Could carbs cause rheumatoid arthritis?

September 2, 2002

BOSTON (AP) -- A study in mice raises the possibility that carbohydrates in

human tissue may be a target of the misguided immune system attack that

results in rheumatoid arthritis.

The case, however, is still far from proven, and much more research will be

necessary to show how these essential components of cells might be involved

in this crippling autoimmune disease, which affects about 2.1 million

Americans.

The research, conducted by Dr. Wang and colleagues from Boston's

Brigham and Women's Hospital, was presented this week at a meeting of the

American Chemical Society.

Experts have long known that rheumatoid arthritis results when the body's own

disease-fighting cells attack the cartilage and joints. The new work suggests

that the specific target of this onslaught is essential carbohydrates in the

tissue.

" This is potentially of enormous importance, " said Dr. H. Klippel,

medical director of the Arthritis Foundation.

If the theory proves true, it could eventually lead to new medicines for

protecting the joints from this destruction.

The researchers believe the target of the disease is carbohydrates called

glycosaminoglycans, which are naturally present in joint cartilage and fluid,

among other places.

In the experiment, the researchers injected glycosaminoglycans into mice and

found that it triggered arthritis symptoms, including swelling, inflammation

and joint damage.

" This study shows that rheumatoid arthritis may result from the body's

mishandling of its own carbohydrates that, under normal circumstances, would

not be interpreted as a threat, " Wang said.

September 2, 2002

In a message dated 09/02/2002 10:53:05 AM US Eastern Standard Time,

melanie@... writes:

> so I cut back considerably and for me it did

> decrease my fibro pain.

>

meee too..and I can tell a HUGE difference..kinda thought that article was

interesting..so I sent it on..hope ya'll think so too.

Allicia

September 2, 2002

It is no secret that carbs in the form of WHITE breads, pasta, rolls,

cookies, cakes and all the sweets that American's eat is at the root of the

epidemic of type 2 or so-called adult onset diabetes.

Ah you say, I thought this was healthy, the food pyramid and all that. The

food pyramid, when you know anything about nutrition, you can see as the

American farmer's sales manual, not a proper diet at all.

Those of us with reactive hypoglycemia, RHG, know that these simple carbs

turn into simple sugars. (RHG is VERY common with FMS.) In the stomach,

they are quickly absorbed into the blood stream, causing a sugar surge. So,

the pancreas sends out lots of insulin to cope and sends the blood sugar too

low. This is RHG. Years of slamming the bijeebers out your pancreas and

YOU WILL have type 2 diabetes. RHG and type 2 are one in the same disease,

at different stages.

Eating lots of simple carbs is a recipe for the body attacking itself.

Insulin is a hormone and hormones work together or dysfunction together in a

cascade.

This is preliminary, yes, but perhaps it will send out the message that we

all need to get our carbs from fruits and vegetables, not bread and pasta!

The Lady Dragonfly

www.theladydragonfly.com

September 2, 2002

It is no secret that carbs in the form of WHITE breads, pasta, rolls,

cookies, cakes and all the sweets that American's eat is at the root of the

epidemic of type 2 or so-called adult onset diabetes.

Ah you say, I thought this was healthy, the food pyramid and all that. The

food pyramid, when you know anything about nutrition, you can see as the

American farmer's sales manual, not a proper diet at all.

Those of us with reactive hypoglycemia, RHG, know that these simple carbs

turn into simple sugars. (RHG is VERY common with FMS.) In the stomach,

they are quickly absorbed into the blood stream, causing a sugar surge. So,

the pancreas sends out lots of insulin to cope and sends the blood sugar too

low. This is RHG. Years of slamming the bijeebers out your pancreas and

YOU WILL have type 2 diabetes. RHG and type 2 are one in the same disease,

at different stages.

Eating lots of simple carbs is a recipe for the body attacking itself.

Insulin is a hormone and hormones work together or dysfunction together in a

cascade.

This is preliminary, yes, but perhaps it will send out the message that we

all need to get our carbs from fruits and vegetables, not bread and pasta!

The Lady Dragonfly

www.theladydragonfly.com

September 2, 2002

Well everyone, I have just found out all the things from this post

for myself. My doctor worked me up with a full battery of tests

including a 3 hour glucose tolerance test, which showed everything

this post spoke of. My doc says every fibromyalgia patient he has

studied has had this problem. So he doubled up my celebrex for the

arthritis , doubled up my tagamet for my stomach problems, put me on

metformin twice a day for the insulin receptor problem. I also take

elavil to make me sleep and a thyroid medication.

I am now on a diet which restricts me from eating carbohydrates in

the form of starches,(except in very limited amounts) including rice,

potatoes, peas, corn, beans, grains . I can have limited (3 servings

a day of these things,which is 1/2 a cup or 1 slice of bread).In

addition he said no sugar of course, and no cokes, not even diet

ones. Guess what? It works for me. The pain in my body is much less

than before. In addition I have lost 19 pounds in 5 days, which was

probably from inflammation from the arthritis. I also have more

energy , and am feeling like I am going to live, which I had doubted

a few weeks ago. So I will keep learning a new way of eating and

will from time to time let you know how things are working out.

I sure hope this helps out some of you ,because I know how truly

discouraging this disorder can be. Hugs...deb

> It is no secret that carbs in the form of WHITE breads, pasta,

rolls,

> cookies, cakes and all the sweets that American's eat is at the

root of the

> epidemic of type 2 or so-called adult onset diabetes.

>

> Ah you say, I thought this was healthy, the food pyramid and all

that. The

> food pyramid, when you know anything about nutrition, you can see

as the

> American farmer's sales manual, not a proper diet at all.

>

> Those of us with reactive hypoglycemia, RHG, know that these simple

carbs

> turn into simple sugars. (RHG is VERY common with FMS.) In the

stomach,

> they are quickly absorbed into the blood stream, causing a sugar

surge. So,

> the pancreas sends out lots of insulin to cope and sends the blood

sugar too

> low. This is RHG. Years of slamming the bijeebers out your

pancreas and

> YOU WILL have type 2 diabetes. RHG and type 2 are one in the same

disease,

> at different stages.

>

> Eating lots of simple carbs is a recipe for the body attacking

itself.

> Insulin is a hormone and hormones work together or dysfunction

together in a

> cascade.

>

> This is preliminary, yes, but perhaps it will send out the message

that we

> all need to get our carbs from fruits and vegetables, not bread and

pasta!

>

> The Lady Dragonfly

> www.theladydragonfly.com

September 2, 2002