Balanced Diet

Usman said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

Balanced? You eat mostly carbs, man! Where's the protein? Where's the
fat? At the very least, you should be eating loads of salmon or taking
omega-3 fish oil supplements. It might even help you get rid of that
depression...

Usman said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

Quoted message said:

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

Just Cocky has the right idea, you need more protein. And, you probably
need to start excercising.

You might want to get your hormone levels checked because those decline
with age.

--
Ron

20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I'm not a doctor, but here is my suggestion: Take your medication or get it
replaced with something which works better. Get psychological counseling, if
possible. Try to excercise daily, even walking is ok. Eat some fatty fish
daily. And use some supplements such as 1 g ethyl-EPA/d (or 6-9 g EPA+DHA
from fish oil, if ethyl-EPA is not available), 1 mg vitamin B12/d, folic
acid and other B-vitamins, vitamin D (2000 IU/d), vitamin C, vitamin E,
selenium, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, curcumin (or turmeric) and ginger. All of
these are important and necessary, if your depression is as severe as you
claim.

Major depression is often accompanied with low level systemic inflammation,
I don't know if it is a cause or consueqence, but you need to curb this
inflammation and increased free radical production caused by it to prevent
any further biological damage and to stop depression from getting worse.
Many of the above supplements are meant for that purpose, to stop the damage
inflammation is causing and to catch the free radicals. Curcumin and and
ginger help to reduce inflammation.

Depressed patient have low levels of long chain omega-3 fatty acids
(especially EPA) in their cells, the level of these fatty acids correlate
inversely with severity of depression. Low levels of omega-3 could be caused
by excessive lipid peroxidation (caused by freee radicals created by
inflammation) and/or low intake. Ethyl-EPA or fish oil help to restore the
omega-3 levels, and they also help in inhibiting inflammation. 1 g ethyl-
EPA/d and 6-9 g of EPA+DHA from fish oil have been effective in preliminary
trials, enhancing the effect of antidepressant medication.

Folic acid has also enhanced the effect of antidepressants in trials, and
many depressed people have low B12 status.

Antioxidants vitamin C and E, and selenium will help in making free radicals
harmless. Ginkgo biloba is also antioxidant, but in addtion it and Panax
ginseng help to bring down stress hormon cortisol level, which is often
elevated in depression. Ginkgo also protects your brain, especially
hippocampus from a potential athropy chronic depression otherwise could
possibly cause.

I don't know where you live, but if you don't get enough UVB radiation onto
a large enough area of skin throughout the year (20 minutes whole body
exposure on a clear summer day gives equivalent of 10000 - 25000 IU of
vitamin D, which is a lot more than you need), take vitamin D daily at least
in winter, if live at latitude higher than 35-40. Low vitamin D status can
cause secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can cause depression. Vitamin D
has been found effective in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in at least
one trial, and another trial found that it improved the mood of healthy
volunteers in winter.

--
Matti Narkia

I think you did a good step towards questioning if you diet has
something to do with your mental state (one of many things that you are
able to optimize!).

Maybe you eat too many bananas, maybe too much fruit. Ripe bananas have
a very high glycemic index (GI), which leads to a sharp rise of your
blood sugar level and a decline that is just as rapid. Does anyone know
if the rise and fall of sugar in your blood influences serotonin levels
(and promotes depression)?

As suggested in another post, you could eat more omega 3/6/9 fats, and
complete proteins. Does anyone know if limiting the intake of these fats
and protein can promote depression - are there publications?
Additionally, in your state it might be good to consume mineral and
vitamin supplements to make sure that you do not lack essential
minerals/vitmanins.

Though not related to your question: exercise. Get involved in team
sports, rather than just doing exercise by yourself.

Chris

Usman said:

Hi,

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

Thanks,
Usman

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:19:36 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I'm not a doctor, but here is my suggestion: Take your medication or get it
replaced with something which works better. Get psychological counseling, if
possible. Try to excercise daily, even walking is ok. Eat some fatty fish
daily. And use some supplements such as 1 g ethyl-EPA/d (or 6-9 g EPA+DHA
from fish oil, if ethyl-EPA is not available), 1 mg vitamin B12/d, folic
acid and other B-vitamins, vitamin D (2000 IU/d), vitamin C, vitamin E,
selenium, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, curcumin (or turmeric) and ginger. All of
these are important and necessary, if your depression is as severe as you
claim.

One more thing: reduce your intake of omega-6 fatty acids to minimum, they
promote inflammation. In cooking and salads use only oils rich in
monounsatured fatty acids, such as extra virgin olive oil.

--
Matti Narkia

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:24:49 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:19:36 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I'm not a doctor, but here is my suggestion: Take your medication or get it
replaced with something which works better. Get psychological counseling, if
possible. Try to excercise daily, even walking is ok. Eat some fatty fish
daily. And use some supplements such as 1 g ethyl-EPA/d (or 6-9 g EPA+DHA
from fish oil, if ethyl-EPA is not available), 1 mg vitamin B12/d, folic
acid and other B-vitamins, vitamin D (2000 IU/d), vitamin C, vitamin E,
selenium, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, curcumin (or turmeric) and ginger. All of
these are important and necessary, if your depression is as severe as you
claim.

Major depression is often accompanied with low level systemic inflammation,
I don't know if it is a cause or consueqence, but you need to curb this
inflammation and increased free radical production caused by it to prevent
any further biological damage and to stop depression from getting worse.
Many of the above supplements are meant for that purpose, to stop the damage
inflammation is causing and to catch the free radicals. Curcumin and and
ginger help to reduce inflammation.

Depressed patient have low levels of long chain omega-3 fatty acids
(especially EPA) in their cells, the level of these fatty acids correlate
inversely with severity of depression. Low levels of omega-3 could be caused
by excessive lipid peroxidation (caused by freee radicals created by
inflammation) and/or low intake. Ethyl-EPA or fish oil help to restore the
omega-3 levels, and they also help in inhibiting inflammation. 1 g ethyl-
EPA/d and 6-9 g of EPA+DHA from fish oil have been effective in preliminary
trials, enhancing the effect of antidepressant medication.

Folic acid has also enhanced the effect of antidepressants in trials, and
many depressed people have low B12 status.

Antioxidants vitamin C and E, and selenium will help in making free radicals
harmless. Ginkgo biloba is also antioxidant, but in addtion it and Panax
ginseng help to bring down stress hormon cortisol level, which is often
elevated in depression. Ginkgo also protects your brain, especially
hippocampus from a potential athropy chronic depression otherwise could
possibly cause.

I don't know where you live, but if you don't get enough UVB radiation onto
a large enough area of skin throughout the year (20 minutes whole body
exposure on a clear summer day gives equivalent of 10000 - 25000 IU of
vitamin D, which is a lot more than you need), take vitamin D daily at least
in winter, if live at latitude higher than 35-40. Low vitamin D status can
cause secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can cause depression. Vitamin D
has been found effective in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in at least
one trial, and another trial found that it improved the mood of healthy
volunteers in winter.

Zinc and B6 could also be useful in depression.

An excerpt from the page

Depression Center
<http://health.yahoo.com/centers/depression/2510> :

"* Low-grade inflammation. Depression affects a number of
elements of the immune system to produce an enhanced
inflammatory response. Researchers now believe that
inflammation is a major source of coronary artery disease
and also exacerbates blood clotting.

* Stress hormones. Depression is associated with
chronically elevated stress hormones, such as cortisol
and adrenaline. These hormones have myriad actions on the
brain and body organs. They may directly put a burden on
heart muscle and result in cardiac distress. They also
raise levels of blood sugar, insulin and cholesterol,
promoting atherosclerosis in coronary arteries. What's
more, stress hormones put the body in attack mode,
preparing it for "fight or flight," diverting metabolism
away from the needed repair of damaged heart tissue."

Another excerpt, from

Essential Fatty Acids, Linus Pauling Institute's Micronutrient Information
Center
<http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/index.html> :

"Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Data from ecological studies across different countries
suggest an inverse association between seafood
consumption and national rates of major depression127 and
bipolar disorder.128 Several small studies have found
omega-3 fatty acid concentrations to be lower in the
plasma129, 130 and adipose tissue (fat)131 of individuals
suffering from depression compared to controls. Although
it is not known how increased omega-3 fatty acid intake
affects the incidence of depression, modulation of
neuronal signaling pathways and eicosanoid production
have been proposed as possible mechanisms.132 The results
of randomized controlled trials of supplementation with
long-chain omega-3 fatty acids on depression have been
mixed. Adding fish oil supplements (8 g/day) to existing
therapy in people who were being treated for depression
was not significantly more effective than adding the same
amount of olive oil for 12 weeks.133 Supplementation with
2 g/day of DHA for 6 weeks was not significantly more
effective than a placebo in the treatment of major
depression.134 However, a small randomized controlled
trial in Chinese patients diagnosed with major depression
found that supplementation with 6.6 g/day of EPA + DHA
for 8 weeks improved scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale
for Depression compared to placebo.135 Another small
randomized controlled trial in 30 women diagnosed with
borderline personality disorder found that the 20 women
randomized to treatment with 1 g/day of ethyl-EPA for 8
weeks experienced less severe depressive symptoms than
the 10 women randomized to treatment with a placebo.136
Unipolar depression and bipolar disorder are considered
distinct psychiatric conditions, although major
depression occurs in both. A randomized controlled trial
that assessed the effects of high doses of EPA (6.2
g/day) + DHA (3.4 g/day) in patients with bipolar
disorder found that those supplemented with EPA + DHA had
a significantly longer period of remission than those on
an olive oil placebo over a 4-month period.137 Patients
who took the EPA + DHA supplements also experienced less
depression than those who took the placebo. Although the
results of a few small controlled trials are somewhat
optimistic, larger and long-term randomized controlled
trials are required to determine the efficacy of long-
chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on major
depression."

--
Matti Narkia

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:24:49 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:19:36 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I'm not a doctor, but here is my suggestion: Take your medication or get it
replaced with something which works better. Get psychological counseling, if
possible. Try to excercise daily, even walking is ok. Eat some fatty fish
daily. And use some supplements such as 1 g ethyl-EPA/d (or 6-9 g EPA+DHA
from fish oil, if ethyl-EPA is not available), 1 mg vitamin B12/d, folic
acid and other B-vitamins, vitamin D (2000 IU/d), vitamin C, vitamin E,
selenium, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, curcumin (or turmeric) and ginger. All of
these are important and necessary, if your depression is as severe as you
claim.

Major depression is often accompanied with low level systemic inflammation,
I don't know if it is a cause or consueqence, but you need to curb this
inflammation and increased free radical production caused by it to prevent
any further biological damage and to stop depression from getting worse.
Many of the above supplements are meant for that purpose, to stop the damage
inflammation is causing and to catch the free radicals. Curcumin and and
ginger help to reduce inflammation.

