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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Are Bacteria Making You Hungry?

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses; Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 29 Dec 2012 - 0:00 PST Current ratings for:
Are Bacteria Making You Hungry?
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Over the last half decade, it has become increasingly clear that the normal gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria play a variety of very important roles in the biology of human and animals. Now Vic Norris of the University of Rouen, France, and coauthors propose yet another role for GI bacteria: that they exert some control over their hosts' appetites. Their review was published online ahead of print in the Journal of Bacteriology.

This hypothesis is based in large part on observations of the number of roles bacteria are already known to play in host biology, as well as their relationship to the host system. "Bacteria both recognize and synthesize neuroendocrine hormones," Norris et al. write. "This has led to the hypothesis that microbes within the gut comprise a community that forms a microbial organ interfacing with the mammalian nervous system that innervates the gastrointestinal tract." (That nervous system innervating the GI tract is called the "enteric nervous system." It contains roughly half a billion neurons, compared with 85 billion neurons in the central nervous system.)

"The gut microbiota respond both to both the nutrients consumed by their hosts and to the state of their hosts as signaled by various hormones," write Norris et al. That communication presumably goes both ways: they also generate compounds that are used for signaling within the human system, "including neurotransmitters such as GABA, amino acids such as tyrosine and tryptophan - which can be converted into the mood-determining molecules, dopamine and serotonin" - and much else, says Norris.

Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that gut bacteria may play a role in diseases such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, and thyroid disease, through their influence on host signaling pathways. They may even influence mood disorders, according to recent, pioneering studies, via actions on dopamine and peptides involved in appetite. The gut bacterium, Campilobacter jejuni, has been implicated in the induction of anxiety in mice, says Norris.

But do the gut flora in fact use their abilities to influence choice of food? The investigators propose a variety of experiments that could help answer this question, including epidemiological studies, and "experiments correlating the presence of particular bacterial metabolites with images of the activity of regions of the brain associated with appetite and pleasure."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our cervical cancer / hpv vaccine section for the latest news on this subject. Formal publication is scheduled for the February 2013 issue of the Journal of Bacteriology.

(V. Norris, F. Molina, and A.T. Gewirtz, 2012. Hypothesis: bacteria control host appetites. J. Bacteriol. Online ahead of print 9 November 2012.)

American Society for Microbiology

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Thursday, July 5, 2012

BMJ Accused Of Making False And Misleading Statements Regarding "Atkins-Style" Diet

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness; Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 02 Jul 2012 - 10:00 PDT

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BMJ Accused Of Making False And Misleading Statements Regarding "Atkins-Style" Diet
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The BMJ (British Medical Journal) has been asked by Atkins Nutritionals Inc. to retract what it calls a "false and misleading statement" that a Swedish study found that an "Atkins-style" diet causes increased risk of cardiovascular disease among a specific female population in Sweden. The researchers in the study never used the term "Atkins-style". Atkins Nutritionals Inc. added that the diet used in the study "did not in any way resemble the Atkins Diet". The Atkins diet starts at 10% carbohydrates, with gradual increments to 20% to 30% over a period of several weeks as the dieter approaches and maintains target weight. The diet used in the study had 51% carbohydrates.

Atkins Nutritionals stressed that its Atkins Diet "emphasizes a healthy balance of proteins and good fats, and includes vegetables, fruits and even whole grains."

In a communiqué, Atkins Nutritionals Inc. wrote:

"It appears that BMJ, to draw public attention to its story, misleadingly inserted the false suggestion that an "Atkins-style" diet was used in the study, and omitted the conclusion of the Swedish researchers that diets similar to the actual Atkins Diet do not necessarily harm cardiovascular health."

The company has demanded that BMJ apologies and takes corrective action.

Several studies over the last few years have, in fact, demonstrated that the Atkins Diet reduces the risk of heart and cardiovascular diseases. Atkins Nutritionals quoted a 2010 study published in the journal Circulation which showed that a 24-month weight loss diet can induce a significant regression in heart disease markers and a fall in blood pressure. Study leader, Iris Shai, RD, PhD, and team concluded that weight loss diets, including low-fat, Mediterranean, or low-carbohydrate strategies have considerable cardiovascular and heart benefits for people wishing to lose weight. ("Dietary Intervention to Reverse Carotid Atherosclerosis").

A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine in 2010, entitled "Weight and Metabolic Outcomes After Two Years On a Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diet: A Randomized Trial" showed that those on a low-carbohydrate diet had better outcomes regarding heart disease and hypertension risk factors compared to people on a low-fat diet. (Link to article)

Researchers from Duke University Medical Center and Veterans Affairs Medical Center found that a low-carbohydrate diet is not only as good as a low-fat plus obesity pill regime, but also was much better at helping people lower their blood pressure. (Link to article)

A 2007 study carried out by researchers at Stanford University, California, concluded that the Atkins diet is probably the best one around. The scientists published their findings in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) and reported that the Atkins Diet resulted in the best blood pressure levels and the most weight loss, compared to other diets examined in their study. (Link to article)

Studies over the last few years have revealed numerous benefits of following a low-carbohydrate diet, including:

Dr. David Haslam, GP bariatric physician and former chair of the British Obesity Forum adds:

"The editorial to this Swedish research is below the standards one expects of the British Medical Journal and betrays the lack of awareness of scientific principles or the requirement of checking facts before publication. The Atkins Diet is a scientifically validated one, which is balanced and contains the foods deemed important by this paper. Furthermore, Atkins is a diet I recommend to my patients."

Monty Sharma, CEO of Atkins Nutritionals, said:

"We request those media outlets who have unwittingly republished the British Medical Journal's incorrect statements to speak with Atkins and learn what the Atkins diet really is - a healthy, scientifically proven diet that includes healthy carbs, doesn't cut out any food groups, and is being passionately supported by millions of successful dieters across the globe."

Further reading: "What is the Atkins Diet?"

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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