Paper
presented at the Durham Conference April 2000
Guts,
Brains & Gulf Veterans
Malcolm Hooper,
University of Sunderland UK

"There is an age
when one teaches what one knows but there follows
another when one teaches what one does not know". Roland
Barthes
1.
Introduction
I became involved with the Gulf War Veterans, GWVs, through my association with
the Autism Research Unit over many years. I met four GWVs at the Unit in 1997
and following discussions about their illnesses I agreed to help them in
whatever way I could. This led to my being appointed as their Chief Scientific
Adviser and subsequently to my membership of the Ministry of Defence, MoD,
Independent Panel and the Gulf Support Group, GSG, run out of the Royal British
Legion. This latter group involves MPs, members of the House of Lords,
representatives of the Service Charities, and Military personnel from the UK
and USA. Scientists involved in research into Gulf War Syndrome/Illness have
given presentations to the GSG.
2. The
Gulf War
The Gulf War is the without doubt the most toxic war in Western Military
history. The following exposures to biological and chemical toxins have been
recognised.
a. IN PREPARATION FOR THE WAR
(i) Pyridostigmine Bromide, PB, NAPS tablets.
(ii) Vaccinations in large numbers and of varied types.
b. IN THE THEATRE OF OPERATIONS.
(i) Further vaccinations.
(ii) Exposure to varieties of pesticides of different chemical classes,
and DEET, an insect repellent.
(iii) Depleted Uranium, DU, particularly as a ceramic dust.
(iv) Chemical Warfare Agents
(v) Possibly some Biological Warfare Agents
(vi) Extensive exposures to Crude Oil and Smoke from the Oil Well fires.
(vii) Exposure to very fine sand which penetrated the outer layer of NBC
(nuclear, chemical and biological) protective suits and might have toxins
adsorbed on to it. The so-called El Askan disease.
It is
apparent that a (i), (ii) and b (i-iii) are clearly
a result of the preparation of troops for Operation Granby (UK) and Operation
Desert Storm (USA). We exposed our own troops to major toxins. It can be argued
from first hand accounts that the chemical warfare agents were largely
liberated as a result of bombing of Iraqi production, distribution and storage
sites for chemical and biological weapons. These exposures can be linked
directly to the chronic illnesses Gulf War Veterans are experiencing. They
impact on many different systems in the body causing multi-symptom,
multi-organ, and multi-system adverse effects.
Table 1,
Hooper 2000a. For the official MoD line see their web site, http://www.mod.uk/gulfwar/. Evidence
challenging the official line is available in Burton, 1997; Tucker, 1997;
Thomas 1998; Hooper 2000a; and the House of Commons Select Defence Committee,
2000.
Table 1.
Known Effects of the Gulf Exposures on the Different Systems of the Body

X = a known adverse effect by an
agent on the system indicated.
CNS = Central Nervous
System; PNS = Peripheral Nervous System; ANS = Autonomic Nervous System; CV =
Cardiovascular System;
GI = Gastrointestinal
System. PB = Pyridostigmine Bromide; OPs = OrganoPhosphates; CBs = Carbamates;
Pyreth = Pyrethroids; Lind = Lindane; NA = Nerve Agents; Mus = Mustard agents;
DU = Depleted Uranium; O/S = Oil and Smoke
The Gulf War has been presented as an example of a bloodless victory by the
Coalition forces with very few casualties on the battlefield. The truth is
rather different, Table 2.
Table 2.
Numbers of Deployed, Dead, Wounded and Prisoners in Gulf War
|
TROOPS |
USA |
UK |
IRAQ |
|
PREPARED |
697,000 |
53,000 |
NOT KNOWN |
|
DEAD |
300 |
49 |
100,000 |
|
WOUNDED |
400 |
NOT KNOWN |
300,000 |
|
PRISONERS |
NOT KNOWN |
NOT KNOWN |
100,000 |
Although
battlefield casualties were few almost 15% of the USA troops have been placed
on registers of official Gulf-related illnesses and a 2-3 times greater
reporting of symptoms of ill-health have been reported in both the USA, Iowa
study, 1997, Fukuda et al, 1998 and UK, Unwin et al, 1999, Ismail et al, 1999.
Fukuda et al, 2000 Some 26% of USA troops are now in receipt of benefits for
Gulf War-associated illnesses according to a spokesperson for the Veterans'
Administration, VA, Nugent, 2000. Excess deaths have been reported among USA
personnel, Kang and Bullman, 1996, but the increase in UK deaths was not
significant, Macfarlane et al, 2000, Table 2 and 3. In both mortality studies
the time frame is too short to include any excess deaths that might arise from
cancers. In the UK one GWV has died every week since the end of the Gulf War.
Table 3
Registered Numbers of GWVs in Receipt of Health Care and Litigation
|
|
USA |
UK |
|
Ill-Registries |
111,000 |
n/a |
|
Medical Care |
253,000 |
n/a |
|
Filed Claims |
203,000 |
n/a |
|
Benefits |
183,000 |
n/a |
|
DEAD |
9,000** (~16,000) |
450 1/week |
*32, 000 cases pending. **VA
figure but many GWVs are now outside the VA system.
The symptoms
reported by the GWVs are described as of 'unknown origin', Merck 1999. and
overlap significantly with the symptoms associated with Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue syndrome, ME-CFS, Nicolson, 1996, and other
chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, FMS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity,
MCS, and even Multiple sclerosis and AIDS, Table 4.
Table 4
Common Symptoms shared by a number of Chronic Diseases.

