Page 24 - Winter2009

Caustic Commentary

CHOLESTEROL AND LEUKEMIA The presence of a reservoir of good bacteria provides more
An alert member recently sent us a 1974 paper on cholesterol proof that homo sapiens lives in symbiotic relationship with
and leukemia—remember that this is before the anti-choles- gut bacteria. What we’d like to know is what antibiotic use
terol agenda was being applied to every man, woman and child does to the appendix—does it promote appendicitis, or lead
in the country. We can do no better than quote verbatim from to exhaustion through overuse?
the abstract: “Leukemia in mice and humans is accompanied
by a marked deficiency of unesterified cholesterol in the MORE SUGAR BLUES
surface membrane of leukemic cells as compared to normal While the Diet Dictocrats rant against saturated fats ad nau-
leukocytes. This deficiency induces a significant reduction seum, evidence for the dangers of refined sweeteners con-
in their membrane microviscosity. Since cholesterol in the tinues to grow. Researchers from Louisiana State University
cell surface membrane is exchangeable with the cholesterol Health Sciences Center have found that regular cola drink-
in the serum lipoproteins, concomitant to the cellular defi- ing is linked to diabetes in pregnancy (Diabetes Care, 2009
ciency of cholesterol, the average levels of cholesterol in the Dec;32(12):2236-2241). Another study found that a diet high in
blood serum of leukemic patients is substantially below the fructose increases the risk of developing high blood pressure
average normal level. Based on these observations and the (Science Daily, November 11, 2009). Girls who consume two
effect of membrane microviscosity on biological functions, or more eight-ounce servings of soft drinks a day at the age
a working hypothesis that describes the role of cholesterol in of five were more likely to be overweight than were girls with
the development and inhibition of leukemia is suggested. This lower intake, according to a study published in the American
hypothesis can also account for the effect of cholesterol and Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009 October;90(4):935-942).
membrane microviscosity on various other cellular activities Israeli scientists have found that people with non-alcoholic
of leukocytes.” And from the conclusion: “A controlled reduc- fatty liver disease tend to drink larger quantities of soft drinks
tion of cholesterol level in normal leukocytes may thus sensi- (foodnavigator-usa.com, September 25, 2009). According to
tize immune response processes or phagocytic activity above data gleaned from the 1970 British Cohort Study, children
threshold level beyond which malignant transformation and who eat sweets and chocolate every day are more likely to
the development of leukemia may occur. On the other hand, be violent as adults (Science Daily, October 1, 2009). Sugar
a controlled enrichment of cellular cholesterol in leukemic is not good for worms either. Researchers found that by add-
cells may prevent the development of latent leukemia and ing just a small amount of glucose to the diet of C. elegans,
may hopefully remit leukemia in its active form” (Proceed- the worms lost about 20 percent of their usual lifespan. The
ings of the National Academy of Sciences 1974;71:4229-4321). scientists traced the effect to insulin signals, which can block
In other words, low cholesterol predisposes to leukemia and other life-extending molecular players. According to Cynthia
higher cholesterol prevents this terrible disease. Kenyon of the University of California San Francisco, there
are many similarities between worms and people in the insulin
DARWIN WAS WRONG signaling pathways. (After making the initial discovery on
According to Darwin, the appendix was a useless biological worms, Kenyon switched to a low-carb diet, cutting out all
remnant, the remains of a larger structure called the cecum, starches and desserts.) Most seriously, Australian research
which was used by now-extinct ancestors for digestion. shows that sugar can permanently alter DNA. A team studying
Researchers have now found that not only does the appen- the impact of diet on human heart tissue and mice found that
dix appear in nature much more frequently than previously cells showed the effects of a single sugar hit for two weeks,
acknowledged, but that it actually serves a critical function. by switching off genetic controls designed to protect the
According to researchers at Duke University Medical Center, body against diabetes and heart disease. According to lead
the tiny organ provides a safe haven where good bacteria can researcher Sam El-Osta, “We now know that the chocolate
hang out until they are needed to repopulate the gut after, for bar you had this morning can have very acute effects, and
example, a bout of diarrhea (Science Daily, August 21, 2009). those effects can continue for up to two weeks. These changes
22 Wise Traditions WINTER 2009