Depressed patient have low levels of long chain omega-3 fatty acids
(especially EPA) in their cells, the level of these fatty acids correlate
inversely with severity of depression. Low levels of omega-3 could be caused
by excessive lipid peroxidation (caused by freee radicals created by
inflammation) and/or low intake. Ethyl-EPA or fish oil help to restore the
omega-3 levels, and they also help in inhibiting inflammation. 1 g ethyl-
EPA/d and 6-9 g of EPA+DHA from fish oil have been effective in preliminary
trials, enhancing the effect of antidepressant medication.

Folic acid has also enhanced the effect of antidepressants in trials, and
many depressed people have low B12 status.

Antioxidants vitamin C and E, and selenium will help in making free radicals
harmless. Ginkgo biloba is also antioxidant, but in addtion it and Panax
ginseng help to bring down stress hormon cortisol level, which is often
elevated in depression. Ginkgo also protects your brain, especially
hippocampus from a potential athropy chronic depression otherwise could
possibly cause.

I don't know where you live, but if you don't get enough UVB radiation onto
a large enough area of skin throughout the year (20 minutes whole body
exposure on a clear summer day gives equivalent of 10000 - 25000 IU of
vitamin D, which is a lot more than you need), take vitamin D daily at least
in winter, if live at latitude higher than 35-40. Low vitamin D status can
cause secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can cause depression. Vitamin D
has been found effective in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in at least
one trial, and another trial found that it improved the mood of healthy
volunteers in winter.

Zinc and B6 could also be useful in depression.

Brains does actually shrink in severe depression. Shrinkage may be at least
partially reversed with successful treatment:

Chapter 6: What happens inside people's brains when they're depressed?
How brains reshape during mood disorders
PsychEducation
<http://www.psycheducation.org/mechanism/6atrophy.htm>

"Summary

There have been studies showing a change in brain
activity when mood shifts, but there is now also research
showing a change in brain shape that appears to be
associated with severe mood disorders. The brain
shrinks, or rather, certain parts of it do. One of those
parts is called the hippocampus. This part is associated
with making and being able to recall memories. If mood
symptoms are severe or go on very long, the hippocampus
shrinks. This chapter shows you the evidence that this
shrinkage really occurs. The same process appears also
to be occurring in frontal lobes as well, though not
elsewhere in the brain. This brain shrinkage, called
"atrophy", has long been associated with Alzheimer's
dementia; but lately it has also been associated with
obesity, and even with back pain -- perhaps through some
common mechanism with depression?"

Chapter 11: Can the Shrinkage Be Reversed?
Does Treatment Help?
PsychEducation
<http://www.psycheducation.org/mechanism/11Reversible.htm>

"Summary: The answer is yes. In several different
stress-related conditions all of which are known to cause
hippocampal shrinkage, there is evidence that effective
treatment can at least partially reverse this atrophy,
leading to growth rather than further loss. Just how much
recovery is possible remains to be seen, but in one study
shown here, function returned to normal. Update March
2005: new evidence suggests that exercise may be one of
these effective treatments that can reverse brain
atrophy."

Anti-Depressants and ECT Increase Growth And Protects Brain Cells
<http://www.lorenbennett.org/nectandtantidep.htm>

--
Matti Narkia

On 20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800, Usman wrote in
<news:[email hidden]> on
sci.med.nutrition :

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I guess your diet has been recommended for some specific reason...
Anyway, forgive me, but that seems to me quite a dull diet!
My absolutely personal and non-professional advice is: try some real
cooking! 🙂 I mean whatever you like (as long as it is compatible with
your allergies, of course) and enjoy real food. I am not saying that a
specific diet cannot help, but food can be a pleasure and a joy, an
interesting experience, not just "nutrition" or "treatment".
As for your diet, it seems to me it's not "balanced", as you only eat
carbs and fiber. They are okay, but - as others already said - you
also need protein and fat and vitamins and minerals. I think exercise
might help as well. My mood is much better after a good swim or a good
walk.

I searched Pubmed for some studies about food and mood, in additition
to those posted by Matti.
I don't know if they apply to your case though.

===

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12034132&query_hl=4

1: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2002 May;26(3):293-308.

Carbohydrate ingestion, blood glucose and mood.

Benton D.

Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park,
Swansea SA2 8PP, UK. [email hidden]

A series of studies have reported that a high carbohydrate meal, or
diets high in carbohydrate, were associated with feeling less
energetic. However, after a drink containing pure sugar most studies
report no effect. Meals almost exclusively carbohydrate increase the
availability of tryptophan and hence serotonin synthesis in the brain,
however, a small amount of protein blocks this mechanism making it an
uncommon response. In many individuals, poor mood stimulates the
eating of palatable high carbohydrate/high fat foods that stimulate
the release of endorphins. There is a tendency for those with lower
blood glucose, when performing cognitively demanding tasks, to report
poorer mood. In a range of situations an association between a
tendency for blood glucose levels to fall rapidly, and irritability,
has been found. Differences in the ability to control blood glucose
levels influence the association between carbohydrate intake and mood.
There is a need in future research to contrast the impact of
carbohydrate on mood in those distinguished because of their
pre-existing psychological and physiological functioning.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 12034132 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

===

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10610080&query_hl=50

1: Public Health Nutr. 1999 Sep;2(3A):403-9.

The effects of nutrients on mood.

Benton D, Donohoe RT.

Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Swansea, UK.
[email hidden]

A recent major theory was that a meal high in carbohydrate increased
the rate that tryptophan enters the brain, leading to an increase in
the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin that modulates mood.
Although such a mechanism may be important under laboratory conditions
it is unlikely to be of significance following the eating of any
typical meal. As little as 2-4% of the calories of a meal as protein
will prevent an increased availability of tryptophan. Arguably the
food with the greatest impact on mood is chocolate. Those who crave
chocolate tend to do so when they feel emotionally low. There have
been a series of suggestions that chocolate's mood elevating
properties reflect 'drug-like' constituents including anandamines,
caffeine, phenylethylamine and magnesium. However, the levels of these
substances are so low as to preclude such influences. As all palatable
foods stimulate endorphin release in the brain this is the most likely
mechanism to account for the elevation of mood. A deficiency of many
vitamins is associated with psychological symptoms. In some elderly
patients folate deficiency is associated with depression. In four
double-blind studies an improvement in thiamine status was associated
with improved mood. Iron deficiency anaemia is common, particularly in
women, and is associated with apathy, depression and rapid fatigue
when exercising.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 10610080 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

===

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16326577&query_hl=38

1: Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14 Suppl:S87.

Diet and mood state.

Worsley A, Nowson CA, Margerison C, Jorna MK.

School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood,
Victoria, Australia.

Background - There is some limited data indicating that dietary intake
may alter mood states, but most of this is anecdotal. A number of
dietary factors have been associated with reduction in blood pressure,
which could, in part be related to positive effects on general mood
states. Objective - To determine if urinary excretion of particular
minerals is associated with different mood states and if changing to
one of the test diets DASH type diet (high fruits, vegetables and low
fat dairy products) (OZDASH), a low salt, high fruit/vegetable diet
(LNAHK) or a high calcium diet (HC) has an effect on mood state.
Design - Subjects completed an abbreviated 37-item version of the
Profile of Mood States weekly throughout a 14-week dietary study. Each
person consumed two different types of diets for 4 weeks, preceded by
a 2 week control diet and performed 24-hr urine collections
fortnightly. Outcomes - For the 62 subjects who completed all tasks,
throughout the study, there was a significant inverse association with
24-urinary excretion of calcium and potassium with depression (r=
-0.26 P <0.05, r= -0.25 P <0.05), calcium and fatigue (r= -0.29 P
<0.01) and a positive association for sodium and vigour (r=0.39 P
=0.01). When assessing the change in urinary electrolytes, moving from
the control diet to one of the test diets, there was a significant
reduction in tension and anger with all diets (OZDASH (n=93) P <0.05,
LNAHK (n=43) P <0.01 and HC (n=47) P <0.01), a reduction in fatigue on
the OZDASH and HC (P <0.01), a reduction in confusion on the OZDASH
and LNAHK (P <0.05) and a reduction in depression on the HC diet (P
<0.05) there were no differences in the vigour scores on any diet. The
HC diet had the lowest anger and depression scores and both the OZDASH
and HC diet reported lower fatigue scores. Conclusion - These findings
strongly suggest that mood is related to mineral metabolism. Dietary
change may affect mood state, particularly the inverse association of
calcium and potassium to depression/fatigue. These findings should be
treated with caution but strongly suggest further replication studies
are warranted.

PMID: 16326577 [PubMed - in process]

===

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8297922&query_hl=4

: J Psychiatry Neurosci. 1993 Nov;18(5):235-44. Related Articles, Links

The use of diet and dietary components in the study of factors
controlling affect in humans: a review.

Young SN.

Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Although one of the first biological treatments of a major psychiatric
disorder was the dietary treatment of pellagra, the use of diet and
dietary components in the study of psychopathology has not aroused
much interest. This article reviews three areas in which the dietary
approach has provided interesting information. The tryptophan
depletion strategy uses a mixture of amino acids devoid of tryptophan
to lower brain tryptophan in order to study the symptoms that can be
elicited. One effect of tryptophan depletion is a lowering of mood,
the magnitude of which seems to depend on the baseline state of the
subject. Therefore, recovered depressed patients often undergo an
acute relapse, while normal subjects show more moderate changes of
mood. Totally euthymic subjects show no lowering of mood, but subjects
with high normal depression scale scores or subjects with a family
history of depression show a moderate lowering of mood. These data
indicate that low serotonin levels alone cannot cause depression.
However, serotonin does have a direct effect on mood, and low levels
of serotonin contribute to the etiology of depression in some
depressed patients. Folic acid deficiency causes a lowering of brain
serotonin in rats, and of cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic
acid in humans. There is a high incidence of folate deficiency in
depression, and there are indications in the literature that some
depressed patients who are folate deficient respond to folate
administration. Folate deficiency is known to lower levels of
S-adenosylmethionine, and S-adenosylmethionine is an antidepressant
that raises brain serotonin levels. These data suggest that low levels
of serotonin in some depressed patients may be a secondary consequence
of low levels of S-adenosylmethionine. They also suggest that the
dietary intake and psychopharmacological action of methionine, the
precursor of S-adenosylmethionine, should be studied in patients with
depression. Normal meals have definite effects on mood and performance
in humans. The composition of the meal, in terms of protein and
carbohydrate content, can influence these behaviors. Because protein
and carbohydrate meals can influence brain serotonin in rats, these
effects in humans have usually been interpreted in terms of altered
serotonin functioning. However, the current balance of evidence is
against the involvement of serotonin in the acute effects of protein
and carbohydrate meals in humans. The underlying mechanisms involved
are unknown, but there are a variety of possibilities.(ABSTRACT
TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 8297922 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 03:05:11 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:24:49 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm not a doctor, but here is my suggestion: Take your medication or get it
replaced with something which works better. Get psychological counseling, if
possible. Try to excercise daily, even walking is ok. Eat some fatty fish
daily. And use some supplements such as 1 g ethyl-EPA/d (or 6-9 g EPA+DHA
from fish oil, if ethyl-EPA is not available), 1 mg vitamin B12/d, folic
acid and other B-vitamins, vitamin D (2000 IU/d), vitamin C, vitamin E,
selenium, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, curcumin (or turmeric) and ginger. All of
these are important and necessary, if your depression is as severe as you
claim.

