potent unexamined cofactors in diabetes, Alzheimer's, NASH, and Parkinson's
research include formaldehyde and formic acid from methanol in alcohol
drinks, tobacco and wood smoke, aspartame, and many other sources: Rich
Murray 2009.07.07
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1579
____________________________________________________


http://greenerhealth.blogspot.com/2009/07/chemical-exposure-key-to-rising-death.\
html

Monday, July 6, 2009
Chemical Exposure Key to Rising Death Rates in Diabetes,
Other Diseases
LITTLE FALLS, N.J., July 6 -- Rising mortality rates for diabetes,
Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease in recent decades
parallel increased exposure to nitrosamines in the food supply and
environment, researchers found.

Nitrosamines, nitrates, and nitrites can induce DNA damage,
oxidative stress, cell death, and cancer, and they have been
associated with insulin resistance, according to
Suzanne M. de la Monte, MD, MPH, of Brown University and
Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, and colleagues.

Insulin resistance is a characteristic of normal aging, as well as of
diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Rates of these diseases have increased so rapidly in recent decades
that genetics likely can't explain what is happening, the researchers
said in the July issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

"Epidemiological trends support exposure rather
than genetic causes of these diseases," they said.

They proposed that exposure to nitrates, nitrites, and
nitrosamines -- through the food supply, smoking, and use of
products such as fertilizers -- might be to blame.

"If this hypothesis is correct," they said, "potential solutions
would include eliminating the use of nitrites and nitrates in food
processing, food preservation, and agriculture; taking steps to
prevent formation of nitrosamines; and employing safe and
effective measures to detoxify food and water prior to human
consumption."

source Posted by Marc Onigman at 6:21 AM

http://www.lifespan.org/news/2009/07/06/researchers-find-possible-environmental-\
causes-for-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-diabetes/

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Researchers Find Possible Environmental Causes for Alzheimer's,
Diabetes
(posted July 6, 2009)

A new study by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital has found a
substantial link between increased levels of nitrates in our
environment and food with increased deaths from diseases,
including Alzheimer's, diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's.
The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
(Volume 17:3 July 2009).

Led by Suzanne de la Monte, MD, MPH,
of Rhode Island Hospital, researchers studied the trends in mortality
rates due to diseases that are associated with aging, such as
diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes and cerebrovascular
disease, as well as HIV.
They found strong parallels between age adjusted increases in death
rate from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes and the progressive
increases in human exposure to nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines
through processed and preserved foods as well as fertilizers.
Other diseases including HIV-AIDS, cerebrovascular disease, and
leukemia did not exhibit those trends.
De la Monte and the authors propose that the increase in exposure
plays a critical role in the cause, development and effects of the
pandemic of these insulin-resistant diseases.

De la Monte, who is also a professor of pathology and lab
medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School
of Brown University, says,
"We have become a 'nitrosamine generation.'
In essence, we have moved to a diet that is rich in amines and
nitrates, which lead to increased nitrosamine production.
We receive increased exposure through the abundant use of
nitrate-containing fertilizers for agriculture."
She continues, "Not only do we consume them in processed foods,
but they get into our food supply by leeching from the soil and
contaminating water supplies used for crop irrigation, food
processing and drinking."

Nitrites and nitrates belong to a class of chemical compounds
that have been found to be harmful to humans and animals.
More than 90 percent of these compounds that have been tested
have been determined to be carcinogenic in various organs.
They are found in many food products, including fried bacon,
cured meats and cheese products as well as beer and water.
Exposure also occurs through manufacturing and processing of
rubber and latex products, as well as fertilizers, pesticides and
cosmetics.

Nitrosamines are formed by a chemical reaction between nitrites
or other proteins.
Sodium nitrite is deliberately added to meat and fish to prevent toxin
production; it is also used to preserve, color and flavor meats.
Ground beef, cured meats and bacon in particular contain abundant
amounts of amines due to their high protein content.
Because of the significant levels of added nitrates and nitrites,
nitrosamines are nearly always detectable in these foods.
Nitrosamines are also easily generated under strong acid conditions,
such as in the stomach, or at high temperatures associated with frying
or flame broiling.
Reducing sodium nitrite content reduces nitrosamine formation in
foods.