+ Literature Reported
Adapted from Jackie
Burkhead but despite searching for a reference to the original table I have
been unable to find one.
3. Gulf War Veterans and IAG.
Paul Shattock recognised that the constellation of symptoms associated with
mood, cognition, memory and sleep disorder found in the GWVs was reminiscent of
some of the common symptoms found in autism. He decided that it would be
worthwhile to test the urine of GWVs for the presence of IAG-
indolylacroylglycine.
The IAG test has been developed and validated in the field of autism spectrum
disorders, ASD, where high levels of IAG have been found in ~80% of children
and young people, Shattock et al. 1997, 1998; Whiteley et al. 1999.
Independent laboratories have obtained similar results, AAL, 2000.
Figure
1. GWVS: (A) with clear and (B) doubtful IAG peak

We have
now tested some 40 GWVs and found in every case but one high levels of IAG
present in their urine, Figure 1. A number of children of GWVs have also been
found to have high levels of IAG, Figure 2 even when the father, Figure 1B, had
no clear IAG peak. We do not yet have any evidence that the children of GWVs
are more susceptible to autism spectrum disorders than children born to
non-deployed troops or those born to civilian parents. However it is a
disturbing thought that the kinds of exposures suffered in the Gulf might lead
to autistic spectrum disorders in children. There may be a parallel with the
unfolding story of vaccines and the newly identified autism-associated
ileo-colonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia, Wakefield et al, 1998. Such a
possibility is consistent with the identification of IAG as a major peak in chromatograms
obtained from urine samples of people with ME-CFS and MCS. Both these diagnoses
have been made in regard to some GWVs. Chemical and viral triggers are known to
play a role in other chronic disorders, Urnovitz, 1992.
Figure
2A. Children of GWV A Figure 2B. Children of GWV B

4. Origins and Actions of IAG.
IAG is probably a metabolite of indol-3-ylacrylic acid, IAcrA, which in turn is
derived from tryptophan. IAcrA has been found in small quantities in pigs born
and reared in an aseptic environment, Marklova, 1999. However it might also be
a product of metabolism by microorganisms in the gut. The most reasonable
biochemical pathway is via the lactate which is a minor tryptophan metabolite
in man- the major metabolite is indoleacetic acid, IAA, with virtually no
indolylethanol, I-ethanol. An alternative pathway might involve the
dehydrogenation of the propionate which is also a minor human metabolite
derived from anaerobic catabolism in the gut, Loo and Woolf, 1957; Shaw et al.
1960, Scheme 1.
A second metabolic pathway for the tryptophan involves opening of the indole
ring by tryptophan and indole dioxygenases, TDO/IDO, and catabolism via the
kynurenine pathway which leads to compounds with pro- and anti-convulsant
properties, Munoz-Hoyos et al., 1997. This pathway is widely used to regulate
the levels of free tryptophan, which is the only essential amino acid with
immunoregulatory properties. High levels of tryptophan are needed for T-cell
cloning which is responsible for combating infection and destroying cancer
cells. However, persistent and excessive stimulation of this pathway may be
important in the development of autoimmune diseases. Similarly lack of free
tryptophan can lead to increased susceptibility to infection and malignant
diseases, Mellor and Munn, 1999. 5-Hydroxytryptophan, 5-HT, (serotonin) is the
potent neurotransmitter molecule, which is formed by the action of tryptophan
hydroxylase, TrpOHase, on tryptophan. Although only about 1% of tryptophan is
utilised in this pathway any disturbance of this enzyme would have major
consequences for the brain, the gut and other key organs, Rang and Dale, 1991.
5-HT and drugs influencing its release have been studied in ASD with some
limited success.
On theoretical grounds IAcrA would be expected to disrupt membrane structures;
planar geometry would distort the regular arrangement of fatty acid residues in
membranes. Preliminary studies have shown this is the case, Bell 1999. A
further possibility is that IAcrA might also serve as an irreversible inhibitor
of key enzymes such as 5-hydroxytryptophan hydroxylase. Molecular modelling
provides some support for this, Anderson, 2000. Enzymes with an active serine
or cysteine moiety in their active site may also be inhibited by IAcrA, eg.
chymotrypsin and trypsin major digestive enzymes in the gut.
Scheme
1. IAG-ORIGINS?