Major depression is often accompanied with low level systemic inflammation,
I don't know if it is a cause or consueqence, but you need to curb this
inflammation and increased free radical production caused by it to prevent
any further biological damage and to stop depression from getting worse.
Many of the above supplements are meant for that purpose, to stop the damage
inflammation is causing and to catch the free radicals. Curcumin and and
ginger help to reduce inflammation.

Depressed patient have low levels of long chain omega-3 fatty acids
(especially EPA) in their cells, the level of these fatty acids correlate
inversely with severity of depression. Low levels of omega-3 could be caused
by excessive lipid peroxidation (caused by freee radicals created by
inflammation) and/or low intake. Ethyl-EPA or fish oil help to restore the
omega-3 levels, and they also help in inhibiting inflammation. 1 g ethyl-
EPA/d and 6-9 g of EPA+DHA from fish oil have been effective in preliminary
trials, enhancing the effect of antidepressant medication.

Folic acid has also enhanced the effect of antidepressants in trials, and
many depressed people have low B12 status.

Antioxidants vitamin C and E, and selenium will help in making free radicals
harmless. Ginkgo biloba is also antioxidant, but in addtion it and Panax
ginseng help to bring down stress hormon cortisol level, which is often
elevated in depression. Ginkgo also protects your brain, especially
hippocampus from a potential athropy chronic depression otherwise could
possibly cause.

I don't know where you live, but if you don't get enough UVB radiation onto
a large enough area of skin throughout the year (20 minutes whole body
exposure on a clear summer day gives equivalent of 10000 - 25000 IU of
vitamin D, which is a lot more than you need), take vitamin D daily at least
in winter, if live at latitude higher than 35-40. Low vitamin D status can
cause secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can cause depression. Vitamin D
has been found effective in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in at least
one trial, and another trial found that it improved the mood of healthy
volunteers in winter.

Zinc and B6 could also be useful in depression.

Brains does actually shrink in severe depression. Shrinkage may be at least
partially reversed with successful treatment:

Chapter 6: What happens inside people's brains when they're depressed?
How brains reshape during mood disorders
PsychEducation
<http://www.psycheducation.org/mechanism/6atrophy.htm>

"Summary

There have been studies showing a change in brain
activity when mood shifts, but there is now also research
showing a change in brain shape that appears to be
associated with severe mood disorders. The brain
shrinks, or rather, certain parts of it do. One of those
parts is called the hippocampus. This part is associated
with making and being able to recall memories. If mood
symptoms are severe or go on very long, the hippocampus
shrinks. This chapter shows you the evidence that this
shrinkage really occurs. The same process appears also
to be occurring in frontal lobes as well, though not
elsewhere in the brain. This brain shrinkage, called
"atrophy", has long been associated with Alzheimer's
dementia; but lately it has also been associated with
obesity, and even with back pain -- perhaps through some
common mechanism with depression?"

Chapter 11: Can the Shrinkage Be Reversed?
Does Treatment Help?
PsychEducation
<http://www.psycheducation.org/mechanism/11Reversible.htm>

"Summary: The answer is yes. In several different
stress-related conditions all of which are known to cause
hippocampal shrinkage, there is evidence that effective
treatment can at least partially reverse this atrophy,
leading to growth rather than further loss. Just how much
recovery is possible remains to be seen, but in one study
shown here, function returned to normal. Update March
2005: new evidence suggests that exercise may be one of
these effective treatments that can reverse brain
atrophy."

Anti-Depressants and ECT Increase Growth And Protects Brain Cells
<http://www.lorenbennett.org/nectandtantidep.htm>

In the same vein:

Sheline YI, [censored] PW, Gado MH, Csernansky JG, Vannier MW.
Hippocampal atrophy in recurrent major depression.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Apr 30;93(9):3908-13.
PMID: 8632988 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/9/3908>
<http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/93/9/3908> (PDF)
<http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=8632988>

"Hippocampal volumes of subjects with a history of major
depressive episodes but currently in remission and with
no known medical comorbidity were compared to matched
normal controls by using volumetric magnetic resonance
images. Subjects with a history of major depression had
significantly smaller left and right hippocampal volumes
with no differences in total cerebral volumes. The degree
of hippocampal volume reduction correlated with total
duration of major depression. In addition, large
(diameter >= 4.5 mm)-hippocampal low signal foci (LSF)
were found within the hippocampus, and their number also
correlated with the total number of days depressed. These
results suggest that depression is associated with
hippocampal atrophy, perhaps due to a progressive process
mediated by glucocorticoid neurotoxicity."

Cortisol (or hydrocortisone) is the most important human glucocorticoid:

Glucocorticoid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucocorticoid>

Cortisol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol>

So Ginkgo biloba's cortisol reducing effect may be very valuable in
depression along with its proven capability to protect hippocampus. Another
substance which reduces cortisol is Phosphatidylserine (PS). Especially good
sources are Mackerel (480 mg/100 g) and Herring (360 mg/100 g), see the page

BioActives: Leci-PS: What is Phosphatidylserine?: Dietary Sources
<http://www.degussa-bioactives.com/bioactives/html/e/products/brands/lecips/phosphat_dietary.htm>

PS is also needed by brain and in controlled clinical trials with bovine PS
it has been found that bovine PS may be effective treatment for
age-associated memory impairment in doses 100-300 mg/d. Soy derived
phosphatidylserine has failed in similar trials, but fish PS seems to be
structurally much closer to bovine PS than soy PS, so IMHO there is a good
chance that fish PS may have effects comparable to bovine PS. Bovine PS of
course has not been an option since the discovery of BSE.

In trials 800 mg bovine PS has reduced cortisol level elevated by strenuous
exercise. Again soy PS doesn't work, but slightly less than 200 g of
mackerel or a bit over 200 g of herring could possibly do the same trick
than bovine PS.

And of course you get a decent amount of EPA (and DHA) from these fishes,
which may also help in depression.

--
Matti Narkia

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:19:36 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I'm not a doctor, but here is my suggestion: Take your medication or get it
replaced with something which works better. Get psychological counseling, if
possible. Try to excercise daily, even walking is ok. Eat some fatty fish
daily.

And the two best fishes to eat in depression could well be mackerel and
herring, IMHO, because they contain cortisol reducing phophatidylserine. See
my message in the "Depression" thread about this.

--
Matti Narkia

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 03:13:17 +0100 in article
<[email hidden]> Enrico C

Quoted message said:

On 20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800, Usman wrote in
<news:[email hidden]> on
sci.med.nutrition :

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I guess your diet has been recommended for some specific reason...
Anyway, forgive me, but that seems to me quite a dull diet!
My absolutely personal and non-professional advice is: try some real
cooking! 🙂 I mean whatever you like (as long as it is compatible with
your allergies, of course) and enjoy real food. I am not saying that a
specific diet cannot help, but food can be a pleasure and a joy, an
interesting experience, not just "nutrition" or "treatment".
As for your diet, it seems to me it's not "balanced", as you only eat
carbs and fiber. They are okay, but - as others already said - you
also need protein and fat and vitamins and minerals. I think exercise
might help as well. My mood is much better after a good swim or a good
walk.

I searched Pubmed for some studies about food and mood, in additition
to those posted by Matti.
I don't know if they apply to your case though.

===

Hi Enrico,

Thanks for the abstracts. Tryptophan may help in depression, but last time I
looked, results seemed a bit conflicting. And after that tryptophan
contamination disaster in USA in 90s, caused by tryptophan's Japanese
manufacturer, tryptophan was banned as a food supplement in USA for quite a
while (it was still available with prescription, I think). Has the ban been
lifted now? Here in Finland it has fairly recently become available in
health shops. S-adenosylmethionine (SAME) has been at least to some extent
proven in trials, but I don't about its compatibility with antidepressant
medications. Also in all European trials St. John's wort has been effective
against mild to moderate depression, although it failed in two American
trials. And St. John's wort should definitely _not_ be taken together with
SSRI antidepressants, it could cause serotonin syndrome. And it probably
wouldn't help in severe depression anyway.

--
Matti Narkia

Hi Guys,

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I am 26 years old male from Islamabad, Pakistan. I forgot to mention
that I do take fish (I dont know the name but definitely not Salmon) as
a part of my meal though not daily but like thrice a week. Actually its
been three days that I have started with this diet plan. Before that, I
used to take boiled egg everyday and chicken is usually part of my
meal. I am kind of trying 'Elimination Diet' as I have other allergies
too. I have sinusitis with post nasal drip in winters (its really cold
here these days) from approx last 8,9 years. I have skin infection,
probably psoraisis from my early childhood which is probably genetic as
most of my father's family has it. I developed asthma from last 7,8
years though not severe. Except psoraisis, other illnesses started to
develop when I moved from Oman to Pakistan 9 years back. I consulted
numerous doctors for asthma, sinusitis and psoraisis but none of the
treatments lasted for long. As soon as I stopped taking medicines,
symptoms usually came back.

Also, I recently observed that my teeths are loosing white enamel i.e.
border of the teeths look gray with little crack in front tooth which I
can feel by touching it. Could all these illnesses including depression
converge to a single cause? could be malnutrition or malabsorption?

I did try

- Vitamin B Complex
- L-Tyrosine, gave me extreme anxiety after 2 or 3 50 mg doses so I
stopped taking it right away.
- St. John's Wort for 3 months but didnt feel any difference.
- 5-HTP 100 mg / day (tryptophan replacement) for two weeks.

One day my blood pressure fell so low that I felt like I am going to
faint. I was sweating severely. I rushed to the hospital and doctor
advised me to not to take 5HTP. To be very honest, I am sick and tired
of taking medicines / supplements. Can I tune my diet in a way that I
dont have to take any supplement? Also, what is the best form of eating
a fish? I take fish fried in omega - 6 oil i.e vegetable / canola oil.

