Cow's Milk: An Unhealthy Product ?

There exists a plethora of scientific evidence published on the most important medical journals (Neuroepidemiology, Gastroenterology , Nature, British Journal of Cancer, British Journal of Medicine, the Lancet etc.) that lactose or dairy or milk products are correlated with cancers (colon, prostate, breast, ovary) , diabetes, heart disease, autism, Chron’s disease, colitis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, mucous production and worsening of asthmatic conditions, allergic reactions, etc. etc.

There is also a huge amount of scientific research relating grains consumption to colitis, celiac disease, autism, obesity, diabetes, psoriasis, arthritis, inflammation …. 

Milk and grains are the two major food products that humans fabricate for their own consumption and like any other products they have been manipulated (genetically, with hormones and drugs, with preservatives and additives) to be “safe”, transportable and storable for a long time (let alone to be healthy) to answer an ever increasing global demand and need for increasing profit. Both have been introduced relatively early in the history of man for DNA to have had time to catch up and redesign metabolic pathways to make us able to get the best nutrition out of these foods.

Before one decides to avoid eating them (and this is a personal choice everyone has to take, considering personal risks and advantages, from the celiac who has no choice to a diabetic individual treated with drugs, from the breast tumor-hit woman to the chronic psoriasis patient), one can always look for the least refined and whole grains and for dairy, the fermented are the number 1 choice. One can also try milk alternatives such as soy, rice, oat, and nut milks as well as goat and sheep milks, and wheat alternatives as buckwheat (not a grain related to wheat nor a grass but a whole different plant), amaranth, quinoa, millet, teff, oat, barley, spelt, etc.

This chapter deals with the health related information regarding milk.
 
Cows life-style
Although on U.S. dairy farms there are much less cows than there were in 1950, milk production has continued to increase, up to 185 billion pounds in 2007, thanks to genetic manipulation, antibiotics and hormones, and unnatural high-protein diets.
Most cows raised for the dairy industry are intensively confined, separated from their calves, treated like milk-producing machines: genetically manipulated and pumped full of antibiotics and hormones that cause them to produce more milk. Humans who drink their milk increase their chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, increased fractures and many other ailments.
Female cows are artificially inseminated shortly after their first birthdays. After giving birth, they lactate for 10 months and are then inseminated again, continuing the cycle. The stress caused by the conditions on factory farms leads to disease and reproductive problems that render cows worthless to the dairy industry when they are 4 or 5 years old, while their normal life span is 20 years. The growth factors of a pregnant cow, along with the hormones given to make the artificial insemination more successful, will be contained in the milk.
 
Inflammation of the mammary glands, or mastitis, is common, which may be caused by 150 types of bacteria, one of which is E. coli. For this reason milk's somatic cell count (SCC) (from white blood cells and skin cells) is checked to determine whether the milk is infected. The SCC of healthy milk is below 100,000 cells per milliliter; however, the dairy industry is allowed to combine milk from all the cows in a herd in order to arrive at a "bulk tank" somatic cell count (BTSCC) and milk with a maximum BTSCC of 750,000 cells per milliliter can be sold. This number generally indicates that two-thirds of the cows in the herd are suffering from infections.

Instead of improving conditions in factory farms, such as cleaner housing, more space, better diets, bedding, care and manual milking, that were proven to lower the milk's SCC and the incidence of mastitis, the dairy industry is exploring the use of cattle who have been genetically manipulated to be resistant to mastitis.

Calves:
Calves are often taken away from their mothers when they are as young as 1 day old to be chained for three to 18 weeks and raised for veal; they get fed milk replacers designed to make them gain at least 1kg/day, and low in iron so that their flesh stays pale as a result of anemia. Weighting 45 kg at birth, they gain up to 300 kg after 8-10 months. When the female calves are fed by the cows, for producing more milk producing cows, the milk contain growth factors which lead to proliferation of healthy as well as pre-carcinogenic cells. UHT treatment does not break growth factors, while a boiling process for 10 minutes does.    
 
Environmental Destruction
Large dairy farms have detrimental effect on the environment: for example in California, manure from dairy farms (each of the more than 1 million cows excretes 18 gallons of manure daily) has poisoned groundwater, rivers, and streams. Moreover in California a single cow emits more smog-forming pollutants than a car does.
Two-thirds of all agricultural land in the U.S. is used to raise animals for food or to grow grain to feed them. Each cow raised by the dairy industry consumes as much as 40 gallons of water per day.

Human Bodies Fight Cow's Milk: allergy and intolerance
Besides humans, no species drinks milk beyond infancy or drinks the milk of another species. Cow's milk is the number one cause of food allergies among infants and children, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. Casein is the protein responsible for allergy:  80% of the protein in milk is casein. Casein is a powerful allergen, a histamine that creates lots of mucus.
Most people begin to produce less lactase, the enzyme that helps with the digestion of milk, when they are as young as 2 years old. Millions of Americans and an estimated 90 % of Asian-Americans and 75 % of Native- and African-Americans are lactose intolerant, displaying with bloating, gas, cramps, vomiting, headaches, rashes, and asthma. A U.K. study showed that people who suffered from irregular heartbeats, asthma, headaches, fatigue and digestive problems "showed marked and often complete improvements in their health after cutting milk from their diets."

Bovine milk fat is not appropriately composed for human babies and is only deleterious to the health of children and adults. Cow hormones (up to 59, including in organic milk), herbicides, pesticides (both concentrated in the milk fat), dioxins (up to 200 times the safe levels), up to 52 powerful antibiotics, blood, pus, feces, bacteria and viruses, all contained in cow’s milk, are not meant for humans, neither children nor adults. Of those 59 hormones one is a powerful hormone called Insulin- like Growth Factor ONE (IGF-1), which is identical in cows and humans. This IGF-1 is a key factor in the rapid growth and proliferation of breast, prostate and colon cancers.
 
Goat's milk is considered to be superior in many ways, having a fat formula more similar to man’s and it appears that the proteins are less problematic for digestion, although allergic intolerance to these can also occur. Goat’s milk has 15 % more calcium, and more vitamin A and D, potassium, copper and manganese than cow’s milk, but less folic acid and vitamin B12 than cow’s milk, as well as a little less zinc. It is also a good source of phosphorous and riboflavin (vitamin B2). Goats also produce less methane than cows. Lactose and hormones would remain an issue, but to date, goats apparently are not injected with extra growth hormone.

Sheepmilk contains up to twice as many minerals (including calcium, phosphorous, zinc and the important B vitamins) as cow's milk. Like goat's milk, it has small fat globules that are easily digested and it’s a rich source of iodine, which is useful for those with thyroid problems. Unfortunately, it’s almost twice as fattening as whole cow's milk and has many more calories. It’s also unsuitable for the lactose intolerant and babies. Although it contains higher levels of butterfat, it’s actually lower in saturated fat than other types of milk.

