Barium intox. and MS

[Guest guest]

Pros: This hypothesis should make the chelators happy. Barium is a

alkaline rare earth metal, other metals in the group are calcium and

strontium. i.e. Calcium can substitute for Ba. Cons: published in a

lousy journal.

Authors

Purdey M.

Institution

High Barn Farm, Elworthy, Taunton, Somerset TA43PX, UK.

tsepurdey@...

Title

Chronic barium intoxication disrupts sulphated proteoglycan

synthesis: a hypothesis for the origins of multiple sclerosis.

Source

Medical Hypotheses. 62(5):746-54, 2004.

Abstract

High level contamination by natural and industrial sources of the

alkali earth metal, barium (Ba) has been identified in the

ecosystems/workplaces that are associated with high incidence

clustering of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative

diseases such as the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies

(TSEs) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Analyses of

ecosystems supporting the most renowned MS clusters in Saskatchewan,

Sardinia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Guam, NE Scotland demonstrated

consistently elevated levels of Ba in soils (mean: 1428 ppm) and

vegetation (mean: 74 ppm) in relation to mean levels of 345 and 19

ppm recorded in MS-free regions adjoining. The high levels of Ba

stemmed from local quarrying for Ba ores and/or use of Ba in

paper/foundry/welding/textile/oil and gas well related industries,

as well as from the use of Ba as an atmospheric aerosol spray for

enhancing/refracting the signalling of radio/radar waves along

military jet flight paths, missile test ranges, etc. It is proposed

that chronic contamination of the biosystem with the reactive types

of Ba salts can initiate the pathogenesis of MS; due to the

conjugation of Ba with free sulphate, which subsequently deprives

the endogenous sulphated proteoglycan molecules (heparan sulfates)

of their sulphate co partner, thereby disrupting synthesis of S-

proteoglycans and their crucial role in the fibroblast growth factor

(FGF) signalling which induces oligodendrocyte progenitors to

maintain the growth and structural integrity of the myelin sheath.

Loss of S-proteoglycan activity explains other key facets of MS

pathogenesis; such as the aggregation of platelets and the

proliferation of superoxide generated oxidative stress. Ba

intoxications disturb the sodium-potassium ion pump--another key

feature of the MS profile. The co-clustering of various

neurodegenerative diseases in these Ba-contaminated ecosystems

suggests that the pathogenesis of all of these diseases could pivot

upon a common disruption of the sulphated proteoglycan-growth factor

mediated signalling systems. Individual genetics dictates which

specific disease emerges at the end of the day.