Posted on 07/03/2008 8:12:29 PM PDT by neverdem
In the early 1990s, Joel Weinstock, a gastroenterologist, encountered a puzzle. The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (I.B.D.) across North America increased markedly during the 20th century. Many thought that “bad” genes would eventually explain the spike, but Weinstock didn’t buy it. In areas where fewer than two generations ago the I.B.D. incidence might have been as low as 1 in 10,000, it...
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If eliminating worms led to an increase in disease, could re-introducing worms actually treat these diseases? In mice, the answer was yes. Worms were used to “inoculate” against mouse asthma, Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and I.B.D. But how to re-worm humans? We got rid of them for a reason. Too many worms can lead to anemia or obstructed bowels. The wrong kind can cause considerable suffering, even death.
Weinstock spotted a prime candidate on pig farms. Pig farmers are chronically exposed to Trichuris suis, the pig whipworm, and tolerate it with no apparent side effects. (This is not the potentially dangerous worm found in undercooked pork.)
In 2005, he published results from two human studies. After ingesting 2,500 microscopic T. suis eggs at 3-week intervals for 24 weeks, 23 of 29 Crohn’s patients responded positively. (Crohn’s disease belongs to the I.B.D. family, which also includes ulcerative colitis.) Twenty-one went into complete remission. In the second study, 13 of 30 ulcerative colitis patients improved compared with 4 in the 24-person placebo group.
Scientists around the world are intrigued. Several large studies are under way. Trials using T. suis eggs on patients with multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s and hay fever are beginning in the United States, Australia and Denmark, respectively. In Germany, scientists are planning studies on asthma and food allergies. Other European scientists, meanwhile, plan to replicate many of these experiments with Necator americanus, a human hookworm...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Enter Weinstock j and helminths at PubMed's query box.
The FDA is poisoning us by trying so hard to protect us.
Worms, the new white meat.
FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.
The story is more about the cause and possible treatment of autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and type 1 diabetes, so I added a couple of names to the list for this ping.
This is Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, which are not to be confused with Irritable Bowel Disease, which is more symptom than pathology.
WORMS?... Leeches?.. WHats next the health benefits of VAMPIRE BATS?..
I’m off to go eat some dirt.
I have seen this theory referred to before. Crohn’s disease is virtually unknown in third-world countries. It has been postulated that our obsession with cleanliness in the U. S. is contributing to IBD and Crohn’s disease. The absence of natural bacteria in the intestines causes the body to attack itself. Mom was right when she said a little dirt will not kill you!
I have had Crohn’s for 22 years. It’s a bit late for me to go the worm route since I’ve had much of my “innards” removed but it’s definitely an interesting idea.
Interesting, I’d like to read more but I guess I’ll have to sign up at the NYT something I’ve always resisted.
Add me to the list, please.
Take two Badger bites and call me in the morning.
My off the cuff idea is if a human is host to worms then it is feeding a guest.
If worms are feeding on our digested or perhaps to much high fat/portion size ect then the worm is just eating what our body cannot absorb.
Hmm sound like a diet wieght lose program to me.
of course puking them up or pooping them out if they over multiply could be a huge freaky moment.
bookmark
I had a patient with an eating disorder who ate fleas. She was hoping to get tapeworms from them. Ooooh, the quest to be skinny.
She shoulda checked the Merck manual before she ate all those nasty fleas . . . . .
Would the yogurts that have the live bacteria help with Crohn’s symptoms?
SHoulda have suggest to her she go stand in a pile of dog doo 3 times a day.
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