Calcium and Protein Myths
Although western women consume tremendous amounts of calcium, their rates of osteoporosis are among the highest in the world. Medical studies indicate that milk may increase women's risk of getting osteoporosis: women who consumed two or more glasses of milk per day had higher risks of fractures than those who drank one glass or less per day.
Calcium in cow’s milk has insufficient magnesium to be effectively absorbed therefore dairy's high calcium causes relative deficiencies in magnesium and other bone-building minerals, and its high phosphorus and animal protein reduce calcium availability. In fact, the high content of protein in milk, in concert with other proteins, may actually leach calcium from the body to compensate higher body acidity. Countries that consume high protein diets (meat, milk and dairy) have the highest rates of osteoporosis.
Further, very recently research showed that women consuming larger amounts of milk not only had increased fractures but also, along with men, displayed a higher rate of cardiovascular disease. This is hypothetically explained as caused by galactose from the milk causing oxidation and inflammation in the body, leading to serious diseases. 
 
The best source of calcium is from vegetables, it is absorbed up to 75% compared to the 40% absorbed from animal products

 
CROHN'S DISEASE
 
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis causes a bovine disease called "Johne's." Cows diagnosed with Johne's Disease have diarrhea. This bacterium becomes cultured in milk and is not destroyed by pasteurization. This milk-borne bacterium can begin to grow in the human host, and the results are irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's Disease.

Other autoimmune diseases: Large fat molecules cannot get through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. However, homogenization breaks up such large molecules into small ones that do get into the bloodstream leading to immune reactions to the milk proteins as well as carrying along fat-borne toxins (lead, dioxin's, etc.) into the whole human body.
Michael Dosch, M.D., and his team of researchers determined that multiple sclerosis and type I (juvenile) diabetes mellitus are linked to exposure to cow milk proteins in people who are genetically susceptible. The protein lactalbumin from milk, has been identified as a key factor in diabetes.
Further, a study published in the journal Neuroepidemiology revealed an association between dairy foods and an increased prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). and a MS researcher, Luther Lindner, M.D., at Texas A & M University College of Medicine, wrote: "It might be prudent to limit the intake of milk and milk products."

Cancer: Higher milk consumption has also been suggested to affect the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease both through galactose and through insulin growth factor. "Positive correlations between foods and cancer mortality rates were particularly strong in the case of meats and milk for breast cancer, milk for prostate and ovarian cancer, and meats for colon cancer." And, "galactose is linked both to ovarian cancer and infertility...women who consume dairy products on a regular basis, have triple risk of ovarian cancer than other women." . Elevated serum (IGF-I) levels were found to be in association with three of the most prevalent cancers in the United States: prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. IGFs serve as endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine stimulators of mitogenesis, survival, and cellular transformation." The growth factors are of three types IGF (insulin growth facor) , EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) et TGF (Transformaing Growth Factor). Only high heat, but not UHT  make them inefficient.

Rhinitis and Otitis Media affecting so many children can be due to consuming the foreign proteins intended for calves. In addition, the same children who suffer from thes ailments are likely to suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, asthma and/or eczema from their unnatural habit of drinking cow's milk.
 
Iron deficiency in infants
According to Frank Oski, the late Chairman of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Medical School, “Drinking large quantities of cow’s milk has long been recognized to produce iron-deficiency anemia in infants… Cow’s milk contains less than 1 mg of iron per quart. Very little of this iron is absorbed from the intestinal tract because other constituents of the milk bind with the iron… Many infants drink 1-2 quarts of milk per day. This tends to satisfy their hunger and they are left with very little appetite for the necessary iron-containing foods.” Breast milk is the best source of iron for infants.
 

Alternatives
Fortified plant-derived milks (soy, oats, almonds) provide calcium, vitamins, iron, zinc, and protein. 

Bibliography
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American Gastroenterological Association, 2001 "American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement: Guidelines for the Evaluation of Food Allergies," Gastroenterology 120 : 1023-5.
Blaney, D.P.2002 "The Changing Landscape of U.S. Milk Production," Statistical Bulletin Number 978, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jun.
Carrell, S. 2003 "Milk Causes 'Serious Illness for 7M Britons.' Scientists Say Undetected Lactose Intolerance Is to Blame for Chronic Fatigue, Arthritis, and Bowel Problems," The Independent 22 June.
Dewey T. and J. Ng, "Bos taurus," Animal Diversity Web 2001.
Burnett, J. 2009 "New Mexico Dairy Pollution Sparks 'Manure War'," National Public Radio, 8 Dec.
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Goldstein, David "Up Close: A Beef With Dairy," KCAL, 30 May 2002.
Feskanich D. et al., 1997 "Milk, Dietary Calcium, and Bone Fractures in Women: A 12-Year Prospective Study,"American Journal of Public Health 87: 992-97.
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Jenkins M. and D.D. Bowman, 2004 "Viability of Pathogens in the Environment," Pathogens in the Environment Workshop Proceedings (Kansas City, Mo.: 23-25).
Chan J.M et al., 2007 "Pancreatic Cancer, Animal Protein and Dietary Fat in a Population-Based Study,"Cancer Causes and Control 18 : 1153-67.
Kahler, S.C. 2001 "Raising Contented Cattle Makes Welfare, Production Sense," Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 218 : 182-6.
Karpf, A. "Dairy Monsters," The Guardian 13 Dec. 2003.
Linderoth, S. 2006 "Mastitis Resistance in the Genes," Dairy Herd Management 1 Dec. 2006.
Michaëlsson, Karl, Alicja Wolk, Sophie Langenskiöld, Samar Basu, Eva Warensjö Lemming, Håkan Melhus, Liisa Byberg, 2014 Milk intake and risk of mortality and fractures in women and men: cohort studies, British Medical Journal349:g6015
Lubowski R. et al., 2006 "Major Uses of Land in the United States, 2002," Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-14), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14 May.
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, 2009 "Lactose Intolerance," National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, June.
National Mastitis Council, 2001. "Guidelines on Normal and Abnormal Raw Milk Based on Somatic Cell Counts and Signs of Clinical Mastitis,"
Pace, D. "Feeding a Bucket Calf," Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University .
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Owen, J. 2005 "California Cows Fail Latest Emissions Test," National Geographic News 16 Aug.
Pearson, H. 2001 "Udder Suicide, E. Coli Kill Off Milk-Making Mammary Cells," Nature 6 Aug. 2001.
Rasmussen M.D. et al.,2001. "The Impact of Automatic Milking on Udder Health," Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Mastitis and Milk Quality (Vancouver).
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Rose DP, Cancer 1986 Dec 1;58(11):2363-71 "For prostate cancer, epidemiologic studies consistently show a positive association with high consumption of milk, dairy products, and meats."
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http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/food_and_drink/847876/top_10alternatives_to_cows_milk.html
http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/linda_folden_palmer.html

http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/food_and_drink/847876/top_10alternatives_to_cows_milk.html

http://rense.com/general26/milk.htm
(See http://www.notmilk.com/igf1time.txt for a time line)

Can stress mess up our body?

