I draw your attention to a few paragraphs from his extensive presentation, which discusses some of the impact of chemicals and toxins on our health. Click the link to view the entire 13th annual conference proceedings ‘Managing Biotransformation: The Metabolic, Genomic, and Detoxification Balance Points’.

Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)
President, Gordon Research Institute
www.gordonresearch.com

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The Proceedings From the 13th International Symposium of The Institute for Functional Medicine
http://www.alternative-therapies.com/at/web_pdfs/ifm_proceedings_low.pdf

(Excerpt from presentation article by Mark Hyman, MD entitled ‘Systems Biology, Toxins, Obesity, and Functional Medicine’)

LIVING IN A SEA OF TOXINS: THE PROBLEM

Why should we worry about toxins unless we work with toxic chemicals or spray pesticides for a living? Isn’t exposure minimal? Unfortunately, risks of exposure are substantial, pose significant public health risks, and can no longer be ignored. We live in a sea of toxins. Every single person and animal on the planet contains residues of toxic chemicals or metals in their tissues. Eighty thousand new chemicals have been introduced since the turn of the 20th century and most have never been tested for safety or for synergistic actions. The Centers for Disease Control issued a report on human exposure to environmental chemicals. They assessed human blood or urine levels for 116 chemicals (and there were thousands more for which tests were not conducted) as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.1 While they found high levels of toxins in some, and low levels in many more, the study, in isolation, may not tell the whole story. Why? Because these chemical toxins move quickly from the blood into storage sites-mostly fat tissue, organs, and bones-so the blood or urine levels underestimate the total toxic load. Both weight gain (because of stored toxins) and the total toxic load can frustrate attempts at weight loss by impairing two key metabolic organs-the liver and the thyroid, by damaging the mitochondria- the site of energy metabolism, by affecting neuroendocrine signaling, and by increasing inflammation and oxidative stress.

FAT AS A STORAGE DEPOT FOR FAT SOLUBLE TOXINS

The Environmental Protection Agency has monitored human exposure to toxic environmental chemicals since 1972 when they began the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey. This study evaluates the levels of various toxins in the fat tissue from cadavers and elective surgeries. Five of what are known to be the most toxic chemicals were found in 100% of all samples (OCDD or octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, styrene, 1,4- dichlorobenzene, xylene, and ethylphenol-toxic chemicals from industrial pollution that damage the liver, heart, lungs, and nervous system). Nine more chemicals were found in 91-98% of samples: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, DDE (a breakdown product of DDT, the pesticide banned in the US since 1972), three dioxins, and one furan. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in 83% of the population. A Michigan study found DDT in over 70% of 4 years olds, probably received through breast milk. With the global economy, we may be eating food that was picked a day before in Guatemala, Indonesia, or Asia, where there are not the same restrictions on the use of pesticides as there are in the United States. Many of these chemicals are stored in fat tissue, making animal products concentrated sources. One hundred percent of beef is contaminated with DDT, as is 93% of processed cheese, hot dogs, bologna, turkey, and ice cream.

WHERE DO TOXINS COME FROM?
Exposure to toxins comes from two main sources: the environment (external toxins) and the gut (breakdown products of our metabolism, or internal toxins). Both can overload endogenous detoxification mechanisms.

External Toxins: The Dangers from Without
The external toxins include chemical toxins and heavy metals. The heavy metals that cause the most ill health are lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and aluminum. Chemical toxins include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), solvents (cleaning materials, formaldehyde, toluene, benzene), medications, alcohol, pesticides, herbicides, and food additives. Infections (hepatitis C virus) and mold toxins (sick building syndrome) are other common sources of toxins. Our modern refined diet can be considered toxic because it places an exta burden o detoxification systems through excessive consumption of sugar, high-fructose corn syrup (the two most important causes of elevated liver function tests), trans fatty acids, alcohol, cafeine, aspartame, foods made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the various plastics, pathogens, hormones, and antibiotics found in our food supply.

Testing for Toxins and Detoxification Function
* Genetic testing of detoxification pathways for phase I and phase II SNPs
* Detoxification challenge test (provocations with caffeine, aspirin,
acetaminophen)
* Measurement of detoxification enzymes
– Reduced glutathione
– Glutathione peroxidase
– super oxide dismutase (SOD)
* Heavy metals
– RBC or whole blood
– Hair analysis
– Chelation challenge with DMPS or DMSA
* Urinary organic acids
– Specific compounds measured, including sulfates, pyroglutamate,
orotate, and others, can give clues to problems with detoxification
pathways.
* Chemical antibodies to various toxins and metals (can occasionally be useful)
* Organophosphates: identified through a 24-hour urine collection test
* Mold and mycotoxin antibodies
* IgG food sensitivity testing
* Celiac testing (IgG and IgA anti-gliadin antibodies, tTG IgA)
* Digestive stool analysis for dysbiosis
* Tests for hidden infections (Lyme, H. pylori, etc.)

