Digest Number 566

[Guest guest]

>--------------------

>Moderator note: " Arthritis can be caused by cholesterol " ????? This needs to

be discussed. Who, why, where...EPO is toted as helping to lower

cholesterol. What does cholesterol have to do with arthritis? Should we all

go out and get huge jars of Metamuescil to lower our cholesterol? Pat B

>

Hi Gillian,

I thought I would help your understanding of cholesterol by giving

you the whole story.....

Cholesterol can be eaten, that is true, but it is also made by the

body from proteins, and other compounds. Mostly people's problems with it

come from storage of it in the body, or genetic metabolic imbalance (ie your

body makes more or less than the body needs). It can be stored in many

tissue cells, and well as in the liver. Let's start at the beginning.

Fats and cholesterol are digested, and taken up into the blood

stream via fat particles called Chylomicrons. The chylomicrons contain

DIETARY cholesterol and fatty acids in the form of tryglycerides (basically

3 fatty acids strung together). The fatty acids can be removed at this point

(by cells that it passes) and stored in fat tissue or muscles to be stored

or used for energy, or they can continue on to the liver.

The liver absorbs these chylomicrons, and processes them into

particles called Very Low Density Lipoprotein particles (VLDL's). These

contain mostly triglycerides and a little bit of cholesterol (from diet or

synthesized in the liver). The cholesterol helps stabilize this particle

whose main purpose is to transport the triglycerides, but a lot of the time

ends up transporting cholesterol when there is an abundance of it (as with

most of us). After most of the triglycerols have been absorbed (by fat

tissue for storage, in the case of excess, or to many tissues who use it for

energy, and as building blocks for other things)the particles are now called

VLDL remnants, and are mosly made of cholesterol at this point. Cholesterol

from this particle can be used by many cells of the body. The main use is

insertion into the cell wall. This is normal. If there is lots of

cholesterol, lots will be absorbed, and cells can store the excess. But

cells are capable of making their own as well.(from proteins and other

compounds) Most cells that store cholesterol are liver, fat and adrenal tissue.

VLDL remnants will be " rebuilt " into Low Density Lipoprotein

particles (LDL's) which have other purposes, but when there is a lot of

cholesterol, it will be absorbed by the cells and stored, or inserted into

cell membranes.

VLDL and LDL particles are " bad " because they distribute cholesterol

that can accumulate in the body and cause problems (mostly

atherosclerosis/heart disease). You will generally have a high VLDL and LDL

level if you do not exercise, and eat lots of fat, and high cholesterol foods.

High Density Lipoprotein particles (HDL's) are synthesized in the

liver and intestine. They contain almost no cholesterol, but they are

" good " because the purpose is to collect excess cholesterol and return it to

the liver. (this particle will actually take cholesterol from the cell

walls. This causes the cell to free up stored cholesterol to replace what

was lost. If this happens enough, there will hardly be any excess

cholesterol around, and the cell will just make what it needs.) It also

gathers excess cholesterol from VLDL remnants and LDL particles, preventing

excess storage of cholesterol. You will generally have a high HDL level in

your bloodstream (this is good) if you exercise, and eat a good diet low in

fat and high in fibre. The cholesterol brought back to the liver is used to

make bile salts which helps digest fats and lipids in the foods we eat.

I don't know how cholesterol would cause arthritis, but it is a

factor in other diseases. Imbalances might cause problems in the digestion

and disribution (ie in properly stabilizing the transportation particles) of

fats, whose metabolytes cause a much grater effect on many disease processes.

Fatty acids are the source of Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes that

have much to do with inflammatory response. Omega-6 fatty acids produce

prostaglandins that have been proven to increase cancer cell proliferation,

and leukotrienes that promote inflammation (ie arthritis) and increase

sensitivity of allergic reactions (ie asthsma, allergies). Steroids and

NSAIDS block the pathways that make these compounds, but don't eliminate the

building blocks that were ingested in the diet. Mild problems can be

controlled by diet alone, but more severe ones still need medication.

Omega-6 fatty acids are high in all animal products, many plants(ie

vegetables) and eggs. This doesn't mean that you can't eat them at all, but

just that you need to increase sources of Omega-3, and put the ratio of

Omega-3 to -6 in a better balance.

Omega-3 fatty acids produce Prostaglandins that have shown no cancer

cell promotion and Leukotrienes that have absolutely no inflammatory

potential. This is why Evening primrose oil is so effective. Omega-3 fatty

acids are also found in large proportions in flax seed, canola(or rape seed)

oily fish and other sources ( we feed our chickens flax seed, and get agreat

source of omega-3 from our eggs as a result - it is now being marketed all

across Canada as " Omega-3 Eggs " ).

Other Omega-3 products in the body help heart disease by affecting

clotting (less clotting lowers incidence of strokes, etc,) and helping the

blood vessels to dilate (helping heart attacks, etc.)

I hope that explains a little how cholesterol works, and how I don't

think it is related to arthritis. Certain fatty acids are definitely

beneficial in managing a disease like arthritis, but I don't really think

they CAUSE it. That would more be from a genetic source that causes normal

triggers of inflammation to be over sensitive, or maybe more trigger cell/or

proteins are made by the body.... it is still being researched, and it is a

complex problem.