Regards,
Usman

20 Dec 2005 22:49:29 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

Hi Guys,

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I am 26 years old male from Islamabad, Pakistan. I forgot to mention
that I do take fish (I dont know the name but definitely not Salmon) as
a part of my meal though not daily but like thrice a week. Actually its
been three days that I have started with this diet plan. Before that, I
used to take boiled egg everyday and chicken is usually part of my
meal. I am kind of trying 'Elimination Diet' as I have other allergies
too. I have sinusitis with post nasal drip in winters (its really cold
here these days) from approx last 8,9 years. I have skin infection,
probably psoraisis from my early childhood which is probably genetic as
most of my father's family has it. I developed asthma from last 7,8
years though not severe. Except psoraisis, other illnesses started to
develop when I moved from Oman to Pakistan 9 years back. I consulted
numerous doctors for asthma, sinusitis and psoraisis but none of the
treatments lasted for long. As soon as I stopped taking medicines,
symptoms usually came back.

Also, I recently observed that my teeths are loosing white enamel i.e.
border of the teeths look gray with little crack in front tooth which I
can feel by touching it. Could all these illnesses including depression
converge to a single cause? could be malnutrition or malabsorption?

I did try

- Vitamin B Complex
- L-Tyrosine, gave me extreme anxiety after 2 or 3 50 mg doses so I
stopped taking it right away.
- St. John's Wort for 3 months but didnt feel any difference.
- 5-HTP 100 mg / day (tryptophan replacement) for two weeks.

One day my blood pressure fell so low that I felt like I am going to
faint. I was sweating severely. I rushed to the hospital and doctor
advised me to not to take 5HTP. To be very honest, I am sick and tired
of taking medicines / supplements. Can I tune my diet in a way that I
dont have to take any supplement? Also, what is the best form of eating
a fish? I take fish fried in omega - 6 oil i.e vegetable / canola oil.

Hi Usman,

I'm afraid that if you have been diagnosed with severe depression, which is
not getting better, you have to take your medicine _and_ some supplements.
Electric convulsion therapy (ECT) is also very effective in depression, at
least temporarily, usually more effective than medication.

Lose the omega-6 oil and start using extra virgin olive oil or high
monounsaturated rapeseed oil (canola oil)!. And try to cook fish in the oven
instead of frying it.

As for asthma and skin condition, ethyl-EPA or fish oil, curcumin and ginger
may help in these as well. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may also help in skin
condition. Take GLA always with ethyl-EPA or fish oil to prevent
accumulation of arachidonic acid from GLA. Asthma is an inflammatory
condition. Asthma attack is started with production of inflammatory
mediators called 4-series leukotrienes from omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic
acid with the help of inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). GLA will
inhibit 5-LOX, and EPA in ethyl-EPA or fish oil will replace arachidonic
acid as a substrate for 5-LOX; as a result 5-series leukotrienes, which are
much less harmful than 4- series leukotrienes, will be produced.

Vitamin D may also help in psoriasis.

What medications of any have you used for asthma and skin condition? Have
you used corticosteroids (glucocorticoids)?

Th1 and Th2 are immune system helper T cell subclasses. Th1 cells are
responsible for the cell mediated immune response and Th2 for the humoral
immune response. The proper balance between Th1 and Th2 cells is important
for health. In asthma Th2 cells dominate, and the same is true for skin
condition atopic dermatitis. In psoriasis Th1 cells dominate. Is your skin
condition psoriasis or atopic dermatitis?

Links about Th21 and Th2 cells:

HON Allergy Glossary TH1/TH2
<http://www.hon.ch/Library/Theme/Allergy/Glossary/th.html>

CND: Balance the Th1/Th2 Immune System
<http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/diagnosis/cheneyis.html>

The Basic Th1-Th2 Response
<http://www.earallergy.com/drdavidhurst/basic/>

Herring AC, Hernandez Y, Huffnagle GB, Toews GB.
Role and development of TH1/TH2 immune responses in the lungs.
Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 20
PMID: 16088444 [PubMed]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16088444>

Articles about asthma:

Tattersfield AE, Knox AJ, Britton JR, Hall IP.
Asthma.
Lancet. 2002 Oct 26;360(9342):1313-22. Review.
PMID: 12414223 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673602113122/fulltext>

See especially
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673602113122/fulltext#section17>

Virtual Hospital: Health Prose: A New Model for Understanding and Treating
Asthma
<http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/internalmedicine/treatingasthma/>

Low levels of zinc, nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione may move
Th1/Th2-balance towards Th2. Zinc, arginine (NO's precursor), selenium, whey
protein and vitamins A, B, C, and E may help to improve levels of above
substances and thus to normalize Th1/Th2-balance.

Probiotics (lactid acid bacteria) may also help to balance Th1 and Th2 and
in atopic disease such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Links and references:

Asthma - How zinc, glutathione and selenium may play a role
<http://www.asthmaworld.org/Th1Th2.htm>

Kidd P.
Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications
for health and disease.
Altern Med Rev. 2003 Aug;8(3):223-46. Review.
PMID: 12946237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/8/3/223.pdf>

The importance of Th1/Th2-balance seems perhaps to be however still somewhat
controversial:

van Oosterhout AJ, Motta AC.
Th1/Th2 paradigm: not seeing the forest for the trees?
Eur Respir J. 2005 Apr;25(4):591-3.
PMID: 15802329 [PubMed - in process]
<http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/25/4/591>

Asthma's alternative and complementary treatments are handeld in the
article:

Miller AL.
The etiologies, pathophysiology, and alternative/complementary treatment of
asthma.
Altern Med Rev. 2001 Feb;6(1):20-47. Review.
PMID: 11207455 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/6/1/20.pdf>

Other interesting articles:

Phytosterols
------------

Bouic PJ, Lamprecht JH.
Plant sterols and sterolins: a review of their immune-modulating
properties.
Altern Med Rev. 1999 Jun;4(3):170-7. Review.
PMID: 10383481 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/4/3/170.pdf>

"Beta-sitosterol (BSS) and its glycoside (BSSG) are sterol
molecules which are synthesized by plants. When humans eat
plant foods phytosterols are ingested, and are found in
the serum and tissues of healthy individuals, but at
concentrations orders of magnitude lower than endogenous
cholesterol. Epidemiological studies have correlated a
reduced risk of numerous diseases with a diet high in
fruits and vegetables, and have concluded that specific
molecules, including b-carotene, tocopherols, vitamin C,
and flavonoids, confer some of this protective benefit.
However, these epidemiologic studies have not examined the
potential effect that phytosterols ingested with fruits
and vegetables might have on disease risk reduction. In
animals, BSS and BSSG have been shown to exhibit anti-
inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-pyretic, and immune-
modulating activity. A proprietary BSS:BSSG mixture has
demonstrated promising results in a number of studies,
including in vitro studies, animal models, and human
clinical trials. This phytosterol complex seems to target
specific T-helper lymphocytes, the Th1 and Th2 cells,
helping normalize their functioning and resulting in
improved T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity. A
dampening effect on overactive antibody responses has also
been seen, as well as normalization of the DHEA:cortisol
ratio. The re-establishment of these immune parameters
may be of help in numerous disease processes relating to
chronic immune-mediated abnormalities, including chronic
viral infections, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis,
allergies, cancer, and auto-immune diseases. "

Ästragalus
----------

Astragalus membranaceus. Monograph.
Altern Med Rev. 2003 Feb;8(1):72-7. Review.
PMID: 12611564 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_1_8/ai_98540126/print>
<http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_1_8/ai_98540126>
<http://www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/8-1/astragalus_mono8-1.pdf>

Mao SP, Cheng KL, Zhou YF.
[Modulatory effect of Astragalus membranaceus on Th1/Th2 cytokine
in patients with herpes simplex keratitis]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Feb;24(2):121-3. Chinese.
PMID: 15015443 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15015443>

Wei H, Sun R, Xiao W, Feng J, Zhen C, Xu X, Tian Z.
Traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus reverses predominance of
Th2 cytokines
and their up-stream transcript factors in lung cancer patients.
Oncol Rep. 2003 Sep-Oct;10(5):1507-12.
PMID: 12883732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15015443>

Xue J, Xu Y, Zhang Z, Shen G, Zeng G.
The effect of astragapolysaccharide on the lymphocyte proliferation and
airway inflammation in sensitized mice.
J Tongji Med Univ. 1999;19(1):20-2, 30.
PMID: 12840868 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12840868>

[censored] H, Chang B, [censored] B.
[The effect of herbal medicine including astragalus membranaceus (fisch)
bge, codonpsis pilosula and glycyrrhiza uralensis fisch on airway
responsiveness]
Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 1998 May;21(5):287-8. Chinese.
PMID: 11326953 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11326953>

Probiotics
----------

Noverr MC, Falkowski NR, McDonald RA, McKenzie AN, Huffnagle GB.
Development of allergic airway disease in mice following antibiotic therapy
and fungal microbiota increase: role of host genetics, antigen, and
interleukin-13.
Infect Immun. 2005 Jan;73(1):30-8.
PMID: 15618138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://iai.asm.org/cgi/content/full/73/1/30>
(kommentti:
Healthy mix of GI tract microbes are key to preventing allergies and
asthma
23-Dec-2004
<http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-12/uomh-hmo121704.php>😉

Braat H, van den Brande J, van Tol E, Hommes D, Peppelenbosch M, van
Deventer S.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus induces peripheral hyporesponsiveness in
stimulated CD4+ T cells via modulation of dendritic cell function.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6):1618-25.
PMID: 15585777 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/6/1618>

Noverr MC, Huffnagle GB.
Does the microbiota regulate immune responses outside the gut?
Trends Microbiol. 2004 Dec;12(12):562-8.
PMID: 15539116 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15539116>

Noverr MC, Noggle RM, Toews GB, Huffnagle GB.
Role of antibiotics and fungal microbiota in driving pulmonary
allergic responses.
Infect Immun. 2004 Sep;72(9):4996-5003.
PMID: 15321991 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://iai.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/9/4996>

Vanderhoof JA, Young RJ.
Current and potential uses of probiotics.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2004 Nov;93(5 Suppl 3):S33-7. Review.
PMID: 15562872 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15562872>

Sudo N, Aiba Y, Oyama N, Yu XN, Matsunaga M, Koga Y, Kubo C.
Dietary nucleic acid and intestinal microbiota synergistically
promote a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1-skewed immunity.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Oct;135(2):132-5. Epub 2004 Sep 02.
PMID: 15345911 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15345911>