Stress has become a word used colloquially in many circumstances of minor or major complaints. An annoying person is a ‘stress’, work is ‘stressing’, the weather can be ‘stressful’ etc. It is a common saying but it is all also anatomically true; all these are real stresses, or better, stressors. The use of the word stress in biology and medicine is precise and indicates a ‘response to any threat to life or wellbeing’ (therefore the pressure at work would be a threat and the persistent rain another one). 

Stress can be brought on by either physical strain (the stressor): a long run, exposure to toxins or environmental poisons, heat or cold; or by emotional strain: a divorce, a move, a marriage, bereavement, academic pressure, loosing a job, deadlines at work, etc. The physical and physiological reaction is identical in the two cases. Stressors of both types elicit a sequence of reactions by the body, which is called the “stress response” or “fight-or-flight response”. We learned this type of reaction when humans had to face attacks from ferocious predators or had to survive in face of extreme conditions (life in a cave, hunting in a jungle). Although most humans don’t face such threat anymore, the reaction to modern life stressors (traffic jams, playing a rugby match – or sometimes just watching it!-, buying a house) has remained the same. 

The fight-or-flight response is initiated by nerve impulses from the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that controls most involuntary responses like body temperature, hunger, fatigue, attachment behaviors etc.); such nerve commands reach the adrenals (glands that sit on the kidneys) directly, stimulating release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which increase heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate: they get the body ready to fight or to run. Impulses from the hypothalamus reach also the endocrine (hormonal) system, via the hypothalamus-pituitary tract, to stimulate the pituitary gland (or hypophysis) and the adrenals again. The adrenal glands, stimulated both by the nervous system and by hormones, release cortisol (the major stress hormone), which, along with the growth hormone released by the pituitary gland, stimulates catabolism or production of glucose, aminoacids and fatty acids from fat stores and proteins to provide the necessary energy for movement (fight or run), repair or defense. The pituitary gland also promotes the secretion of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 that increase use of glucose as well, while the insulin response (insulin is the hormone needed to store glucose inside the cell) is shut down so that increased sugar can remain in the blood ready for energy need. Pancreatic release of insulin is thus depressed.

All these reactions aim to put the body in action with increased breathing, increased heart rate, increased muscular contraction needed for the fight or for the flight in front of the threatening predator or office boss or running competitors. At the same time the activity of the digestive, urinary and reproductive systems, quite useless in those situations, is depressed.  

Stress in moderation is not harmful and can be necessary as an incentive in some actions (positive stress or eustress), like getting ready to win a match.

However, when stress is prolonged, repetitive and not dealt with, it can become harmful and lead to diseases: constant stress in fact brings hormonal changes in the body, lowers the immune functions and can lead to many diseases including auto-immune diseases. It is the individual response to stress that can make a difference between a healthy happy life and a miserable life threatened by chronic illness.  This is because it is not the type of stressor that initiates a response but the “perception” of such a stressor by the individual. The perception of an experience determines how we feel when it is happening and how our bodies will be affected (Martino, 2011). What is terribly difficult to endure for one person can be easily managed without consequences by someone else. 

Since constant or repetitive stress can have adverse effects on the body, in order to avoid stress-induced illnesses one should become more relaxed about life and always try to see issues in perspective. Since avoiding stress is rare or impossible, it is important for all to apply measures to release the tension: deep breathing, relaxation techniques, massages, cardiac coherence etc.  

 

How does stress cause disease? Stress has impact on the nervous system, the immune system and the hormonal system. In an emergency situation immediate responses from these systems are needed, but in an unnatural prolonged state of stress they harm the individual. A physical or psychological stress affects the functioning of cells and can have long-lasting influences on physiology and behavior. 

- Impact on the nervous system: prolonged or repetitive stress can lead to physical changes in the brain, such as shrinking of the amygdala (center of emotions, decision making, memory) or the hippocampus (memory). Learning, memory and behavior are thus affected. 

- Impact on the immune system: it is well accepted and understood how a psychological stress is directly correlated to the prevalence of diseases such as infections. The immune cells have receptors for the hormones released during the stress response by the adrenal glands, the pituitary gland and the autonomic nervous system: cortisol, adenocorticotropic hormone, endorphins, noradrenalin, growth hormones, prolactin all influence the immune system. This explains the mechanism of the direct effect of stress on the immune system functioning. Cortisol triggers an increased “innate immune response” represented by high inflammation, a high allergic response, an increase in viral infections and a higher cancer risk. These are responses that you do not wish on a long term. (As a comparison, therapeutic cortisol (cortisone) instead lowers inflammation and suppresses immune and allergic reactions).

- Hormonal system: a continuous stress or a frequent presence of even smaller stresses drain the adrenal glands from which the main stress hormone, cortisol, is released. Prolonged stress can also lower the level of sex hormones like oestrogens and testosterone. Pancreatic production of insulin is interrupted and this, on the long run, can lead to diabetes type 2.

As many as 80% of all major illnesses have been related to stress as a contributor.

Chronic stress, especially through the high level of cortisol released, causes wasting of muscles, suppression of immune system (by cortisol, which suppresses part of the immune system), generation of auto-immune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple-sclerosis), cancer, hyperlipidemia (high fat content in  the blood and wrong types of fats), atherosclerosis, increase of cholesterol, hypertension, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, abdominal obesity (metabolic syndrome), osteoporosis, mood-behavioral changes, ulceration of GI tract (peptic ulcer, liver damage, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis and Chron’s disease, which are precursors of colorectal cancer), insomnia, anxiety, depression.  

Stress is a significant factor also in the birth of certain psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. 

Anxiety is one of the most serious emotional manifestations of stress and is caused by expectations of anything that threatens a person’s body, job, loved ones, values. It occurs in situations perceived as uncontrollable or unavoidable, but that are not really so. It is a state of inner apprehension, often accompanied by nervous behavior, like pacing back and forth, foot tapping, teeth grinding etc.  Anxiety can also be a response to a past mismanaged stress.

Symptoms of stress are high blood pressure, neck-ache, backache, muscles tension, muscle twitching, being unable to sit still or relax, fatigue, insomnia, lack of concentration, teeth grinding, nail biting, suppressed anger, feeling unloved, lack of self-esteem, low sex drive, irritability, tearfulness, loss of appetite or overeating, constant anxiety, frequent infections, allergies, blood sugar disturbances appearing with irritability and sugar cravings.

As many as 77% of people in Western countries complain of stress, and many are related to work. Many young people (younger than 18 years of age) are affected by stress. Some people are stressed but they are not aware of it, but the consumption of their teeth for example is testimony of it. Alert!

Stress also causes body mineral changes: it causes sodium retention, which in turn increases blood pressure. Adrenalin also causes a loss of Mg, Ca (from the bones), K and P. Also, during stress, nutrients are not efficiently absorbed. A nutrient deficiency is thus created with deleterious consequences for many organs. Many of the diseases related to stress are not due to stress alone but to the loss of nutrients: vit C, K, P, B and minerals.