5. IAG
and Opioids.
The production of IAG in the gut leads to extensive disorder of gut structure
and function. Digestive processes are reduced leading to incomplete breakdown
of proteins in the food and the increase in biologically active peptides such
as the casomorphins, derived from milk, and the gliadomorphins derived from
gluten. The compromised gut wall is 'leaky' and allows the opioid peptides
resulting in extensive modulation of peripheral and central opioid effects. The
central effects include changes in behaviour, cognition, perception and mood
via major effects on the higher executive functions. In autism there are also
changes in pain levels and in gut function which are consistent with this
hypothesis, eg. self harming behaviour and large stool formation. The opioid
theory of autism was first proposed by Pansepp, 1979 and since then has been
supported by the work of Reichelt, 1981 and Shattock and colleagues, 1997,1998,
1999, 2000. Recent research on dermorphins, possible products of microbial
metabolism, Clostridia spp. are the most likely source in the gut, has added to
this theory, Reference. Dermorphins are some 700-fold more potent than morphine
and opioids, AAL, 2000. They contain D-amino acids, which render them resistant
to metabolic breakdown and therefore prolong their actions in the body.
6.
Disordered Sulphate Metabolism.
Waring, 2000, has been responsible for systematic and extensive research in
this area. She found that serum sulphate/cysteine ratios were very low in many
autistic children who also had high IAG levels. Low sulphate levels would lead
to a number of important effects that would disturb normal physiological and
biochemical processes.
i.
Sulphation of glycosylaminoglycans, GAGs, is crucial for the integrity of
mucous membranes, Owens, 1998, such as those lining the gut.
ii. Secretory and
anchored mucins all involve appropriate sulphation levels.
iii. Many key GAGs
are involved in immune processes such as cytokine receptor binding, cell
migration and blood coagulation processes-
heparins have been used to treat
ME-CFS, Berg et al., 1999; see also Hannan et al., 2000.
iv. The important peptide hormones, cholecystokinin, CCK, and gastrin
exist in equilibrium with their sulphated molecules. Sulphated CCK has a
different spectrum of activity from the unsulphated molecule, Noble et al.,
1999. CCK is the most abundant neuropeptide in the central nervous system.
v. The important steroid hormone, dehydroepiandrostenone, DHEA, also
exists in equilibrium with its sulphated compound and is the most abundant
steroid in the body. It is linked to the production of all other steroids,
Kroboth et al., 1999.
vi. Bile acids important in the elimination of fat-soluble compounds
also depend upon sulphation for their efficient functioning.
vii. Sulphation is a key process, which facilitates the urinary
excretion of xenobiotics containing phenolic and amino groups.
viii. Sulphite oxidase the terminal enzyme of the sulphate cycle
contains molybdenum- supplementation with molybdenum has been shown to cause
significant improvements in behaviour in ~36% of autistic children, Waring,
2000.
ix. The terminal sulphate cycle is intimately linked to the
methionine/cysteine cycle which involves the production of methionine that
plays a key role in the methylation of major membrane components, folic acids
and nucleic acid precursors.
x. Glutathione a key controller of cellular redox potential is dependent
on the availability of cysteine.
xi. Taurine an excitatory amino acid depends on the methionine/cysteine
cycle.
xii. Homocysteine, which has been linked brain damage associated with
mental retardation and thromboembolic diseases is an important part of this
cycle.
xiii. The vitamins B6 and B12 are crucial to the proper functioning of
the methionine/cysteine cycle.
Urinary sulphite levels also serve to indicate disorders of sulphate metabolism
and we have found high urinary sulphite levels in every GWV tested to date.
Taken together the IAG/Opioid paradigm and disordered sulphate/cysteine
metabolism provide mechanisms, which may well be synergistic, for the extensive
biochemical disturbances that underlie both ASDs and GWS/I. New ways of
diagnosis and treatment are opened up by this work.
7. IAG,
Peptide hormones and the Gut-Brain Axis.
The gut is sometimes referred to as the second brain because it shares with the
brain many of the well-established neurotransmitters and the more recently
discovered neuropeptides, Table 5. This bi-directional signalling system,
Figure 3, allows changes in the gut to impact on brain chemistry and vice
versa. Amine precursor, uptake and decarboxylation, APUD, cells are present in
the gut and in key areas of the brain, particularly the hypothalamus which
controls endocrine production, Mulvihill et al, 1997.
Figure
3. Bidirectional signalling between the Gut and the Brain.
[Figure not included in webpage version]
Table
5. The site of the first identification of Peptide Hormones Common to the
Gut and the Brain
|
BRAIN |
GUT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtance P |
CCK |
PYY |
|
TRH |
GastrinNPY |
|
|
Somastatin |
Secretin Bombesin |
|
|
ENK |
VIP |
Neurotensin |
|
CGRP |
Glucagon |
GRP |
|
CRH |
PHI |
Insulin |
|
|
|
PP |
Sub P = Substance P; TRH = thyroid
releasing hormone; ENK = enkephalins; CGRP = calcitonin gene-related peptide;
CRH = corticotrophin-releasing hormone; CCK = cholecystokinin; VIP = vasoactive
intestinal polypeptide; PHI = peptide histidine leucine; PYY = peptide YY; NPY
= neuropeptide Y; GRH = gastrin-releasing hormone; PP = pancreatic polypeptide.
In
addition the gut and brain both use the established chemical transmitters,
acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-HT (serotonin), and histamine. These
shared neurotransmitters, endocrine, paracrine and autocrine hormones,
particularly the peptides, affect perception, cognition, behaviour, mood,
emotions and brain development. They also interact with the immune system, see
below. Note the presence of secretin, a pancreatic hormone, in the brain.
Although its function has not yet been identified it is noteworthy that injections
of secretin have proved helpful in treating some ASDs. The most widely
abundant peptide in the brain is CCK which acts differentially at two different
receptors, CCK1 and CCK2. Low levels of this peptide are associated with
anxiety, panic attacks and schizophrenia whilst high levels are associated with
depression and attenuation of memory and learning, free recall, and attenuated
recognition. Opioid peptides modulate the effects of CCK, Figure 4, Noble et
al., 1999.
Figure
4. Modulation of CCK Activity by Opioids

