illness,” he said.

And while the comparison between Chagas and HIV may be alarmist, Schaffner said he hopes it will help rally resources.

“I was surprised, frankly, at the whole tone of the editorial,” he said. “But I hope it shifts the view from forgotten problems of forgotten people to newly recognized and appreciated problems of people who need help.”

SHOWS: World News 

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