Some people are more at risk of chronic stress depending on their genetic pattern but also on their innate and acquired inability to face challenges and respond properly to increased demands from work, financial issues, surgery or illnesses, society, pollution (noise, atmospheric, toxins), allergies, etc. Nutrient deficiencies from other causes, like improper nutrition, ex lack of B vitamins or Mg, make an individual more at risk of succumbing to chronic stress. Age, gender, social status, social support, religious/spiritual beliefs, personality traits, self-esteem, past experiences are all factors contributing to such susceptibility.

Again, there are many tools that help in learning to managing and coping with repetitive stress: regular exercise, both moderate low-intensity aerobic exercise to boost immunity (too much exercise increases inflammation) and physical practice that balances the immune system reactions and boost an antibody response (suppressed in stress condition): walking, jogging, biking, yoga, tai chi, chi gong; relaxation, breathing practice, like cardiac coherence or pranayama (yoga breathing exercises), meditation and massage are all useful tools that should be relied upon on a regular basis to improve the reaction to stressors.

 Stress: "The best care for the body is a quiet mind". Napoleon.

Bibliography

Mifsud KR¹, Gutièrrez-Mecinas M, Trollope AF, Collins A, Saunderson EA, Reul JM., Epigenetic mechanisms in stress and adaptation.Brain Behav Immun. 2011 Oct;25(7):1305-15. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2011.06.005. Epub 2011 Jun 14.

Craft, J., Gordon. C., Tiziani,. A. et al. 2012 Understanding Pathophysiology, Elsevier, Houston pub.

The Free Library, 2009. Exercise is medicine: using exercise to manipulate TH1 and TH2 immune function. The Townsend Letter Group 06 Jul. 2014 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Exercise+is+medicine%3a+using+exercise+to+manipulate+TH1+and+TH2+immune...-a0202661767

On Al-vaccine: Vaccines in young people and Al toxicity - Part III

Is autism an autoimmune reaction to Al? Autism and related disorders of the autism group (Autism Spectrum Disorders, ASD) are disorders of the development of the nervous system characterized by a dysfunctional immune function and impairments in social skills, speech and cognition. In North America there has been a steep increase in the prevalence of autism by 2000% since the early 1990s. During the same time, the number of vaccinations recommended prior to school increased from 10 to more than 20 in 2010. But this is not a cause-effect measured relationship, just an observation.

However, recent results suggest that Al administered to preschool children at various ages through vaccination is cause of the rising prevalence of ASD, with highest correlation at 3–4 months of age, as there is evidence of the toxicology of Al adjuvants considering them as contributors to the rising prevalence of neurobehavioral disorders.
 
Scientists believe that the inflammatory processes and immune dysfunction associated with autism can be the result of exposure to toxic metals (lead and mercury but especially Al) found in vaccines. Also, Al causes changes in nervous cell membrane proteins that have a double role in the immune system and in developmental plasticity: changes in these proteins can lead to neurodevelopmental defects. 
At this period in the life of the baby, important steps of brain development as well as many behavioral systems, including sleep, temperature regulation, respiration and brain wave patterns, form. The relationship between immune and nervous system starts during embryological  development. It is therefore plausible that disruptions of critical events during the development could play a role in neurobehavioral disorders like autism.

Vaccinating young children. During the sensitive period of development (including after birth) the brain is extremely vulnerable to toxic insults. Moreover, the blood brain barrier (BBB), a membrane protecting the brain from substances carried by the blood, is incomplete and more permeable. Immune stresses, like those provoked by vaccines- regardless of adjuvants-, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of nervous and immune system functions, as was discussed for adults, but most probably more seriously in young people due to the delicate period of life.

In many Western countries, by the time children are 4–6 years old, they will have received a total of 23–32 vaccines many with Al adjuvants. Safety tests for vaccines have often not included appropriate toxicity studies because they are not viewed as toxic.  Usually, when done , tests are run on short-term period (weeks, months) while most autoimmune responses happen years after the shots. However, if a few vaccines administered to adults can result in syndromes and diseases, maybe one could suggest that the pediatric plans should receive more experimental proofs of their safety. As an example of Al toxicity in babies, exposure to 20 μg/kg (for a 6 months old 8 kg child = 160 μg) of Al for 10 days is sufficient to cause neurodevelopmental delays. As comparison, the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (first shot at 2 months of age) alone contains between 170 and 625 μg of Al.

It is very possible that repeated and closely-spaced administration of vaccines with Al as adjuvant from 0 to 12 months would increase the risk of chronic brain inflammation along with developmental disorders of the nervous system.

Al toxicity for all: Effects of Al intoxication on the nervous system include: disruption of synaptic activity, reshaping of proteins, promotion of oxidant stress, increased permeability of the blood–brain barrier.  Al causes death of neurons and glial cells, affects the neurotransmitter content in neurons, influences emotional reactivity and impairs various brain functions related to learning and memory.

It is true that humans are exposed to many sources of Al and Al can be absorbed with food. However, only 0.25% of Al ingested is absorbed, while injected Al (like in vaccines) may be completely absorbed over time and bypass the protective barrier of the gastrointestinal tract entering the lymphatic and blood system, i.e. it will probably require a lower dose to produce a toxic response.

Aluminum toxicity shows other several pathologic effects such as post-dialysis encephalopathy (an Alzheimer’s-like disorder shown in some patients undertaking dialysis including symptoms like speech abnormalities, memory loss, impaired concentration, behavioral changes, epileptic seizures and coma), degenerative brain disorders, osteomalacia (weakening of the bones), cholestasis (blocking of bile flow), ototoxicity (ear disease), different forms of anemia, disturbed erythropoiesis (formation of blood cells) and inhibition of macrophage and leukocyte defensive mechanisms.

Al was found in amyloid ‘‘plaques’’ and protein ‘‘tangles’’, the  brain lesions typical of Alzheimer’s disorder,  one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia in more than 24 million people worldwide.

Other toxic molecular mechanism of some metals, like aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury: they may metabolically interact with the key role of essential body metals (e.g., Cr, Zn, Mn, Fe, Mo, Cu); for example, lead interacts with calcium in the nervous system and alters neurocognitive learning skills in the early stages of the child development, or cadmium and Al interact with calcium in the skeletal tissues to produce osteomalacia (bone pain, ribs, hips and vertebrae fractures) and muscle weakness. Moreover, Al binds to DNA and RNA, influencing the expression of genes essential for brain functions. Al also binds to ATP, the energy molecule of the body, and can influence energy metabolism.

References:
Agmon-Levin N, Paz Z, Israeli E, Shoenfeld Y. 2009 Vaccines and autoimmunity. Nat

Agmon-Levin, N, GRV Hughes and Y Shoenfeld 2012. The spectrum of ASIA: 'Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants Lupus 21: 118

Barthelow Classen J,  Classen JB Review of Vaccine Induced Immune Overload and the Resulting Epidemics ofType 1 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, Emphasis on Explaining the Recent Accelerations in the Risk of Prediabetes and other Immune Mediated Diseases, J Mol Genet Med 2014, S1:02

Belmonte, M., Greg Allen, Andrea Beckel-Mitchener, Lisa M. Boulanger, Ruth A. Carper, and Sara J. Webb 2004 (Autism and Abnormal Development of Brain Connectivity. The Journal of Neuroscience, 20 October 2004, 24(42): 9228-9231

Bernsen RM, Nagelkerke NJ, Thijs C, van der Wouden JC. 2008 Reported pertussis infection and risk of atopy in 8- to 12-yr-old vaccinated and non-vaccinated children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 19(1): 46-52.