8. The
Gut and the Immune System.
The gut is the largest lymphoid organ in the body and throughout its length it
is rich in specialised areas of lymphoid tissue known as Peyer's patches. The
purpose of this extensive immunological barrier is to protect the body against
toxins and microorganisms which enter in food. Many pathological viruses and
bacteria are associated with the gut, eg. enteroviruses like polio, coxsackie,
and bacteria such as E.coli, Clostridia etc. see below. There is considerable
regional specialisation in the mucosal immune system, Brandtzaeg et al., 1999a,
1999b. Intestinal shape and integrity are changes and managed by T cells,
MacDonald et al. 1999. Inflammatory bowel disease and ASDs can be provoked by
infection as shown by the presence of lymphoid nodular hyperplasia in children
given measles virus in the triple vaccine, MMR. ME-CFS is strongly associated
with coxsachie B viral infection and post polio syndrome is another expression
of the consequences of another enteroviral inffection. In 45 % of GWVs there is
a positive test for Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus which has serious
pathogenic properties, Nicolson, 1996,1997, 1998. The role of infection in
chronic illnesses is becoming increasingly recognised. The major communicating
molecules generated by the immune system are cytokines such as Interleukin 1,
2, IL-1, IL-2 etc. There are receptors on brains cells for these molecules and
IL-1 sickness syndrome is well known. Cells of the immune system have receptors
for the peptides and other neurotransmitters used in the gut and the brain.
Hence it is now clear that there bidirectional signalling systems that allow
cross-talk between the nervous system, the endocrine and immune systems. Both
the gut and the brain are major organs affected by the signalling molecules
that are involved. This is the basis of the neuroendocrineimmune, NEI,
paradigm, Kavelaars et al. 2000, which is also known as psychoneuroimmunology,
PNI, Ader et al., 1991, see below.
9.
Natural Gut Microflora and Fauna.
The gut contents include a variety of micro-organisms particularly important
are the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria that break down food components,
especially carbohydrates and peptone-amino acids, in the diet and produce many
small molecules of importance, eg short chain organic acids, Table 6. Many of
them have complex nutritional requirements. The importance of these probiotic
organisms is increasingly being recognised. They populate different areas in
the gut from the lumen, through the mucus layer, to the epithelial surface and
finally to the crypts at the base of the villi, Mackie and Gaskins, 1999.
Table 6. Predominant Bacteria of the Intestinal Microflora.