Nitrosamines basically become highly reactive at the cellular level,
which then alters gene expression and causes DNA damage.
The researchers note that the role of nitrosamines has been
well-studied, and their role as a carcinogen has been fully
documented. The investigators propose that the cellular alterations
that occur as a result of nitrosamine exposure are fundamentally
similar to those that occur with aging, as well as Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

De la Monte comments, "All of these diseases are associated
with increased insulin resistance and DNA damage.
Their prevalence rates have all increased radically over the past
several decades and show no sign of plateau.
Because there has been a relatively short time interval associated
with the dramatic shift in disease incidence and prevalence rates,
we believe this is due to exposure-related rather than genetic
etiologies."

The researchers recognize that an increase in death rates is
anticipated in higher age groups.
Yet when the researchers compared mortality from Parkinson's
and Alzheimer's disease among 75 to 84 year olds
from 1968 to 2005, the death rates increased much more
dramatically than for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular
disease, which are also aging-associated.
For example, in Alzheimer's patients, the death rate increased
150-fold, from 0 deaths to more than 150 deaths per 100,000.
Parkinson's disease death rates also increased across all age groups.
However, mortality rates from cerebrovascular disease in the same
age group declined, even though this is a disease associated
with aging as well.

De la Monte notes, "Because of the similar trending in nearly
all age groups within each disease category, this indicates that
these overall trends are not due to an aging population.
This relatively short time interval for such dramatic increases in
death rates associated with these diseases is more consistent with
exposure-related causes rather than genetic changes."
She also comments, "Moreover, the strikingly higher and climbing
mortality rates in older age brackets suggest that aging and/or
longer durations of exposure have greater impacts on progression
and severity of these diseases."

The researchers graphed and analyzed mortality rates, and
compared them with increasing age for each disease.
They then studied United States population growth, annual use
and consumption of nitrite-containing fertilizers, annual sales
at popular fast food chains, and sales for a major meat processing
company, as well as consumption of grain and consumption of
watermelon and cantaloupe (the melons were used as a control
since they are not typically associated with nitrate or nitrite
exposure).

The findings indicate that while nitrogen-containing fertilizer
consumption increased by 230 percent between 1955 and 2005,
its usage doubled between 1960 and 1980, which just precedes
the insulin-resistant epidemics the researchers found.
They also found that sales from the fast food chain and the meat
processing company increased more than 8-fold
from 1970 to 2005, and grain consumption increased 5-fold.

[ Rich Murray note: aspartame became common in drinks in 1983 ]

The authors state that the time course of the increased prevalence
rates of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes cannot be explained
on the basis of gene mutations.
They instead mirror the classical trends of exposure-related disease.
Because nitrosamines produce biochemical changes within cells and
tissues, it is conceivable that chronic exposure to low levels of
nitrites and nitrosamines through processed foods, water and
fertilizers is responsible for the current epidemics of these diseases
and the increasing mortality rates associated with them.

De la Monte states, "If this hypothesis is correct, potential
solutions include eliminating the use of nitrites and nitrates in food
processing, preservation and agriculture; taking steps to prevent the
formation of nitrosamines and employing safe and effective measures
to detoxify food and water before human consumption."

Other researchers involved in the study with de la Monte include
Alexander Neusner, Jennifer Chu and Margot Lawton, from the
departments of pathology, neurology and medicine at
Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School
of Brown University.

The study was funded through grants from the National Institutes
of Health.
Two subsequent papers have been accepted for publication in the
near future that demonstrate experimentally that low levels of
nitrosamine exposure cause neurodegeneration, NASH and diabetes.

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J Alzheimers Dis. 2009 Apr 10. [Epub ahead of print]
Epidemilogical Trends Strongly Suggest Exposures as Etiologic
Agents in the Pathogenesis of Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease,
Diabetes Mellitus, and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis.
de la Monte SM, Neusner A, Chu J, Lawton M.
Departments of Pathology, Clinical Neuroscience,
and Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital
and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University,
Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

Nitrosamines mediate their mutagenic effects by causing DNA
damage, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and pro-inflammatory
cytokine activation, which lead to increased cellular degeneration
and death.

However, the very same pathophysiological processes comprise
the "unbuilding" blocks of aging and insulin-resistance diseases
including, neurodegeneration, diabetes mellitus (DM), and
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Previous studies demonstrated that experimental exposure to
streptozotocin, a nitrosamine-related compound, causes NASH,
and diabetes mellitus Types 1, 2
and 3 (Alzheimer (AD)-type neurodegeneration).

