This month has seen a flurry of jibes aimed at Dr Andrew Wakefield, the lead author of the study published in 1998 that first suggested a link between the MMR vaccination and autism. An alleged conflict of interest has instigated a call for Dr Wakefield's work to be disregarded, on the back of which the government and medical establishment have given renewed reassurances about the safety of MMR.
Yet, some doctors and scientists continue to claim that the epidemiological studies that appear to put MMR in the clear do not rule out the possibility that the vaccine may lead to autism in a small subset of the population. It appears that a full six years after Dr Wakefield's original paper, the definitive research that would provide immunity from doubts over MMR's safety remains to be done. Until it is, I suspect the scepticism about MMR vaccination will continue.
To my mind, it is also unfortunate that the cries for Dr Wakefield's head seem to have drowned out the cries coming from parents desperate to get help for their autistic children. There is little doubt that autism has the potential to have quite devastating effects on the lives of affected individuals and those around them.
While we may be in the dark about the precise underlying nature of autism, the endeavours of nutritional researchers has shed some light on potentially effective treatments for this condition. Evidence suggests that autistic children may lack the ability to properly digest dietary proteins such as gluten (found in wheat, oats, rye and barley) and casein (found in dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt). Once absorbed into the body, these partially digested proteins (peptides) have the ability to exert effects on the brain similar to opiate drugs such as morphine. There is mounting evidence that the traits of autism may be the result of brain chemistry disruption due to these so-called 'opioid-like peptides'.
Studies and reports published in the scientific literature show that a diet free from gluten and casein can be effective in reducing autistic behaviour and improving social skills. Parents keen to try this dietary approach may include naturally gluten-free starches such as potato, corn and rice in their children's diets, or specialist gluten-free foods (from supermarkets and health food stores). As a casein-free diet will be low on calcium, it is important that children get plenty of this mineral through nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, calcium-fortified rice milk, sardines and tinned salmon.
Sardines and salmon, and trout and mackerel, will also help provide children with the so-called omega-3 fats known to play a pivotal role in regularising brain function. While I am not aware of any studies that have tried omega-3 fats in autism, research exists which has found that autistic children tend to be deficient in these important fats. In practice, increased intake of omega-3 fats, and the removal of specific foods from the diet, can be beneficial for autistic children.
Nutrition news
Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and about 7,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK.
Recent evidence published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that the nutrient folate may help prevent ovarian cancer, particularly in those who drink alcohol.
In this study, the relationship between folate and ovarian cancer was assessed in more than 60,000 women living in Sweden. In women consuming more than two units of alcohol (about two small glasses of wine) per week, risk of ovarian cancer was 74 per cent lower in those consuming the most folate compared to those consuming the least. For women drinking less than two units of alcohol each week, higher folate consumption did not seem to confer any protection.
The results of this study are similar to other research which has found high folate intake appears to reduce the risk of breast cancer in those who drink alcohol. Good sources of folate include oranges, green leafy vegetables, asparagus and cantaloupe melon. For additional protection, take 400mcg of folic acid per day.
Dear John
I have used cocaine for more than 15 years. What used to be an occasional habit has turned into daily use. How can I control these cravings?
Name withheld
I am aware of only one study that has examined the effect of a nutritionally based therapy for habitual users of cocaine. This research, published last year in the Journal of Additive Diseases, assessed the effect of treatment with magnesium in a group of individuals using cocaine in conjunction with one or more opiate drugs (heroin, morphine or methadone).
Interestingly, taking 732mg magnesium per day for 12 weeks was associated with a significantly reduced use of opiate drugs. However, the magnesium therapy was also found to reduce cravings for cocaine by about 80 per cent compared to placebo. This research suggests that upping your intake of magnesium may help reduce your cocaine cravings. In addition to eating lots of magnesium-rich foods (nuts and seeds), I suggest you supplement with 400mg of magnesium, twice a day.
High doses of magnesium may cause diarrhoea, but taking the same dose of calcium with magnesium will usually nullify this effect.
· If you have any issues you would like Dr Briffa to address in his column, please email him on john.briffa@observer.co.uk. Please note that Dr Briffa cannot enter into any correspondence. You can also visit www.drbriffa.com. Before following any recommendations in this column, you should consult your own medical adviser about any medical problems or special health conditions.