It is
important to recognise that other micro-organisms play a part in the normal
functioning of the gut and some of these can give rise to serious disease, eg
E. coli and Candida spp. The bacterial population can be considerably
influenced by food and the following chart summarises an in vitro study which
shows the varying proportion of different bacteria at different levels in the
gut and how they change with the introduction of different carbohydrate
sources, Table 7. Of particular note is the considerable increase in the
proportion of lactobacilli and decrease in clostridia spp. when rice is the
carbohydrate source rather than wheat or oats.
Table 7.
Variations in Percentage of Gut Bacteria Populations with Different Food
Sources.
|
Bacteria |
RICE |
WHEAT |
OATS |
|
Lactobacillus |
67 |
0 |
18 |
|
Bifidobacteria |
11 |
8.3 |
79.2 |
|
Bacterioides |
22 |
47.2 |
0 |
|
Clostridia |
0 |
30.5 |
2.8 |
|
Coliforms |
0 |
5.5 |
0 |
|
Total Aerobes |
0 |
8.5 |
0 |
These
figures are from a model of one particular part of the bowel. Somewhat
different figures have been obtained for conditions modelled for other parts of
the bowel, Anon 2000. Note the dramatic changes in the lactobacillus levels
when the diet is changed from wheat to rice. A gluten free diet would lead to
increases in the lactobacillus population and a reduction in the clostridia
population.
The
Neuroendocrineimmune Paradigm.
The bidirectional signalling is summarised in Figure 5 and shown in more detail
in Figure 6. Opioid peptides are key signalling molecules between the
endocrine, immune, brain nerve tissues, and the pineal complex, the latter is
particularly associated with circadian rhythms.
Figure
5. Bidirectional signalling between the Nerve Tissue, N, the immune system, I,
and the Endocrine System

Figure
6. Challenge and Homeostasis in the NeuroendocrineImmune systems.

OPs =
Opioid Peptide transmitter molecules.
A new
and important region of challenge is by odours, which are transported
intraneuronally within the olfactory tract which enter the limbic system of the
brain directly since the tract penetrates the blood-brain barrier. This
mechanism is of great importance in MCS, Ashford and Miller, 1998.
11.
Multiple Overlapping Syndromes.
From the above it is clear that a number of little understood chronic
conditions appear to share a common set of biochemical markers indicative of
extensive disturbance and dysfunction of tryptophan, opioid, and suphur
metabolism. These shared characteristics are part of common mechanisms of pathology
associated with a number of overlapping syndromes, Hooper, 2000b, Figure 7. A
further common characteristic has been identified by Simpson, 1989a, 1989b;
Spurgin, 1995. He has found a high proportion of red blood cells, RBCs, with a
flattened discoid shape. These non-discocytic cells are associated with loss of
fluidity and flexibility of the membranes of RBCs with subsequent inability to
pass readily down small capillary blood vessels. The outcome is reduced
carriage of oxygen and reduced removal of waste products, carbon dioxide and
lactic acid especially, via RBCs. This gives rise to fatigue and the inability
to recover from exercise- fatiguability- so characteristic of all these
syndromes. An alternative measure of lipid membrane structure is the direct
test for lipids used by laboratories such as Biolab Medical.
Figure
7. Overlapping Syndromes with Common Biochemical Disturbances.