Herein, we review evidence that the upwardly spiraling trends in
mortality rates due to DM, AD, and Parkinson's disease typify
exposure rather than genetic-based disease models, and parallel
the progressive increases in human exposure to nitrates, nitrites,
and nitrosamines via processed/preserved foods.

We propose that such chronic exposures have critical roles in the
pathogenesis of our insulin resistance disease pandemic.

Potential solutions include:
1) eliminating the use of nitrites in food;
2) reducing nitrate levels in fertilizer and water used to irrigate crops;
and 3) employing safe and effective measures to detoxify food and
water prior to human consumption.

Future research efforts should focus on refining our ability to detect
and monitor human exposures to nitrosamines and assess early
evidence of nitrosamine-mediated tissue injury and insulin
resistance. PMID: 19363256

Related articles

* Nitrosamine Exposure Causes Insulin Resistance Diseases:
Relevance to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Alcoholic
Steatohepatitis, and Alzheimer's Disease.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2009 Jun 19; . Epub 2009 Jun 19.

* Mechanisms of Nitrosamine-Mediated Neurodegeneration:
Potential Relevance to Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2009 Jun 19; . Epub 2009 Jun 19.

* ReviewEtiopathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Semin Liver Dis. 2001; 21(1):27-41.

* ReviewOxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and
cellular stress response in Friedreich's ataxia.
J Neurol Sci. 2005 Jun 15; 233(1-2):145-62.

* ReviewCellular and molecular mechanisms underlying perturbed
energy metabolism and neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999; 893:154-75.

Suzanne de la Monte, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Pathology and Medicine
Pierre Galletti Laboratories
55 Claverick Street, 4th Floor
Providence, RI 02903
401-444-7441 fax 401-444-2939
Suzanne_DeLaMonte_MD@...
Clinical Interests:
Neuropathology and general pathology.
Research Interests:
I am interested in the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell
death as well as the role of aspartyl (asparaginyl)-beta-hydroxylase
(AAH) in cell motility and invasiveness of tumor cells as well as
neuronal cells.
In addition, our studies focus on growth factor signaling through
IRS-1 and the role of this pathway in oncogenesis.
Expression of AAH in Pancreatic Cancer

Selected Publications:
de la Monte SM, Tamaki S, Cantarini MC, Ince N, Wiedmann M,
Carter JJ, Lahouse SA, Califano S, Maeda T, Ueno T, D'Errico A,
Trevisani F, Wands JR.
Aspartyl-(asparaginyl)-b-hydroxylase regulates hepatocellular
carcinoma invasiveness.
J of Hepatology 2006: 44 (in press).

Rivera EJ, Goldin A, Fulmer N, Tavares R, Wands JR,
de la Monte SM.
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression and function
deteriorate with progression of Alzheimer's disease: link to
brain reductions in acetylcholine.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Dec;8(3):247-68.

de la Monte SM, Xu XJ, Wands JR.
Ethanol inhibits insulin expression and actions in the developing brain.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2005 May;62(10):1131-45.

Steen E, Terry BM, Rivera EJ, Cannon JL, Neely TR, Tavares R,
Xu XJ, Wands JR, de la Monte SM.
Impaired insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression and signaling
mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease--is this type 3 diabetes?
J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Feb;7(1):63-80.

de la Monte SM, Wands JR.
Review of insulin and insulin-like growth factor expression, signaling,
and malfunction in the central nervous system: relevance to
Alzheimer's disease.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Feb;7(1):45-61.

Maeda T, Taguchi K, Aishima S, Shimada M, Hintz D, Larusso N,
Gores G, Tsuneyoshi M, Sugimachi K, Wands JR,
de la Monte SM.
Clinicopathological correlates of aspartyl (asparaginyl)
beta-hydroxylase over-expression in cholangiocarcinoma.
Cancer Detect Prev. 2004;28(5):313-8.
____________________________________________________


formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and other sources (aspartame,
dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30:
BM Kapur -- folic acid protects most people from conversion of
methanol into formaldehyde and then formic acid 2009.07.01
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508

The FEMA trailers give about the same amount of formaldehyde
daily as from a quart of dark wine or liquor, or two quarts
(6 12-oz cans) of aspartame diet soda, from their over 1 tenth
gram methanol impurity (one part in 10,000),
which the body quickly makes into formaldehyde -- enough
to be the major cause of "morning after" alcohol hangovers.