Dale :)

(Roy's wife, the Biology student)

p.s. I just got prescribed a drug called Chloroquine (I don't know if it is

a generic name or a specific brand name) Has anyone had any success with

it?? I sure am hoping that it will help with my PA, because no one has been

able to do anything for me.

Roy Dale

Roy,

Robbie,

and :) :)

[Guest guest]

I COULDNT AGREE MORE THAT THIS DISEASE NEEDS MORE ATTENTION. I WENT 29 YEARS

WITH JRA BEFORE I EVEN MET ANOTHR CHILD/TEEN OR YOUNG ADULT WITH THE

DISEASE!!!THIS IS SAD AND THANK GOD FOR AJAO AND THE INTERNET. I HAVE BEEN

BLESED AND MET MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS SINCE ATTENDING MY

FIRST CONFERENCE. I HAVE STARTED A SUPPORT GROUP IN KY FOR KIDS, TEENS AND

YOUNG ADULTS AND ALSO HAVE STARTED A PENPALS CONNECTION. ALL THIS IS GREAT

BUT IT ISNT ENOUGH. WE NEED A CELEBRITY OR MASS MEDIA ATTENTION THAT IS WHY

MY GROUP FACES (FACING ARTHRITIS WITH COMPASSION, ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT )

IS REACHING OUT. I AM NOT SURE THAT ANYONE HER IS INTERESTED BUT WE ARE

TAKING ON YET ANOTHER MISSION THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE PRODUCTIVE IF WE ALL

JOIN TOGETHER. I HAVE ASKED MY GROUP AND TO WRITE PERSONAL STORIES FROM THEIR

OWN PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THEIR LIFE WITH ARTHRITIS AND WHAT ARTHRITIS MEANS TO

THEM AND WHY WE NEED PUBLIC ATTENTION. CHILDREN,TEENS,YOUNG ADULTS AND

PARENTS ARE WRITING AWAY. THESE LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO THE PRODUCERS OF

MONTEL, OPRAH, MAURY AND ROSIE ( AND ANY OTHERS YOU MAY KNOW OF). INFORMATION

ON MY GROUP CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/KYFACES

I TRULY BELIEVE WE CAN GET THE ATTENTION WE SO DESPERATELY NEED IF WE JUST

JOIN TOGETHER!!!!

SINCERELY,

DONNA FOX-VOLUNTEER

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION-KY CHAPTER

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the great feedback re: ropies...however, I haven't been

fasting....

Donna

PS

About the pin worms...I used bitter melon. It's simiular to the cucumber but

waaay bittter...I ate 3/4 of a melon daily mixed as part of a salad. I did

this for 5-6days

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[Guest guest]

>Why do I think it is produced commercially in New Zealand...maybe there's

something in NT about this...

Under 'resources' in NT it lists a company for New Zealand high vitamin

butter but when I called I got a recording that mentioned a different name;

I am thinking this source no longer exists.

Joy

[Guest guest]

From what I've heard, New Zealand does not export butter anymore.

Sonja

[Guest guest]

Wow, that's really strange. My doctors told me it was saliva that just

sits around in the esophagus before it goes down. If I drink water, it

goes away. Must be two different kinds of white foam!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You might just ask your doctor to check you for a fungal infection.

Sometimes doctors can be wrong. If they weren't some people with A

would have been diagnosed a whole lot sooner.

My daughter has had no more foam since she started taking the

Diflucan. Another sign of it is thrush (white patches) on the back of

the throat. It kind of looks like strep. 's thrush comes and

goes. It is very common to have this with A. All that food sitting

in a moist esophagus. It is the perfect breading ground for fungus.

> Wow, that's really strange. My doctors told me it was saliva that

just

> sits around in the esophagus before it goes down. If I drink

water, it

> goes away. Must be two different kinds of white foam!

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/21/2003 11:50:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, cholesteatoma writes:

If I

> could just figure out how to get that eustachian tube working!

Hi Priscilla & welcome. "How to get that eustachian tube working" is sort of the 20 million dollar question. Frequent ear popping can break the negative pressure that builds up & sucks the eardrum back, holding off the cholesteatoma sometimes. Tubes are said to help, though there's some controversy there. Another controversial area is water precautions, but in the presence of a faulty eustachian tube it does seem like a smart idea to avoid getting water in the ear that can't get back out (since cholesteatoma likes water).

Hopefully one day they will figure out how to fix or replace non-working eustachian tubes. If you find out anythng interesting let us know. Best of luck with your son.

[Guest guest]

I have felt very fortunate that none of my other family members have tested

positive.

That was my first fear when I discovered I had this for 20 years without

knowing it.

The only thing worse than being told I had it for me was the thought that I

had passed it on to another person, or family member. My daughters doctor

plans to test her once a year just to be sure.

S.

Bagwell Funny Farm

Paducah, KY

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[Guest guest]

Thank you for all your support here!! LeighAnn I made a mistake it was

HCV My virus is very Low and my Liver Panal was Normal..Now I go to the

GI on the first..Hubby went in

and was tested he has it too! He does not want to talk about it..