Key -see main text OCs,
organochlorine pesticides; ??? other related conditions; OPs = organophosphate
pesticides; GWS = Gulf War Syndrome; FMS = Fibromyalgia syndrome; ME-CFS =
Myalgic encephalomyelitis; MCS = Multiple Chemical Sensitivity; HPA =
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress axis.
If IAG,
Sulpite, or sulphate/cysteine ratios, and RBC shape and lipid structure form a
common core of shared biochemistry it is important that more specific tests
associated with the individual syndromes are identified. In the case of pesticide
poisoning specific identification of the pesticide will characterise the
syndrome/illness. Fibromyalgia and ME-CFS commonly exist together, White et al,
2000, but there are well established clinical tests that are used to diagnose
fibromyalgia. Very recently a specific test for ME-CFS has been reported that
distinguishes ME-CFS from fibromyalgia, Spence et al, 2000. MCS is generally
characterised by sensitivities to a wide group of chemicals at very low
concentrations, Ashford and Miller, 1998. Richardson, 2000, has described the
use of choline citrate and ascorbic acid to effectively treat organochlorine
poisoning in patients presenting with a diagnosis of ME-CFS.
12.
Treatment and the Sunderland Protocol [View ' The Sunderland
Protocol' here].
The Sunderland Protocol, Figure10, provides a structured programme of treatment
for all the overlapping syndromes are listed in the protocol and can be
justified from a consideration of the opioid theory of autism, disordered
sulphate, lipid and energy metabolism.
1. Remove
the 'bullets'. These are the opioid peptides routinely available in the diet.
Essentially this means removing milk and then gluten sources from the diet. The
effects of removing milk are most rapidly seen, usually within 3 weeks. If no
advantage is gained then it can be restored to the diet. Next take out the
gluten- the response here is much slower and takes up to 3 months to become
apparent. Children may respond more quickly. Almost always the effect is to
make the patient feel worse, at first. A useful analogy is with opiate
withdrawal symptoms.
TEST FOR PESTICIDES IN BLOOD/BODY FAT.
2. Restore sulphate levels and the sulphur cycle (this also includes the
methionine cycle). Sulphate can be provided by Epsom salt baths or with small
oral doses. Other sulphur supplements are MSM (methylsulphonylmethane). Garlic
and onions are good sources of sulphur compounds. Vitamin B6 and B12 are
essential in the methionine cycle. Assess Glutathione levels and glutathione
sulphur transferase function and activity.
3. Look at antioxidant status, Vitamin C, E, selenium and zinc and
possibly copper and iron.
4. Look at lipid metabolism and the use of essential fatty acids of the
n-3 and n-6 classes- fish oils and evening primrose oils etc.
5. Look at energy metabolism, succinate, NADH, Enzyme Co-Q, etc.
6. Take steps to restore gut function with probiotics, glutamine, enzyme
supplements such as papain, 'Seren-aid', etc.
Re-testing
can be done to measure changes in the different marker molecules and
improvement assessed by clinical tests.
The stepwise approach offers a helpful way of identifying those things that are
effective in ameliorating the syndrome/illness and avoids the confusion and
expense that is commonplace when people who are desperately ill try almost
anything in a random fashion.
Figure
10 The Sunderland Protocol-Slightly modified to cover all Overlapping
Syndromes.
[Figure not included in webpage version but see 'The Sunderland
Protocol']
It is
becoming increasingly clear that additives, sweeteners, colouring agents and
other ingredients in 'junk' foods which form an growing part of the diet of many
people, particularly the young, can have destructive social and behavioural
effects on children especially, Winder, 2000, Lewis, 1998; Werbach, 2000;
Anthony et al.,1997. Very significant improvements in behaviour and educational
achievements followed the strict withdrawal of such components from the diet of
school children, Winder 2000.
Also of
concern are the growing amounts of pesticides and preservatives that are
routinely consumed in food. The more complete the food the greater the
quantities of such materials that are consumed. For example, eating whole meal
bread will ensure the intake of essential vitamins and roughage but will at the
same time increase the intake of pesticides and preservatives many of which are
known to have adverse effects on many systems in the body, eg.
Organo-phosphates which are present in flour damage the nervous system, are
mutagenic and carcinogenic, induce asthmatic reactions, and slow heart rate
sometimes initiating a rebound tachycardia and hypertension. There is growing
concern about these components in all our foods. the association of these
toxins with the increasing numbers of ASDs, ME-CFS, asthma cases, etc.,
requires much more investigation. The increased emissions from road traffic,
especially the particulates in the PM range of <2.5 microns, are thought to
play an important part in the massive increase in childhood asthma.
Nevertheless,
at the present time our growing understanding of chronic overlapping syndromes
offers new ways of understanding and ameliorating the common symptoms of many
of these disorders. The suffering and struggle of those involved with these
syndromes is beginning to bear healing in this neglected and controversial area
of sickness. The Sunderland Protocol is part of this hopeful development. I
thank all who have borne the problems, difficulties and joys of ASDs for this
gift to Gulf War Veterans, OP poisoned farmers, and others who share this
disordered biochemistry.
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