Methanol and formaldehyde also result from many fruits and
vegetables, tobacco and wood smoke, heater and vehicle exhaust,
household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, and new cars,
drapes, carpets, furniture, particleboard, mobile homes, buildings,
leather ... so all these sources add up and interact with many other
toxic chemicals.


folic acid prevents neurotoxicity from formic acid, made by body from
methanol impurity in alcohol drinks [ also 11 % of aspartame ], BM Kapur, PL
Carlen, DC Lehotay, AC Vandenbroucke, Y Adamchik, U. of Toronto, 2007 Dec.,
Alcoholism Cl. Exp. Res.: Murray 2007.11.27 [ actually, a fairly complete
review of recent developments... ]
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, November 27, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1495


formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series,
Sharon E Jacob-Soo, Sarah A Stechschulte, UCSD, Dermatitis
2008 May: Rich Murray 2008.07.18
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 18, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553

Dermatitis. 2008 May-Jun; 19(3): E10-1.
Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines: a possible connection.
Jacob SE, Stechschulte S.
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery,
University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener that has been
linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.

Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into
formaldehyde in various tissues.

We present the first case series of aspartame-associated migraines
related to clinically relevant positive reactions to formaldehyde on
patch testing. PMID: 18627677


formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major
cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele,
G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging 2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533

"For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame
(Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological
degradation.

One of aspartame's metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester, is
converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to
formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes. 22

Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been
seen to improve once aspartame is avoided. 22

Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month
history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week
of avoiding diet soda. 22"


Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame,
vitamins, shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes,
Sharon E Jacob, MD, Tace Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals
2007 Jan.: eyelid contact dermatitis, AM Hill, DV Belsito,
2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532

Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine
(Dermatology), University of California, San Diego
200 W. Arbor Drive #8420, San Diego, CA 92103-8420
Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317
sjacob@...;


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508
formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and other sources (aspartame,
dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008

FEMA found 1.2 ppm formaldehyde in April 2005
in one of over 120,000 mobile homes
supplied for recent hurricane victims --
75 times more than the
0.016 level set for 8-hour working days
by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
for workers to be required to wear respirators.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/tac/appendxc.htm

1 ppm FA in air = 1.23 mg/cubic meter, so breathing 20 cubic
meters would retain about 20 mg FA daily, ten times the 1999 EPA
alarm level for drinking water.

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide similar levels
of methanol, above 120 mg daily, for long-term heavy users, 2 L
daily, about 6 cans.

Within hours, methanol is inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde,
and thence largely into formic acid -- the major causes of the
dreaded symptoms of "next morning" hangover.

Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol --
1,120 mg aspartame in 2 L diet soda,
almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol).
If 30% of the methanol is turned into formaldehyde,
the amount of formaldehyde, 37 mg, is 18.5 times the USA EPA
limit for daily formaldehyde in drinking water,
2.0 mg in 2 L average daily drinking water.

Medicine has to consider that the many sources of methanol and
formaldehyde are additive co-factors.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1286
methanol products (formaldehyde and formic acid)
are main cause of alcohol hangover symptoms
[same as from similar amounts of methanol, the 11% part of
aspartame]:
YS Woo et al, 2005 Dec: Murray 2006.01.20

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1143
methanol (formaldehyde, formic acid) disposition:
Bouchard M et al, full plain text, 2001:
substantial sources are degradation of fruit pectins,
liquors, aspartame, smoke: Murray 2005.04.02


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1490
details on 6 epidemiological studies since 2004 on diet soda (mainly
aspartame) correlations, as well as 14 other mainstream studies
on aspartame toxicity since summer 2005: Murray 2007.11.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1340
aspartame groups and books:
updated research review of 2004.07.16: Murray 2006.05.11


opportunities re BA Magnuson, GA Burdock et al., Aspartame
Safety Evaluation 2007 Sept., Critical Reviews in Toxicology:
Rich Murray 2008.07.11
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 11, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1550
____________________________________________________


"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy
peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and positively
act upon evidence about healthy and safe food, drink, and
environment."

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@...
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 140 members, 1,579 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1202 members, 23,649 posts in a public archive
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