Practical Suggestions for Patients
Remove Toxins
* Eat organic food and animal products to avoid petrochemical pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and antibiotics.
* Drink filtered water (reverse osmosis or carbon filter).
* HEPA/ULPA filters and ionizers can be helpful in reducing dust, molds,
volatile organic compounds, and other sources of indoor air pollution.
* Clean and monitor heating systems for release of carbon monoxide, the most common cause of death by poisoning in America.
* Have houseplants that help filter the air.
* Air out your dry cleaning before wearing it.
* Avoid excess exposure to environmental petrochemicals (garden
chemicals, dry cleaning, car exhaust, second-hand smoke).
* Reduce or eliminate the use of toxic household and personal care products (aluminium-containing underarm deodorant, antacids, and pots and pans).
* Remove allergens and dust from your home as much as possible.
* Minimize electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from radios, TVs, and
microwave ovens.
* Reduce ionizing radiation (from sun exposure or medical tests such as X-rays).
* Reduce heavy metal exposure (predatory and river fish, water, lead paint, thimerosal-containing products, etc.).

Improve Elimination of Toxins
* Have 1-2 bowel movements a day.
* Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.
* Sweat regularly.
– Use exercise to help you sweat regularly.
– Use steam baths or saunas – infrared saunas may be even more beneficial.
* Regular exercise, yoga, or lymphatic massage can improve lymph flow and help flush toxins out of your tissues into your circulation so they can be detoxified.

To read the rest of this article, see page 136 of The Proceedings From the 13th International Symposium of The Institute for Functional Medicine at http://www.alternative-therapies.com/at/web_pdfs/ifm_proceedings_low.pdf.

 The truth is that in today’s nutritionally void and polluted world, children and adolescents who do not take supplements face greater health risks than those who do. If you want your child to be healthier and more active, your child needs to be in the group taking supplements.

Garry F. Gordon, MD,DO,MD(H) Gordon Research Institute www.gordonresearch.com

Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition North America

Most Children Don’t Need Supplements Says Study…

By Lorraine Heller, 04-Feb-2009

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/content/view/print/235056

A study published this week reports that many US children and adolescents who take vitamin and mineral supplements may not actually need them.

Appearing in the February issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA journal, the study suggests that health care providers in the country should discourage the use of supplements by children with healthy diets.

Many Americans use vitamin and mineral supplements despite the fact that these products are largely deemed unnecessary for children and adults who eat varied diets, the study reported in its background information.

The US supplements industry issued an immediate response to the new study, stating that vitamin supplements are a component of a total health package and should not be discounted from the equation.

One Third of Children

The papers authors, from the University of California Davis School of Medicine and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, found that around one third of children and adolescents take vitamin and mineral supplements.

The findings were derived from an analysis of data from 10,828 children age 2 to 17 who participated in the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

As part of the study, parents filled out questionnaires and participated in household interviews, and children and teens underwent medical examinations, including nutrition behavior analysis.

The study, which broke down age groups into children aged 2-4, 5-11 and 12-17, found that younger children were more likely to take vitamin and mineral supplements. Prevalence was 43, 37 and 27 percent respectively.

Greatest Intake

Underweight children and those children with better overall diets reported greater supplement intake.

“Our results supported our hypothesis that underweight children would have the highest use of vitamin and mineral supplements,” wrote the authors.

“However, in contrast to what we expected to find, children and adolescents with healthier nutrition, more active lifestyles, greater food security and greater health care access were more likely to use vitamin and mineral supplements.”

The researchers said that children and adolescents who may face the greatest risks for vitamin and mineral deficiencies are those that actually take supplements less. Children in this group include those with less healthy nutrition and activity patterns, greater obesity, lower income, lower food security, poorer health, and lower health care access.

OK For Some

The authors concluded that some children and adolescents who are underweight may potentially benefit from VM [vitamin and mineral] supplementation, but for other groups of VM users, medical benefits are less clear.

Health care providers should screen their patients regarding the nutritional quality of their diet and their supplement use, and should then counsel parents that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend use of VM supplements in children and adolescents with varied and healthy diets, they wrote.

The supplement trade group Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) agreed that underserved areas of the population could benefit from multivitamins, but said that the supplements are also important for an overall approach to wellness.

The study also highlighted an ongoing debate surrounding the use of supplements by different population groups, stating that multivitamin preparations for older children and adolescents are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and may result in adverse effects.

CRN said this was a misconception. The fact is that dietary supplements, including childrens’ vitamins, are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, it said.

Source:

Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Use by Children and Adolescents in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Vol. 163 (No. 2), Feb 2009

Authors: Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH; Robert S. Byrd, MD, MPH; Peggy Auinger, MS