Biasi D, Carletto A, Caramaschi P, Frigo A, Pacor ML, Bezzi D, Bambara LM. Rheumatological manifestations following hepatitis B vaccination. 1994. A report of 2 clinical cases (article in Italian). Recenti Prog Med 85:438-440.

Biasi D, De Sandre G, Bambara LM, Carletto A, Caramaschi P, Zanoni G, Tridente G. 1993 A new case of reactive arthritis after hepatitis B vaccination. Clin Exp Rheumatol 11:215.

Couette, M., Marie-Françoise Boisse, Patrick Maison, Pierre Brugieres, Pierre Cesaro, Xavier Chevalier, Romain K. Gherardi, Anne-Catherine Bachoud-Levi, François-Jérôme Authier 2009 Long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide is associated with chronic cognitive dysfunction, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 103, 1571–1578

Europan Hospital, 2012. Silicone gel breast implants and connective tissue and autoimmune disease risk , http://www.european-hospital.com/en/article/9384-Silicone_gel_breast_implants_and_connective_tissue_and_autoimmune_disease_risk.html

Exley C, Siesjo¨ P, Erikssson H. The immunobiology of aluminium adjuvants: how do they really work? Trends Immunol. 2010; 31:103–9.

Finielz P, Lam-Kam-Sang LF. 1998 Systemic lupus erythematosus and thrombocytopenic purpura in two members of the same family. Nephrol Dial Transplant 13:2420-2421.

Fisher SG, Weber L, Carbone M. 1999 Cancer risk associated with simian virus 40 contaminated polio vaccine. Anticancer Res. 19(3B):2173-80.

Gherardi RK and FJ Authier 2012 Macrophagic myofasciitis: characterization and  pathophysiology, Lupus 21: 184

Gross K. Combe C, Kruger K, Schattenkirschner M. 1995 Arthritis after hepatitis B vaccination. Report of three cases. Scand J Rheumatol 24:50-52.

Guiseriz J. 1996 Systemic lupus erythematosus following hepatitis B vaccine. Nephron, 74:441.

Haschulla E, Houvenagel E, Mingui A, Vincent G, Laine A. 1990. Reactive arthritis after hepatitis B vaccination. J Rheumatol 17:1250-1251.


Hertz-Picciotto, I., Hye-Youn Park, Miroslav Dostal, Anton Kocan, Tomas Trnovec and Radim Sram 2008 Prenatal Exposures to Persistent and Non-Persistent Organic Compounds and Effects on Immune System Development, Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 102, 146–154

http://www.naturalnews.com/041593_CDC_polio_vaccine_SV40_cancer_virus.html#ixzz339Istadx

Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H. 2000 Effects of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 23(2):81-90.

Israeli E, Agmon-Levin N, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y. 2009 Adjuvants and autoimmunity.
Kawahara M (2005) Effects of aluminum on the nervous system and its possible link with neurodegenerative diseases. J Alzheimers Dis 8: 171-182.

Khan, Z. Christophe Combadière, François-Jérôme Authier, Valérie Itier, François Lux,
Christopher Exley, Meriem Mahrouf-Yorgov, Xavier Decrouy, Philippe Moretto, Olivier Tillement, Romain K Gherardi† and Josette Cadusseau 2013 Slow CCL2-dependent translocation of biopersistent particles from muscle to brain, BMC Medicine 11:99

Kawahara M, Kato-Negishi M (2011) Link between Aluminum and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Integration of the Aluminum and Amyloid Cascade Hypotheses. Int J Alzheimers Dis 2011: 276393.

Kelly H. 2006. Evidence for a causal association between oral polio vaccine and transverse myelitis: A case history and review of the Literature. J Paediatr Child Health., 42(4):155-9.

Kool M, Soullié T, van Nimwegen M, Willart MA, Muskens F, Jung S, Hoogsteden HC, Hammad H, Lambrecht BN: Alum adjuvant boosts adaptive immunity by inducing uric acid and activating inflammatory dendritic cells. J Exp Med 2008, 205:869–882.

Luján, L., Marta Pérez, Eider Salazar, Neila Álvarez, Marina Gimeno, Pedro Pinczowski, Silvia Irusta, Jesús Santamaría, et al. 2013 Autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome) in commercial Immunologic Research, 55,1-3, 

Masahiro Kawahara and Midori Kato-Negishi 2011 Link between Aluminum and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease: The Integration of the Aluminum and Amyloid Cascade Hypotheses Int J Alzheimers Dis.

Melendez, L., Diana dos Santos, Luna Polido, Mariel Lopes Mendes, Silvia Sella, Luiz Querino Caldas and Emmanoel Silva-Filho, 2013, Aluminium and Other Metals May Pose a Risk to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Biochemical and Behavioural Impairments Clin Exp Pharmacol, 3:1

Meroni, PL 2011. Autoimmune or auto-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA): Old truths and a new syndrome? Journal of Autoimmunity 36
Rev Rheumatol 5:648e52.

Orbach H1, Tanay A. 2009 Vaccines as a trigger for myopathies. Lupus. 18(13):1213-6.

Rodella LF, Ricci F, Borsani E, Stacchiotti A, Foglio E, et al. (2008) Aluminium exposure induces Alzheimer’s disease-like histopathological alterations in mouse brain. Histol Histopathol 23: 433-439.

Exley, C., Louise Swarbrick, Rhomain K. Gherardi, Francois-Jérôme Authier 2008 A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Medical Hypothesis

Rogerson SJ. Nye FJ. 1990 Hepatitis B vaccine associated with erythema nodosum and polyarthritis. BMJ 301:345.
RxList, the internet Drug Index, 2014, http://www.rxlist.com/flulaval-drug.htm

Shaw CA, Petrik MSJ: Aluminum hydroxide injections lead to motor deficits and motor neuron degeneration. J Inorg Biochem 2009, 103:1555–1562.

Shaw, CA, Tomljenovic, L. Aluminium in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity. Immunol. Res.

Shaw, C.A., Y. Li, L. Tomljenovic 2013. Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 

Shoenfeld Y, Agmon-Levin N. 2011 'ASIA' - autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. J Autoimmun. 36(1):4-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2010.07.003.

Shoenfeld, Y, Agmon Levine, N 2011 ASIA: A New Way to Put the Puzzle Together,The Rheumatologist

Tomljenovic, L., Shaw, C.A. 2011 Do aluminium vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?. Jouranl of Inorganic Biocemistry, 105, 1489-1499

Tudela P, Marti S, Bonanl J. 1992 Systemic lupus erythematosus and vaccination against hepatitis B. Nephron 62:236.