Kalliomaki MA, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and down-regulation of the allergic response.
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2004 Nov;24(4):739-52, viii.
PMID: 15474869 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15474869>

Isolauri E, Salminen S, Ouwehand AC.
Microbial-gut interactions in health and disease. Probiotics.
Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Apr;18(2):299-313. Review.
PMID: 15123071 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15123071>

Fujiwara D, Inoue S, Wakabayashi H, Fujii T.
The anti-allergic effects of lactic acid bacteria are strain
dependent and mediated by effects on both Th1/Th2 cytokine
expression and balance.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Nov;135(3):205-15. Epub 2004 Nov.
PMID: 15467373 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15467373>

Chapat L, Chemin K, Dubois B, Bourdet-Sicard R, Kaiserlian D.
Lactobacillus casei reduces CD8+ T cell-mediated skin inflammation.
Eur J Immunol. 2004 Sep;34(9):2520-8.
PMID: 15307184 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15307184>

Isolauri E.
Dietary modification of atopic disease: Use of probiotics in the
prevention of atopic dermatitis.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2004 Jul;4(4):270-5. Review.
PMID: 15175140 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15175140>

Pohjavuori E, Viljanen M, Korpela R, Kuitunen M, Tiittanen M,
Vaarala O, Savilahti E.
Lactobacillus GG effect in increasing IFN-gamma production in
infants with cow's milk allergy.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jul;114(1):131-6.
PMID: 15241356 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15241356>

Tlaskalova-Hogenova H, Stepankova R, Hudcovic T, Tuckova L,
Cukrowska B, Lodinova-Zadnikova R, Kozakova H, Rossmann P, Bartova
J, Sokol D, Funda DP,
Borovska D, Rehakova Z, Sinkora J, Hofman J, Drastich P, Kokesova A.
Commensal bacteria (normal microflora), mucosal immunity and chronic
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Immunol Lett. 2004 May 15;93(2-3):97-108. Review.
PMID: 15158604 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15158604>

Bjorksten B.
Effects of intestinal microflora and the environment on the
development of asthma and allergy.
Springer Semin Immunopathol. 2004 Feb;25(3-4):257-70. Epub 2003 Oct
24. Review.
PMID: 15007630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15007630>

Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Arvilommi H, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a
randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Lancet. 2003 May 31;361(9372):1869-71.
PMID: 12788576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12788576>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol361/iss9372/full/llan.361.9372.original_research.25878.1>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Role of intestinal flora in the development of allergy.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Feb;3(1):15-20. Review.
PMID: 12582309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12582309>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673603134903/fulltext>

Kirjavainen PV, Salminen SJ, Isolauri E.
Probiotic bacteria in the management of atopic disease: underscoring
the importance of viability.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2003 Feb;36(2):223-7.
PMID: 12548058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12548058>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Pandemic of atopic diseases--a lack of microbial exposure in early
infancy?
Curr Drug Targets Infect Disord. 2002 Sep;2(3):193-9. Review.
PMID: 12462124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12462124>

von der Weid T, Ibnou-Zekri N, Pfeifer A.
Novel probiotics for the management of allergic inflammation.
Dig Liver Dis. 2002 Sep;34 Suppl 2:S25-8. Review.
PMID: 12408435 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12408435>

Pochard P, Gosset P, Grangette C, Andre C, Tonnel AB, Pestel J,
Mercenier A.
Lactic acid bacteria inhibit TH2 cytokine production by mononuclear
cells from allergic patients.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Oct;110(4):617-23.
PMID: 12373271 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12373271>

Sudo N, Aiba Y, Oyama N, Yu XN, Matsunaga M, Koga Y, Kubo C.
Dietary nucleic acid and intestinal microbiota synergistically
promote a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1-skewed immunity.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Oct;135(2):132-5. Epub 2004 Sep 02.
PMID: 15345911 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15345911>

Kalliomaki MA, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and down-regulation of the allergic response.
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2004 Nov;24(4):739-52, viii.
PMID: 15474869 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15474869>

Isolauri E, Salminen S, Ouwehand AC.
Microbial-gut interactions in health and disease. Probiotics.
Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Apr;18(2):299-313. Review.
PMID: 15123071 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15123071>

Fujiwara D, Inoue S, Wakabayashi H, Fujii T.
The anti-allergic effects of lactic acid bacteria are strain
dependent and mediated by effects on both Th1/Th2 cytokine
expression and balance.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Nov;135(3):205-15. Epub 2004 Nov.
PMID: 15467373 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15467373>

Chapat L, Chemin K, Dubois B, Bourdet-Sicard R, Kaiserlian D.
Lactobacillus casei reduces CD8+ T cell-mediated skin inflammation.
Eur J Immunol. 2004 Sep;34(9):2520-8.
PMID: 15307184 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15307184>

Isolauri E.
Dietary modification of atopic disease: Use of probiotics in the
prevention of atopic dermatitis.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2004 Jul;4(4):270-5. Review.
PMID: 15175140 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15175140>

Pohjavuori E, Viljanen M, Korpela R, Kuitunen M, Tiittanen M,
Vaarala O, Savilahti E.
Lactobacillus GG effect in increasing IFN-gamma production in
infants with cow's milk allergy.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jul;114(1):131-6.
PMID: 15241356 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15241356>

Tlaskalova-Hogenova H, Stepankova R, Hudcovic T, Tuckova L,
Cukrowska B, Lodinova-Zadnikova R, Kozakova H, Rossmann P, Bartova
J, Sokol D, Funda DP,
Borovska D, Rehakova Z, Sinkora J, Hofman J, Drastich P, Kokesova A.
Commensal bacteria (normal microflora), mucosal immunity and chronic
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Immunol Lett. 2004 May 15;93(2-3):97-108. Review.
PMID: 15158604 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15158604>

Bjorksten B.
Effects of intestinal microflora and the environment on the
development of asthma and allergy.
Springer Semin Immunopathol. 2004 Feb;25(3-4):257-70. Epub 2003 Oct
24. Review.
PMID: 15007630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15007630>

Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Arvilommi H, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a
randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Lancet. 2003 May 31;361(9372):1869-71.
PMID: 12788576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12788576>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol361/iss9372/full/llan.361.9372.original_research.25878.1>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Role of intestinal flora in the development of allergy.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Feb;3(1):15-20. Review.
PMID: 12582309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12582309>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673603134903/fulltext>

Kirjavainen PV, Salminen SJ, Isolauri E.
Probiotic bacteria in the management of atopic disease: underscoring
the importance of viability.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2003 Feb;36(2):223-7.
PMID: 12548058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12548058>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Pandemic of atopic diseases--a lack of microbial exposure in early
infancy?
Curr Drug Targets Infect Disord. 2002 Sep;2(3):193-9. Review.
PMID: 12462124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12462124>

von der Weid T, Ibnou-Zekri N, Pfeifer A.
Novel probiotics for the management of allergic inflammation.
Dig Liver Dis. 2002 Sep;34 Suppl 2:S25-8. Review.
PMID: 12408435 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12408435>

Pochard P, Gosset P, Grangette C, Andre C, Tonnel AB, Pestel J,
Mercenier A.
Lactic acid bacteria inhibit TH2 cytokine production by mononuclear
cells from allergic patients.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Oct;110(4):617-23.
PMID: 12373271 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12373271>

--
Matti Narkia

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:25:54 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

20 Dec 2005 22:49:29 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

Hi Guys,

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I am 26 years old male from Islamabad, Pakistan. I forgot to mention
that I do take fish (I dont know the name but definitely not Salmon) as
a part of my meal though not daily but like thrice a week. Actually its
been three days that I have started with this diet plan. Before that, I
used to take boiled egg everyday and chicken is usually part of my
meal. I am kind of trying 'Elimination Diet' as I have other allergies
too. I have sinusitis with post nasal drip in winters (its really cold
here these days) from approx last 8,9 years. I have skin infection,
probably psoraisis from my early childhood which is probably genetic as
most of my father's family has it. I developed asthma from last 7,8
years though not severe. Except psoraisis, other illnesses started to
develop when I moved from Oman to Pakistan 9 years back. I consulted
numerous doctors for asthma, sinusitis and psoraisis but none of the
treatments lasted for long. As soon as I stopped taking medicines,
symptoms usually came back.

Also, I recently observed that my teeths are loosing white enamel i.e.
border of the teeths look gray with little crack in front tooth which I
can feel by touching it. Could all these illnesses including depression
converge to a single cause? could be malnutrition or malabsorption?

I did try

- Vitamin B Complex
- L-Tyrosine, gave me extreme anxiety after 2 or 3 50 mg doses so I
stopped taking it right away.
- St. John's Wort for 3 months but didnt feel any difference.
- 5-HTP 100 mg / day (tryptophan replacement) for two weeks.

One day my blood pressure fell so low that I felt like I am going to
faint. I was sweating severely. I rushed to the hospital and doctor
advised me to not to take 5HTP. To be very honest, I am sick and tired
of taking medicines / supplements. Can I tune my diet in a way that I
dont have to take any supplement? Also, what is the best form of eating
a fish? I take fish fried in omega - 6 oil i.e vegetable / canola oil.

Hi Usman,

I'm afraid that if you have been diagnosed with severe depression, which is
not getting better, you have to take your medicine _and_ some supplements.
Electric convulsion therapy (ECT) is also very effective in depression, at
least temporarily, usually more effective than medication.

Lose the omega-6 oil and start using extra virgin olive oil or high
monounsaturated rapeseed oil (canola oil)!. And try to cook fish in the oven
instead of frying it.

As for asthma and skin condition, ethyl-EPA or fish oil, curcumin and ginger
may help in these as well. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may also help in skin
condition. Take GLA always with ethyl-EPA or fish oil to prevent
accumulation of arachidonic acid from GLA. Asthma is an inflammatory
condition. Asthma attack is started with production of inflammatory
mediators called 4-series leukotrienes from omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic
acid with the help of inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). GLA will
inhibit 5-LOX, and EPA in ethyl-EPA or fish oil will replace arachidonic
acid as a substrate for 5-LOX; as a result 5-series leukotrienes, which are
much less harmful than 4- series leukotrienes, will be produced.

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Low levels of zinc, nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione may move
Th1/Th2-balance towards Th2. Zinc, arginine (NO's precursor), selenium, whey
protein and vitamins A, B, C, and E may help to improve levels of above
substances and thus to normalize Th1/Th2-balance.

Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation are increased in asthma as well as
in depression. So also for that reason vitamin E and C, selenium and whey
protein may help in asthma sa well, see the studies

Wood LG, Garg ML, Blake RJ, Simpson JL, Gibson PG.
Systemic and airway levels of glutathione and alpha-tocopherol in asthma.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14 Suppl:S85.
PMID: 16326574 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16326574>

"Conclusion - In asthma, the oxidant-antioxidant balance is disturbed
both systemically and in the airways. Measurement of the oxidized forms
of antioxidants is important, as the oxidized forms of both glutathione
and alpha-tocopherol are clinically relevant, being associated with
worse clinical outcomes in asthma."