Yokel RA, Allen DD, Meyer JJ (1994) Studies of aluminum neurobehavioral toxicity in the intact mammal. Cell Mol Neurobiol 14: 791-808.

Wikipedia 2014, Thiomersal, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal


 

Safety of Al as adjuvant questioned in humans and animals

Part II

In the previous post we discussed the relations between vaccines with Al as adjuvant and diseases. Such relations include those of simple co-appearance – vaccine and disease happen in the same individual but one does not necessarily cause the other-, and causation, - i.e. the vaccine causes the disease. Such reactions to vaccines are considered quite rare and not impinging on the general safety of vaccines. 

The problems with vaccine-derived Al include the facts that: 1. Al can persist in the body for a long time after vaccination (up to years for Macrophagic Myofasciitis - described further down), 2. Al can trigger immunologic diseases and 3. Al can make its way into the CNS where it can drive further dangerous immuno-inflammatory and excitotoxic processes (! here could be the link between Al-vaccine and autoimmune reaction, neurogedeneration and behavioral dysfunctions).

1. Al is engulfed into macrophages (immune system white blood cells) and can remain there for a long time and transported inside them throughout the organism.

2. Al can trigger immune responses, in predisposed people. For an adjuvant disease to develop, genetic susceptibilities or co-exposure to other environmental factors are needed. Therefore, adjuvant effect appears in subjects who are genetically susceptible OR in those who are subject to another trigger, such as in co-exposure to more than one adjuvant (or repetitive vaccines). These individuals show an adverse reaction to Al-vaccines and it seems that for these people aluminium acts as an antigen –an intruder to be fought against. Several receivers of vaccines (as many as 1% of all vaccinated people) retain a memory of exposure to aluminium from, for example, childhood vaccination, and show delayed hyper-sensitivity (a form of allergy) to subsequent exposures: i.e. these recipients are sensitized to aluminium. This hyper-sensitivity together with an aluminium overload through repetitive vaccination can lead to an adverse reaction: the immune system fights against the antigen Al contained in the vaccine as well as against all significant body stores of it, an autoimmune reaction.

3. Al has been found in CNS and it is now clear that it can cross the protective blood-brain barrier causing neurological damages. Alum is potentially highly neurotoxic, but it is used at such concentrations that are considered by the industry and regulatory agencies an acceptable compromise between acting as adjuvant and being toxic. The potential toxicity of alum depends by its capacity to remain localized at injection points or dispersing and accumulating in distant tissues. Al is present as aggregates of minuscule (nano-sized, 1/1,000,000 mm) particles in the vaccines and these minuscule particles were believed to remain at the shot site and outside o the cell membranes. However some cells of the immune system take up these alum particles and transport them to distant sites through the lymphatic system and into blood, spleen, and can even penetrate the brain, although at a very low rate in normal conditions. However, continuous doses of Al may become dangerously unsafe, especially in case of overimmunization or of an immature or altered blood brain barrier, like the one of babies or aging people.

While scientists and doctors have known about the property of aluminium of facilitating the immune response for at least 80 years, they still do not fully understand the mechanism of this functioning! The challenge would seem to try to balance the Al facilitating effect with the risk of it remaining in the organism and triggering an inflammatory reaction, the fighting response of the immune system. Some scientists believe that a subject’s sensitivity to Al should probably be detected before submitting him/her to a vaccine containing Al. Or else, less dangerous adjuvants could be experimented. 

Similar to the case of Al, a causative relationship between an adjuvant (but not from a vaccine) and a particular group of symptoms has been reported for a completely different scenario. A significant link has been documented frequently in recent years between breast implants and a collection of conditions, some of which are autoimmune reactions: systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, impaired cognition, depression, dry eyes, dry mouth, skin abnormalities, paresthesia, swollen and tender axillary glands, unexplained fever, hair loss, headache and morning stiffness. The term “the adjuvant disease” or siliconosis was given in the early 1990s to these silicone-induced autoimmune phenomena.

ASIA, a new syndrome1? The manifestations of post-vaccination reactions and siliconosis are now recognized by scientists to be similar to other recently described conditions called Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) and Macrophagic Myofasciitis syndrome (MMF). GWS showed up in veterans of Gulf War presenting similar symptoms as discussed above: fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems, memory problems, neurological problems, rashes and diarrhea. During the Gulf War, the vaccination plan included the anthrax vaccine, administered in a six-shot regimen and adjuvated by aluminium hydroxide and squalene.
MMF presents with a lesion containing aluminium salts at the site of an intramuscular injection, and with systemic symptoms of muscle and joint pain which are the effects of an inflammatory reaction to alum from 3 months to 10 years after injection.
Thus 2 years ago, these four conditions, post- vaccinations autoimmune reactions, siliconosis, GWS and MMF, carrying common systemic symptoms were linked to the exposure to an adjuvant and defined by a group of researchers under the same umbrella of ASIA, Autoimmune or auto-inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants.

The mechanisms by which ASIA symptoms are triggered are unknown, however the adjuvant (Al in the case of vaccines, GWS and MMF) is researched as the possible culprit. 

Aluminum is the most widely distributed metal in our environment plus it is the most common adjuvant used in human and animal vaccine. A suggestion to this link is given by animal (mice, fish, sheep) studies and observations in which chronic exposure to aluminum is associated with behavioral, neuropathological and neurochemical changes.

Al is widely used in animal vaccines. In veterinary applications the safety of alum as an adjuvant is being questioned at present: a new syndrome was recently described affecting up to 50–70% of farmed sheep flocks and up to 100% of animals within a flock or salmons in a farm. The symptoms are severe neurobehavioural impacts like restlessness, compulsive wool biting, weakness, muscle tremors, loss of response to stimuli, tetraplegia, diseases of the liver and peritoneum, circulatory disease and kidney disease, stupor, coma and death. Scientists believe that these reactions depend on the persistence of Al in the central nervous system AND on the chronic hyperstimulation of the immune system which would facilitate the production of autoantibodies (antibodies against own healthy cells) leading to autoimmune disease. A similar explanation to the hypersensitivity reactions of certain humans.
--------------------------
1 A syndrome is defined as “a collection of signs and symptoms that often occur together in the same individuals. Its characteristics may be induced by a number of different primary causes that give rise to the same clinical manifestations”.


References:
Agmon-Levin N, Paz Z, Israeli E, Shoenfeld Y. 2009 Vaccines and autoimmunity. Nat

Agmon-Levin, N, GRV Hughes and Y Shoenfeld 2012. The spectrum of ASIA: 'Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants Lupus 21: 118

Barthelow Classen J,  Classen JB 2014 Review of Vaccine Induced Immune Overload and the Resulting Epidemics ofType 1 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, Emphasis on Explaining the Recent Accelerations in the Risk of Prediabetes and other Immune Mediated Diseases, J Mol Genet Med S1:02

Belmonte, M., Greg Allen, Andrea Beckel-Mitchener, Lisa M. Boulanger, Ruth A. Carper, and Sara J. Webb 2004 (Autism and Abnormal Development of Brain Connectivity. The Journal of Neuroscience, 20 October 2004, 24(42): 9228-9231

Bernsen RM, Nagelkerke NJ, Thijs C, van der Wouden JC. 2008 Reported pertussis infection and risk of atopy in 8- to 12-yr-old vaccinated and non-vaccinated children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 19(1): 46-52.

Biasi D, Carletto A, Caramaschi P, Frigo A, Pacor ML, Bezzi D, Bambara LM. Rheumatological manifestations following hepatitis B vaccination. 1994. A report of 2 clinical cases (article in Italian). Recenti Prog Med 85:438-440.

Biasi D, De Sandre G, Bambara LM, Carletto A, Caramaschi P, Zanoni G, Tridente G. 1993 A new case of reactive arthritis after hepatitis B vaccination. Clin Exp Rheumatol 11:215.
Shaw, C.A., Y. Li, L. Tomljenovic 2013. Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry

Couette, M., Marie-Françoise Boisse, Patrick Maison, Pierre Brugieres, Pierre Cesaro, Xavier Chevalier, Romain K. Gherardi, Anne-Catherine Bachoud-Levi, François-Jérôme Authier 2009 Long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide is associated with chronic cognitive dysfunction, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 103, 1571–1578

Europan Hospital, 2012. Silicone gel breast implants and connective tissue and autoimmune disease risk , http://www.european-hospital.com/en/article/9384-Silicone_gel_breast_implants_and_connective_tissue_and_autoimmune_disease_risk.html

Exley C, Siesjo P, Erikssson H. 2010 The immunobiology of aluminium adjuvants: how do they really work? Trends Immunol. 31:103–9.

Finielz P, Lam-Kam-Sang LF. 1998 Systemic lupus erythematosus and thrombocytopenic purpura in two members of the same family. Nephrol Dial Transplant 13:2420-2421.

Fisher SG, Weber L, Carbone M. 1999 Cancer risk associated with simian virus 40 contaminated polio vaccine. Anticancer Res. 19(3B):2173-80.

Gherardi RK and FJ Authier 2012 Macrophagic myofasciitis: characterization and  pathophysiology, Lupus 21: 184

Gross K. Combe C, Kruger K, Schattenkirschner M. 1995 Arthritis after hepatitis B vaccination. Report of three cases. Scand J Rheumatol 24:50-52.

Guiseriz J. 1996 Systemic lupus erythematosus following hepatitis B vaccine. Nephron, 74:441.

Haschulla E, Houvenagel E, Mingui A, Vincent G, Laine A. 1990. Reactive arthritis after hepatitis B vaccination. J Rheumatol 17:1250-1251.

Hertz-Picciotto, I., Hye-Youn Park, Miroslav Dostal, Anton Kocan, Tomas Trnovec and Radim Sram 2008 Prenatal Exposures to Persistent and Non-Persistent Organic Compounds and Effects on Immune System Development, Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 102, 146–154

http://www.naturalnews.com/041593_CDC_polio_vaccine_SV40_cancer_virus.html#ixzz339Istadx

Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H. 2000 Effects of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 23(2):81-90.

Israeli E, Agmon-Levin N, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y. 2009 Adjuvants and autoimmunity.
Kawahara M (2005) Effects of aluminum on the nervous system and its possible link with neurodegenerative diseases. J Alzheimers Dis 8: 171-182.

Khan, Z. Christophe Combadière, François-Jérôme Authier, Valérie Itier, François Lux,
Christopher Exley, Meriem Mahrouf-Yorgov, Xavier Decrouy, Philippe Moretto, Olivier Tillement, Romain K Gherardi† and Josette Cadusseau 2013 Slow CCL2-dependent translocation of biopersistent particles from muscle to brain, BMC Medicine 11:99

Kawahara M, Kato-Negishi M (2011) Link between Aluminum and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Integration of the Aluminum and Amyloid Cascade Hypotheses. Int J Alzheimers Dis 2011: 276393.

Kelly H. 2006. Evidence for a causal association between oral polio vaccine and transverse myelitis: A case history and review of the Literature. J Paediatr Child Health., 42(4):155-9.

Kool M, Soullié T, van Nimwegen M, Willart MA, Muskens F, Jung S, Hoogsteden HC, Hammad H, Lambrecht BN: Alum adjuvant boosts adaptive immunity by inducing uric acid and activating inflammatory dendritic cells. J Exp Med 2008, 205:869–882.

Luján, L., Marta Pérez, Eider Salazar, Neila Álvarez, Marina Gimeno, Pedro Pinczowski, Silvia Irusta, Jesús Santamaría, et al. 2013 Autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome) in commercial Immunologic Research, 55,1-3, 2013
Lupus 18:1217e25

Masahiro Kawahara and Midori Kato-Negishi 2011 Link between Aluminum and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease: The Integration of the Aluminum and Amyloid Cascade Hypotheses Int J Alzheimers Dis.

Melendez, L., Diana dos Santos, Luna Polido, Mariel Lopes Mendes, Silvia Sella, Luiz Querino Caldas and Emmanoel Silva-Filho, 2013, Aluminium and Other Metals May Pose a Risk to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Biochemical and Behavioural Impairments Clin Exp Pharmacol, 3:1

Meroni, PL 2011. Autoimmune or auto-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA): Old truths and a new syndrome? Journal of Autoimmunity 36
Rev Rheumatol 5:648e52.

Orbach H1, Tanay A. 2009 Vaccines as a trigger for myopathies. Lupus. 18(13):1213-6.

Rodella LF, Ricci F, Borsani E, Stacchiotti A, Foglio E, et al. (2008) Aluminium exposure induces Alzheimer’s disease-like histopathological alterations in mouse brain. Histol Histopathol 23: 433-439.

Exley, C., Louise Swarbrick, Rhomain K. Gherardi, Francois-Jérôme Authier 2008 A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Medical Hypothesis

Rogerson SJ. Nye FJ. 1990 Hepatitis B vaccine associated with erythema nodosum and polyarthritis. BMJ 301:345.
RxList, the internet Drug Index, 2014, http://www.rxlist.com/flulaval-drug.htm

Shaw CA, Petrik MSJ 2009 Aluminum hydroxide injections lead to motor deficits and motor neuron degeneration. J Inorg Biochem, 103:1555–1562.

Shaw, CA, Tomljenovic, L. Aluminium in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity. Immunol. Res.

Shoenfeld Y, Agmon-Levin N. 2011 'ASIA' - autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. J Autoimmun. 36(1):4-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2010.07.003.

Shoenfeld, Y, Agmon Levine, N 2011 ASIA: A New Way to Put the Puzzle Together,The Rheumatologist

Tomljenovic, L., Shaw, C.A. 2011 Do aluminium vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?. Jouranl of Inorganic Biocemistry, 105, 1489-1499

Tudela P, Marti S, Bonanl J. 1992 Systemic lupus erythematosus and vaccination against hepatitis B. Nephron 62:236.