Wood LG, Gibson PG, Garg ML.
Biomarkers of lipid peroxidation, airway inflammation and asthma.
Eur Respir J. 2003 Jan;21(1):177-86. Review.
PMID: 12570126 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/21/1/177>

"... However, the development of techniques to study isoprostanes in
airway-lining fluid pave the way for further studies investigating the
potential for antioxidant supplements to be used as routine therapy in
asthma."

Wood LG, Fitzgerald DA, Gibson PG, Cooper DM, Garg ML.
Lipid peroxidation as determined by plasma isoprostanes is related to
disease severity in mild asthma.
Lipids. 2000 Sep;35(9):967-74.
PMID: 11026617 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11026617>

"... In conclusion, oxidative stress is increased in mildly asthmatics,
as reflected by increased plasma levels of 8-iso-PGF2alpha and a
deficiency in plasma Zn and Se. ..."

--
Matti Narkia

Hi Matti,

I took zoloft only for two weeks and I had real horrible experience. I
turned suicidal in two days, so doctor changed anti-depressent to
celexa. I took it for 40 days but experienced no improvement. I
switched to St. John's Wort and took it for 3 months. I felt relatively
better in a sense that I started having mood swings. I took lexapro for
3 months and it did work for me for first 2 months but I didnt feel any
improvement in 3rd month so I stopped taking it. I did try
psychological counselling for around 3 months but it didnt help me
much. Psychiatrist told me that I have some sort of bio-chemical
depression.

I used to take seretide inhaler for asthma and dermovete ointment for
psoraisis. I believe its psoraisis not atopic dermatitis. I have it on
my left palm, elbow and left foot. I used to take rhino clenil for
sinusitis. All these medicines really helped me controlling symptoms.
Its important to note that both seretide and dermovete contains
steroid.

I am currently on no medication from last 3 weeks. I am functional upto
the level that I can goto work and do my job without any difficulty and
people around me are not aware that I am expereincing clinical
depression. Pakistani foods are usually gluten rich. I have started to
feel the difference after giving up gluten containing foods. I am not
sure if its the placebo effect, I'll wait for next couple of weeks to
see if its working for me.

Regards,
Usman

Matti Narkia said:

20 Dec 2005 22:49:29 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

Hi Guys,

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I am 26 years old male from Islamabad, Pakistan. I forgot to mention
that I do take fish (I dont know the name but definitely not Salmon) as
a part of my meal though not daily but like thrice a week. Actually its
been three days that I have started with this diet plan. Before that, I
used to take boiled egg everyday and chicken is usually part of my
meal. I am kind of trying 'Elimination Diet' as I have other allergies
too. I have sinusitis with post nasal drip in winters (its really cold
here these days) from approx last 8,9 years. I have skin infection,
probably psoraisis from my early childhood which is probably genetic as
most of my father's family has it. I developed asthma from last 7,8
years though not severe. Except psoraisis, other illnesses started to
develop when I moved from Oman to Pakistan 9 years back. I consulted
numerous doctors for asthma, sinusitis and psoraisis but none of the
treatments lasted for long. As soon as I stopped taking medicines,
symptoms usually came back.

Also, I recently observed that my teeths are loosing white enamel i.e.
border of the teeths look gray with little crack in front tooth which I
can feel by touching it. Could all these illnesses including depression
converge to a single cause? could be malnutrition or malabsorption?

I did try

- Vitamin B Complex
- L-Tyrosine, gave me extreme anxiety after 2 or 3 50 mg doses so I
stopped taking it right away.
- St. John's Wort for 3 months but didnt feel any difference.
- 5-HTP 100 mg / day (tryptophan replacement) for two weeks.

One day my blood pressure fell so low that I felt like I am going to
faint. I was sweating severely. I rushed to the hospital and doctor
advised me to not to take 5HTP. To be very honest, I am sick and tired
of taking medicines / supplements. Can I tune my diet in a way that I
dont have to take any supplement? Also, what is the best form of eating
a fish? I take fish fried in omega - 6 oil i.e vegetable / canola oil.

Hi Usman,

I'm afraid that if you have been diagnosed with severe depression, which is
not getting better, you have to take your medicine _and_ some supplements.
Electric convulsion therapy (ECT) is also very effective in depression, at
least temporarily, usually more effective than medication.

Lose the omega-6 oil and start using extra virgin olive oil or high
monounsaturated rapeseed oil (canola oil)!. And try to cook fish in the oven
instead of frying it.

As for asthma and skin condition, ethyl-EPA or fish oil, curcumin and ginger
may help in these as well. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may also help in skin
condition. Take GLA always with ethyl-EPA or fish oil to prevent
accumulation of arachidonic acid from GLA. Asthma is an inflammatory
condition. Asthma attack is started with production of inflammatory
mediators called 4-series leukotrienes from omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic
acid with the help of inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). GLA will
inhibit 5-LOX, and EPA in ethyl-EPA or fish oil will replace arachidonic
acid as a substrate for 5-LOX; as a result 5-series leukotrienes, which are
much less harmful than 4- series leukotrienes, will be produced.

Vitamin D may also help in psoriasis.

What medications of any have you used for asthma and skin condition? Have
you used corticosteroids (glucocorticoids)?

Th1 and Th2 are immune system helper T cell subclasses. Th1 cells are
responsible for the cell mediated immune response and Th2 for the humoral
immune response. The proper balance between Th1 and Th2 cells is important
for health. In asthma Th2 cells dominate, and the same is true for skin
condition atopic dermatitis. In psoriasis Th1 cells dominate. Is your skin
condition psoriasis or atopic dermatitis?

Links about Th21 and Th2 cells:

HON Allergy Glossary TH1/TH2
<http://www.hon.ch/Library/Theme/Allergy/Glossary/th.html>

CND: Balance the Th1/Th2 Immune System
<http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/diagnosis/cheneyis.html>

The Basic Th1-Th2 Response
<http://www.earallergy.com/drdavidhurst/basic/>

Herring AC, Hernandez Y, Huffnagle GB, Toews GB.
Role and development of TH1/TH2 immune responses in the lungs.
Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 20
PMID: 16088444 [PubMed]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16088444>

Articles about asthma:

Tattersfield AE, Knox AJ, Britton JR, Hall IP.
Asthma.
Lancet. 2002 Oct 26;360(9342):1313-22. Review.
PMID: 12414223 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673602113122/fulltext>

See especially
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673602113122/fulltext#section17>

Virtual Hospital: Health Prose: A New Model for Understanding and Treating
Asthma
<http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/internalmedicine/treatingasthma/>

Low levels of zinc, nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione may move
Th1/Th2-balance towards Th2. Zinc, arginine (NO's precursor), selenium, whey
protein and vitamins A, B, C, and E may help to improve levels of above
substances and thus to normalize Th1/Th2-balance.

Probiotics (lactid acid bacteria) may also help to balance Th1 and Th2 and
in atopic disease such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Links and references:

Asthma - How zinc, glutathione and selenium may play a role
<http://www.asthmaworld.org/Th1Th2.htm>

Kidd P.
Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications
for health and disease.
Altern Med Rev. 2003 Aug;8(3):223-46. Review.
PMID: 12946237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/8/3/223.pdf>

The importance of Th1/Th2-balance seems perhaps to be however still somewhat
controversial:

van Oosterhout AJ, Motta AC.
Th1/Th2 paradigm: not seeing the forest for the trees?
Eur Respir J. 2005 Apr;25(4):591-3.
PMID: 15802329 [PubMed - in process]
<http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/25/4/591>

Asthma's alternative and complementary treatments are handeld in the
article:

Miller AL.
The etiologies, pathophysiology, and alternative/complementary treatment of
asthma.
Altern Med Rev. 2001 Feb;6(1):20-47. Review.
PMID: 11207455 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/6/1/20.pdf>

Other interesting articles:

Phytosterols
------------

Bouic PJ, Lamprecht JH.
Plant sterols and sterolins: a review of their immune-modulating
properties.
Altern Med Rev. 1999 Jun;4(3):170-7. Review.
PMID: 10383481 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/4/3/170.pdf>

"Beta-sitosterol (BSS) and its glycoside (BSSG) are sterol
molecules which are synthesized by plants. When humans eat
plant foods phytosterols are ingested, and are found in
the serum and tissues of healthy individuals, but at
concentrations orders of magnitude lower than endogenous
cholesterol. Epidemiological studies have correlated a
reduced risk of numerous diseases with a diet high in
fruits and vegetables, and have concluded that specific
molecules, including b-carotene, tocopherols, vitamin C,
and flavonoids, confer some of this protective benefit.
However, these epidemiologic studies have not examined the
potential effect that phytosterols ingested with fruits
and vegetables might have on disease risk reduction. In
animals, BSS and BSSG have been shown to exhibit anti-
inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-pyretic, and immune-
modulating activity. A proprietary BSS:BSSG mixture has
demonstrated promising results in a number of studies,
including in vitro studies, animal models, and human
clinical trials. This phytosterol complex seems to target
specific T-helper lymphocytes, the Th1 and Th2 cells,
helping normalize their functioning and resulting in
improved T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity. A
dampening effect on overactive antibody responses has also
been seen, as well as normalization of the DHEA:cortisol
ratio. The re-establishment of these immune parameters
may be of help in numerous disease processes relating to
chronic immune-mediated abnormalities, including chronic
viral infections, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis,
allergies, cancer, and auto-immune diseases. "

Ästragalus
----------

Astragalus membranaceus. Monograph.
Altern Med Rev. 2003 Feb;8(1):72-7. Review.
PMID: 12611564 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_1_8/ai_98540126/print>
<http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_1_8/ai_98540126>
<http://www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/8-1/astragalus_mono8-1.pdf>

Mao SP, Cheng KL, Zhou YF.
[Modulatory effect of Astragalus membranaceus on Th1/Th2 cytokine
in patients with herpes simplex keratitis]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Feb;24(2):121-3. Chinese.
PMID: 15015443 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15015443>

Wei H, Sun R, Xiao W, Feng J, Zhen C, Xu X, Tian Z.
Traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus reverses predominance of
Th2 cytokines
and their up-stream transcript factors in lung cancer patients.
Oncol Rep. 2003 Sep-Oct;10(5):1507-12.
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Xue J, Xu Y, Zhang Z, Shen G, Zeng G.
The effect of astragapolysaccharide on the lymphocyte proliferation and
airway inflammation in sensitized mice.
J Tongji Med Univ. 1999;19(1):20-2, 30.
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<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12840868>