Yokel RA, Allen DD, Meyer JJ (1994) Studies of aluminum neurobehavioral toxicity in the intact mammal. Cell Mol Neurobiol 14: 791-808.

Wikipedia 2014, Thiomersal, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal

Vaccines and immunity and nervous system. Explained links...

After a complex research on previous studies and lots of reading of scientific papers, here it is, the focus of this ‘recent research of research’ of mine:

Impact of vaccines on immunity (or body defense system) and the nervous system. 

This story will come in chapters, it's long BUT it is very interesting. I was quite shocked to find SO many studies published in peer review journals confirming the link between vaccines and disesases...both in adults and in children.

What is the relationship between an increasing number of vaccinations and the appearance of several otherwise unexplained diseases of our times, like: 1. autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Multiple Sclerosis, or 2. neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), or 3. behavioral-emotional diseases like Autism? 
All such syndromes or diseases have been increasing in the past 2 generations, however this observation is difficult to measure in an absolute manner since diagnosis has also improved – but not only: for example, neurodegenerative diseases: a study estimated that in 2006, 0.40% of the world population (26.6 million) were affected by AD, and that this rate would triple by 2050; behavioral diseases, 6.7 in 1000 children had autism in 2000 and 14.7 in 1000 children in 2010; autoimmune diseases: altogether … 1 in 20 people in Western countries have an autoimmune disease!

When I came to learn about the tight connection between nervous and immune system in both development and functioning, many things became clear or plausible. The immune system develops – and later works - tightly with the nervous system. The two interact extensively via cytokines, messenger molecules produced by cells of the immune system, and neuropeptides, messengers produced by the nervous systems: cytokines are recognized by nervous system glial cells, and neuropeptides are recognized by immune cells. Some cytokines not only control the development of the nervous system but also help in its protection and regeneration. There is a constant talk between the two systems.
 
The immune system pervades our organism by interacting with the nervous system and endocrine system, and checking everywhere for the presence of invaders or dead or malfunctioning cells to be eliminated. It permeates every component of our body with its cells and messengers.

The immune system is our protector from harmful stimuli, like pathogens, damaged cells, irritants, etc. Inflammation is the number one response of the immune system to fight any attack from inside or outside. Examples of inflammation are: a bruise from a fall or an infection, which are characterized by redness, warmth, pain, swelling.  

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory reactions and diseases are the results of an improper functioning of the immune system, in which the immune cells mistakenly fight against their own organism. The body attacks and destroys itself. Such is the case of multiple sclerosis (MS), in which the myelin sheath of neurons is destroyed, or of systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), in which skin, joints, kidneys and brain get attacked.

Neurodegenerative diseases, like AD, Parkinson’s and ALS (Amyotyroiphic lateral sclerosis or motoneuron disease), are caused by loss of structure and function of the nervous system. There are commonalities among them, like strange conglomerates of proteins and nervous cells death.

Behavioral-emotional diseases affect behavior and emotion: included are ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar, and sometimes AD.

All such diseases, like all diseases in general, have a genetic AND an environmental component. Your chances to get one of these (or any other) disease depends on your DNA make-up as well as on the external conditions: life style, where you live, diet, what you do, your exposure to toxins, amount and type of physical exercise etc. Which means that, IF you have the genes for a disease, you do not NECESSARILY get it, if you avoid certain environmental triggers.

What is the common factor between autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and behavioral diseases? There is a theory and many proven correlations that adjuvants used in medicine (vaccination, implants) could cause these conditions.

Adjuvants are pharmacological agents that modify the effect of another agent. Immunologic adjuvants are substances that are used in the delivery of a vaccine to make it more long-lasting and effective. Such adjuvants interact with cells in the immune system to make it more reactive in the defense towards antigens = toxic molecules or organisms (ex. bacteria or viruses that are delivered through the vaccine to prepare the system of defense in face of a real invasion). Adjuvants also provide antigen transport to the lymph nodes, where cells of the immune systems can be produced in high number to fight specifically that antigen; thus such adjuvants provide a longer exposure of pathogens to the immune system and a more robust response. In doing so, they enable the decrease of the amount of antigen needed and thereby the production of a larger number of vaccines (!). The most common immunological adjuvant is alum or hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate, used in vaccines since 1927. Silicon is also considered an adjuvant when used in breast implants.

Adjuvants and autoimmune diseases? Formerly, adjuvants were thought to be harmless, but studies of animal models and human reactions to vaccines demonstrated the ability of some of them to cause autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases in some patients.
 
Vaccines are important achievements of modern medicine and are commonly and safely inoculated to human and animals worldwide. However, sometimes, vaccines can induce the appearances of autoantibodies, inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases: arthritis, neuronal damage, fatigue, encephalitis and vasculitis have been frequently described in association to vaccines. A similar association has been proven between silicon in implants and other autoimmune reactions. The factors with the adjuvant activity (infectious agents and alum in vaccines and silicon in breast implants) are the link to the immune-mediated diseases. Such association has been observed in both in animals (where tests could be run and causation proven) and in humans.

Causation versus correlation: Such association between vaccines, or other environmental factors, with immune-mediated diseases have been shown in numerous studies, however it is almost impossible to prove a cause-and-effect relationship. They just happen to appear in conjunction.

However, in some (many!) cases this causation has been scientifically proven and in few cases the causation is now accepted by the medical community and the decision makers: in 1976 an outbreak of Guillain-Barré syndrome (a dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system causing paralysis and eventually death) followed vaccination with the “swine flu” vaccine. After complete acceptance of this causation link, warnings of possible side effects as GB syndrome are still notified on labels in present flu-vaccines packages. Similar causal relationship (i.e. the vaccine caused the disease) have been accepted for:

Oral Polio Vaccine: transverse myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and sensory and motor loss and paralysis), inflammatory myopathies
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis Vaccine (DTP): arthritis, inflammatory myopathies
Diphtheria with scarlet fever vaccine: inflammatory myopathies
Pertussis Vaccine: allergic disorders (asthma, hay fever, food allergy),
Smallpox Vaccine: inflammatory myopathies,
Measles-mumps-rubella Vaccine (MMR): arthritis, autoimmune thrombocytopenia
Tuberculosis bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccine: inflammatory myopathies
Tetanus Vaccine:  inflammatory myopathies
Human Papilloma virus Vaccine: SLE
Hepstein Barr Vaccine: SLE
Hepatitis B Vaccine: arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLE, inflammatory myopathies
Influenza vaccine: polymyalgia rheumatic, SLE, Rheumatoid arthritis
H1N1 Vaccine: inflammatory myopathies, sometimes associated with interstitial lung disease

The list goes on. The more I search the more I find scientific published research on the relations between vaccines an autoimmune diseases. There are probably as many works stating the opposite. But here you go, up to you to juice out a truth. If there is a risk….why running it? Especially, why taking it for your child?
 
…next on breast implants and auto-immune diseases, ASIA syndrome, autism, children vaccination....




This text is to be taken as information, always refer to your medical doctor for questions. Learn to be informed before conseting on your or your child's health.