[censored] H, Chang B, [censored] B.
[The effect of herbal medicine including astragalus membranaceus (fisch)
bge, codonpsis pilosula and glycyrrhiza uralensis fisch on airway
responsiveness]
Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 1998 May;21(5):287-8. Chinese.
PMID: 11326953 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11326953>

Probiotics
----------

Noverr MC, Falkowski NR, McDonald RA, McKenzie AN, Huffnagle GB.
Development of allergic airway disease in mice following antibiotic therapy
and fungal microbiota increase: role of host genetics, antigen, and
interleukin-13.
Infect Immun. 2005 Jan;73(1):30-8.
PMID: 15618138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://iai.asm.org/cgi/content/full/73/1/30>
(kommentti:
Healthy mix of GI tract microbes are key to preventing allergies and
asthma
23-Dec-2004
<http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-12/uomh-hmo121704.php>😉

Braat H, van den Brande J, van Tol E, Hommes D, Peppelenbosch M, van
Deventer S.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus induces peripheral hyporesponsiveness in
stimulated CD4+ T cells via modulation of dendritic cell function.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6):1618-25.
PMID: 15585777 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/6/1618>

Noverr MC, Huffnagle GB.
Does the microbiota regulate immune responses outside the gut?
Trends Microbiol. 2004 Dec;12(12):562-8.
PMID: 15539116 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15539116>

Noverr MC, Noggle RM, Toews GB, Huffnagle GB.
Role of antibiotics and fungal microbiota in driving pulmonary
allergic responses.
Infect Immun. 2004 Sep;72(9):4996-5003.
PMID: 15321991 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://iai.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/9/4996>

Vanderhoof JA, Young RJ.
Current and potential uses of probiotics.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2004 Nov;93(5 Suppl 3):S33-7. Review.
PMID: 15562872 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15562872>

Sudo N, Aiba Y, Oyama N, Yu XN, Matsunaga M, Koga Y, Kubo C.
Dietary nucleic acid and intestinal microbiota synergistically
promote a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1-skewed immunity.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Oct;135(2):132-5. Epub 2004 Sep 02.
PMID: 15345911 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15345911>

Kalliomaki MA, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and down-regulation of the allergic response.
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2004 Nov;24(4):739-52, viii.
PMID: 15474869 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15474869>

Isolauri E, Salminen S, Ouwehand AC.
Microbial-gut interactions in health and disease. Probiotics.
Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Apr;18(2):299-313. Review.
PMID: 15123071 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15123071>

Fujiwara D, Inoue S, Wakabayashi H, Fujii T.
The anti-allergic effects of lactic acid bacteria are strain
dependent and mediated by effects on both Th1/Th2 cytokine
expression and balance.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Nov;135(3):205-15. Epub 2004 Nov.
PMID: 15467373 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15467373>

Chapat L, Chemin K, Dubois B, Bourdet-Sicard R, Kaiserlian D.
Lactobacillus casei reduces CD8+ T cell-mediated skin inflammation.
Eur J Immunol. 2004 Sep;34(9):2520-8.
PMID: 15307184 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15307184>

Isolauri E.
Dietary modification of atopic disease: Use of probiotics in the
prevention of atopic dermatitis.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2004 Jul;4(4):270-5. Review.
PMID: 15175140 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15175140>

Pohjavuori E, Viljanen M, Korpela R, Kuitunen M, Tiittanen M,
Vaarala O, Savilahti E.
Lactobacillus GG effect in increasing IFN-gamma production in
infants with cow's milk allergy.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jul;114(1):131-6.
PMID: 15241356 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15241356>

Tlaskalova-Hogenova H, Stepankova R, Hudcovic T, Tuckova L,
Cukrowska B, Lodinova-Zadnikova R, Kozakova H, Rossmann P, Bartova
J, Sokol D, Funda DP,
Borovska D, Rehakova Z, Sinkora J, Hofman J, Drastich P, Kokesova A.
Commensal bacteria (normal microflora), mucosal immunity and chronic
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Immunol Lett. 2004 May 15;93(2-3):97-108. Review.
PMID: 15158604 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15158604>

Bjorksten B.
Effects of intestinal microflora and the environment on the
development of asthma and allergy.
Springer Semin Immunopathol. 2004 Feb;25(3-4):257-70. Epub 2003 Oct
24. Review.
PMID: 15007630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15007630>

Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Arvilommi H, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a
randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Lancet. 2003 May 31;361(9372):1869-71.
PMID: 12788576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12788576>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol361/iss9372/full/llan.361.9372.original_research.25878.1>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Role of intestinal flora in the development of allergy.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Feb;3(1):15-20. Review.
PMID: 12582309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12582309>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673603134903/fulltext>

Kirjavainen PV, Salminen SJ, Isolauri E.
Probiotic bacteria in the management of atopic disease: underscoring
the importance of viability.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2003 Feb;36(2):223-7.
PMID: 12548058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12548058>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Pandemic of atopic diseases--a lack of microbial exposure in early
infancy?
Curr Drug Targets Infect Disord. 2002 Sep;2(3):193-9. Review.
PMID: 12462124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12462124>

von der Weid T, Ibnou-Zekri N, Pfeifer A.
Novel probiotics for the management of allergic inflammation.
Dig Liver Dis. 2002 Sep;34 Suppl 2:S25-8. Review.
PMID: 12408435 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12408435>

Pochard P, Gosset P, Grangette C, Andre C, Tonnel AB, Pestel J,
Mercenier A.
Lactic acid bacteria inhibit TH2 cytokine production by mononuclear
cells from allergic patients.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Oct;110(4):617-23.
PMID: 12373271 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12373271>

Sudo N, Aiba Y, Oyama N, Yu XN, Matsunaga M, Koga Y, Kubo C.
Dietary nucleic acid and intestinal microbiota synergistically
promote a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1-skewed immunity.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Oct;135(2):132-5. Epub 2004 Sep 02.
PMID: 15345911 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15345911>

Kalliomaki MA, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and down-regulation of the allergic response.
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2004 Nov;24(4):739-52, viii.
PMID: 15474869 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15474869>

Isolauri E, Salminen S, Ouwehand AC.
Microbial-gut interactions in health and disease. Probiotics.
Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Apr;18(2):299-313. Review.
PMID: 15123071 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15123071>

Fujiwara D, Inoue S, Wakabayashi H, Fujii T.
The anti-allergic effects of lactic acid bacteria are strain
dependent and mediated by effects on both Th1/Th2 cytokine
expression and balance.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Nov;135(3):205-15. Epub 2004 Nov.
PMID: 15467373 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15467373>

Chapat L, Chemin K, Dubois B, Bourdet-Sicard R, Kaiserlian D.
Lactobacillus casei reduces CD8+ T cell-mediated skin inflammation.
Eur J Immunol. 2004 Sep;34(9):2520-8.
PMID: 15307184 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15307184>

Isolauri E.
Dietary modification of atopic disease: Use of probiotics in the
prevention of atopic dermatitis.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2004 Jul;4(4):270-5. Review.
PMID: 15175140 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15175140>

Pohjavuori E, Viljanen M, Korpela R, Kuitunen M, Tiittanen M,
Vaarala O, Savilahti E.
Lactobacillus GG effect in increasing IFN-gamma production in
infants with cow's milk allergy.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jul;114(1):131-6.
PMID: 15241356 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15241356>

Tlaskalova-Hogenova H, Stepankova R, Hudcovic T, Tuckova L,
Cukrowska B, Lodinova-Zadnikova R, Kozakova H, Rossmann P, Bartova
J, Sokol D, Funda DP,
Borovska D, Rehakova Z, Sinkora J, Hofman J, Drastich P, Kokesova A.
Commensal bacteria (normal microflora), mucosal immunity and chronic
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Immunol Lett. 2004 May 15;93(2-3):97-108. Review.
PMID: 15158604 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15158604>

Bjorksten B.
Effects of intestinal microflora and the environment on the
development of asthma and allergy.
Springer Semin Immunopathol. 2004 Feb;25(3-4):257-70. Epub 2003 Oct
24. Review.
PMID: 15007630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15007630>

Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Arvilommi H, Isolauri E.
Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a
randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Lancet. 2003 May 31;361(9372):1869-71.
PMID: 12788576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12788576>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol361/iss9372/full/llan.361.9372.original_research.25878.1>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Role of intestinal flora in the development of allergy.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Feb;3(1):15-20. Review.
PMID: 12582309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12582309>
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673603134903/fulltext>

Kirjavainen PV, Salminen SJ, Isolauri E.
Probiotic bacteria in the management of atopic disease: underscoring
the importance of viability.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2003 Feb;36(2):223-7.
PMID: 12548058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12548058>

Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E.
Pandemic of atopic diseases--a lack of microbial exposure in early
infancy?
Curr Drug Targets Infect Disord. 2002 Sep;2(3):193-9. Review.
PMID: 12462124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12462124>

von der Weid T, Ibnou-Zekri N, Pfeifer A.
Novel probiotics for the management of allergic inflammation.
Dig Liver Dis. 2002 Sep;34 Suppl 2:S25-8. Review.
PMID: 12408435 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12408435>

Pochard P, Gosset P, Grangette C, Andre C, Tonnel AB, Pestel J,
Mercenier A.
Lactic acid bacteria inhibit TH2 cytokine production by mononuclear
cells from allergic patients.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Oct;110(4):617-23.
PMID: 12373271 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12373271>

--
Matti Narkia

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:25:54 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

20 Dec 2005 22:49:29 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

Hi Guys,

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I am 26 years old male from Islamabad, Pakistan. I forgot to mention
that I do take fish (I dont know the name but definitely not Salmon) as
a part of my meal though not daily but like thrice a week. Actually its
been three days that I have started with this diet plan. Before that, I
used to take boiled egg everyday and chicken is usually part of my
meal. I am kind of trying 'Elimination Diet' as I have other allergies
too. I have sinusitis with post nasal drip in winters (its really cold
here these days) from approx last 8,9 years. I have skin infection,
probably psoraisis from my early childhood which is probably genetic as
most of my father's family has it. I developed asthma from last 7,8
years though not severe. Except psoraisis, other illnesses started to
develop when I moved from Oman to Pakistan 9 years back. I consulted
numerous doctors for asthma, sinusitis and psoraisis but none of the
treatments lasted for long. As soon as I stopped taking medicines,
symptoms usually came back.

Also, I recently observed that my teeths are loosing white enamel i.e.
border of the teeths look gray with little crack in front tooth which I
can feel by touching it. Could all these illnesses including depression
converge to a single cause? could be malnutrition or malabsorption?

I did try

- Vitamin B Complex
- L-Tyrosine, gave me extreme anxiety after 2 or 3 50 mg doses so I
stopped taking it right away.
- St. John's Wort for 3 months but didnt feel any difference.
- 5-HTP 100 mg / day (tryptophan replacement) for two weeks.

One day my blood pressure fell so low that I felt like I am going to
faint. I was sweating severely. I rushed to the hospital and doctor
advised me to not to take 5HTP. To be very honest, I am sick and tired
of taking medicines / supplements. Can I tune my diet in a way that I
dont have to take any supplement? Also, what is the best form of eating
a fish? I take fish fried in omega - 6 oil i.e vegetable / canola oil.

Hi Usman,

I'm afraid that if you have been diagnosed with severe depression, which is
not getting better, you have to take your medicine _and_ some supplements.
Electric convulsion therapy (ECT) is also very effective in depression, at
least temporarily, usually more effective than medication.

Lose the omega-6 oil and start using extra virgin olive oil or high
monounsaturated rapeseed oil (canola oil)!. And try to cook fish in the oven
instead of frying it.

As for asthma and skin condition, ethyl-EPA or fish oil, curcumin and ginger
may help in these as well. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may also help in skin
condition. Take GLA always with ethyl-EPA or fish oil to prevent
accumulation of arachidonic acid from GLA. Asthma is an inflammatory
condition. Asthma attack is started with production of inflammatory
mediators called 4-series leukotrienes from omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic
acid with the help of inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). GLA will
inhibit 5-LOX, and EPA in ethyl-EPA or fish oil will replace arachidonic
acid as a substrate for 5-LOX; as a result 5-series leukotrienes, which are
much less harmful than 4- series leukotrienes, will be produced.

Boswella a.k.a. Boswellia serrata a.k.a. frankincense a.k.a. Salai Guggal is
a well known 5-LOX inhibitor and therefore reduces inflammation and could be
useful in both asthma and depression. Some studies about asthma and
Boswellia serrata:

Jaber R.
Respiratory and allergic diseases: from upper respiratory tract infections
to asthma.
Prim Care. 2002 Jun;29(2):231-61. Review.
PMID: 12391710 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12391710>

Ammon HP. [Boswellic acids (components of frankincense) as the active
principle in
treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases]
Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002;152(15-16):373-8. Review. German.
PMID: 12244881 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12244881>

Miller AL.
The etiologies, pathophysiology, and alternative/complementary treatment of
asthma.
Altern Med Rev. 2001 Feb;6(1):20-47. Review.
PMID: 11207455 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<<http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/6/1/20.pdf>

Gupta I, Gupta V, Parihar A, Gupta S, Ludtke R, Safayhi H, Ammon HP.
Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial asthma:
results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week clinical study.
Eur J Med Res. 1998 Nov 17;3(11):511-4.
PMID: 9810030 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9810030>

--
Matti Narkia

21 Dec 2005 04:17:41 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

Hi Matti,

I took zoloft only for two weeks and I had real horrible experience. I
turned suicidal in two days, so doctor changed anti-depressent to
celexa. I took it for 40 days but experienced no improvement. I
switched to St. John's Wort and took it for 3 months. I felt relatively
better in a sense that I started having mood swings. I took lexapro for
3 months and it did work for me for first 2 months but I didnt feel any
improvement in 3rd month so I stopped taking it. I did try
psychological counselling for around 3 months but it didnt help me
much. Psychiatrist told me that I have some sort of bio-chemical
depression.

Hi Usman,

If you have some nutrient deficiencies (almost surely you have a low omega-3
status at least) it may not be possible to get full recovery with
antidepressants. Then you need to take supplements, which I already have
mentioned. If Lexapro did work for you at least in the beginning, perhaps
you should try it again, this time with nutritional supplements. Another
possibility could be Remeron (mirtazapine), which has somewhat different and
perhaps wider mechanism of action than plain SSRIs. I know some people, who
have been helped by Remeron. Sometimes to get best results the doctor may
have to prescribe a combination of 2 or more drugs.

Sometimes the cause of the depression could be a physical disease. Have
these been ruled out?

Quoted message said:

I used to take seretide inhaler for asthma and dermovete ointment for
psoraisis. I believe its psoraisis not atopic dermatitis. I have it on
my left palm, elbow and left foot. I used to take rhino clenil for
sinusitis. All these medicines really helped me controlling symptoms.
Its important to note that both seretide and dermovete contains
steroid.

Seretide contains fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. Fluticasone is
corticosteroid i.e. glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoids are usually already
elevated in depression and probably make it worse. Of course you may have to
take glucocorticoid for your asthma, but I think that it is not helping your
depression and could possibly make it worse, if used very regularly. But
that's just my guess, I'm not a doctor.

Quoted message said:

I am currently on no medication from last 3 weeks. I am functional upto
the level that I can goto work and do my job without any difficulty and
people around me are not aware that I am expereincing clinical
depression. Pakistani foods are usually gluten rich. I have started to
feel the difference after giving up gluten containing foods. I am not
sure if its the placebo effect, I'll wait for next couple of weeks to
see if its working for me.

If I were you, I would go to see doctor and ask if he could try either
Lexapro again or Remeron or a combination of some drugs, and _with_
nutritional supplements, which have been mentioned here.

Try also get some exercise daily.

--
Matti Narkia

"Usman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

That diet might be gluten free, but it's certainly not balanced, nor is it
free of allergens. My daughter and my mom are both allergic to bananas. If
you want to know about a food allergy, it's much quicker to have a simple
blood test done than to futz around doing an elimination diet. As for the
balanced aspect, it is lacking in protein and fat.

As for the depression... How's your thyroid? An out of whack thyroid can
cause depression.

--
See my webpage:
http://mysite.verizon.net/juliebove/index.htm

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:19:36 +0200 in article
<[email hidden]> Matti Narkia <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

20 Dec 2005 11:42:02 -0800 in article
<[email hidden]> "Usman"

Quoted message said:

I have been suffering from severe depression from more then a year.
Despite of trying prescription anti depressants, there isnt much
improvement. I am finally resorted to alternative treatment and trying
to find out if I have some kind of food allergy.I have started with
gluten free diet.

- I take around 2-3 cups of carrot juice for breakfast.
- Eat around 3-4 bananas at regular intervals during work (9:30 AM to
6:30 PM) with 2, 3 hours difference.
- Eat guava for lunch.
- Eat an apple around 4-4:30 PM
- Eat boiled rice with cooked vegetables for pulses for dinner.

Kindly suggest if the diet plan mentioned above is balanced or is there
any thing important that I need to add?

I'm not a doctor, but here is my suggestion: Take your medication or get it
replaced with something which works better. Get psychological counseling, if
possible. Try to excercise daily, even walking is ok. Eat some fatty fish
daily. And use some supplements such as 1 g ethyl-EPA/d (or 6-9 g EPA+DHA
from fish oil, if ethyl-EPA is not available), 1 mg vitamin B12/d, folic
acid and other B-vitamins, vitamin D (2000 IU/d), vitamin C, vitamin E,
selenium, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, curcumin (or turmeric) and ginger. All of
these are important and necessary, if your depression is as severe as you
claim.

Major depression is often accompanied with low level systemic inflammation,
I don't know if it is a cause or consueqence, but you need to curb this
inflammation and increased free radical production caused by it to prevent
any further biological damage and to stop depression from getting worse.
Many of the above supplements are meant for that purpose, to stop the damage
inflammation is causing and to catch the free radicals. Curcumin and and
ginger help to reduce inflammation.

Depressed patient have low levels of long chain omega-3 fatty acids
(especially EPA) in their cells, the level of these fatty acids correlate
inversely with severity of depression. Low levels of omega-3 could be caused
by excessive lipid peroxidation (caused by freee radicals created by
inflammation) and/or low intake. Ethyl-EPA or fish oil help to restore the
omega-3 levels, and they also help in inhibiting inflammation. 1 g ethyl-
EPA/d and 6-9 g of EPA+DHA from fish oil have been effective in preliminary
trials, enhancing the effect of antidepressant medication.

Folic acid has also enhanced the effect of antidepressants in trials, and
many depressed people have low B12 status.

Antioxidants vitamin C and E, and selenium will help in making free radicals
harmless. Ginkgo biloba is also antioxidant, but in addtion it and Panax
ginseng help to bring down stress hormon cortisol level, which is often
elevated in depression. Ginkgo also protects your brain, especially
hippocampus from a potential athropy chronic depression otherwise could
possibly cause.

I don't know where you live, but if you don't get enough UVB radiation onto
a large enough area of skin throughout the year (20 minutes whole body
exposure on a clear summer day gives equivalent of 10000 - 25000 IU of
vitamin D, which is a lot more than you need), take vitamin D daily at least
in winter, if live at latitude higher than 35-40. Low vitamin D status can
cause secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can cause depression. Vitamin D
has been found effective in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in at least
one trial, and another trial found that it improved the mood of healthy
volunteers in winter.

The following new study also suggests a possible link between low vitamin D
status and depression:

Obradovic D, Gronemeyer H, Lutz B, Rein T.
Cross-talk of vitamin D and glucocorticoids in hippocampal cells.
J Neurochem. 2006 Jan;96(2):500-9. Epub 2005 Nov 29.
PMID: 16336217 [PubMed - in process]
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16336217>

"There is growing evidence for a role of vitamin D(3)
signalling in the brain. In this study, we investigated the
influence of vitamin D(3), in combination with glucocorticoids,
on differentiation of the hippocampal progenitor line HIB5, as
well as survival of rat primary hippocampal cells. In HIB5,
pre-treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) alone inhibited neurite
outgrowth and abolished activation of the mitogen-activated
protein kinase (MAPK) pathway during platelet-derived growth
factor (PDGF)-induced differentiation, consistent with previous
findings. Interestingly, pre-treating HIB5 with vitamin D(3)
significantly reduced these effects of Dex and, in addition,
lowered the transactivational function of the glucocorticoid
receptor (GR) in transient reporter gene assays. A further
impact of vitamin D(3) on glucocorticoid effects was observed
in a rat primary hippocampal culture known to be particularly
sensitive to prolonged GR activation. In this model, Dex
induced considerable cell death after 72 h of exposure in
vitro. However, 24 h of pre-treatment with low doses of vitamin
D(3) substantially reduced the degree of Dex-induced apoptosis
in primary hippocampal cells. Taken together, our experiments
demonstrate a cross-talk between vitamin D(3) and
glucocorticoids in two hippocampal models, a feature that may
have important implications in disorders with dysregulated
glucocorticoid signalling, including major depression."

--
Matti Narkia