-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- From: Bill Kingsbury <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_503000/503781.stm Soya beans linked to developmental damage Soya beans may affect foetal development BBC News Online - Health Wednesday, November 3, 1999 Pregnant women who eat a diet high in soya beans may increase the risk of long-term developmental damage in their children, researchers have found. Soya beans contain compounds called phytoestrogens or isoflavones, that have been found to mimic the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen. These effects may help to prevent a range of conditions including the unpleasant symptoms of the menopause. But scientists at the Third International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease in Washington DC were told the impact on foetuses and children could be negative. A team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center presented data from two studies - one on animals and one on humans - to the conference. Organising tissue development Dr Claude Hughes, director of the Center for Women's Health at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said sex hormones appeared to play an important role in organising the development of tissues early in life. He said: "These hormones influence the way the brain is organised, the way the reproductive organs and cells develop, even the way immune function develops. "Therefore, if mom is eating something or has in her body fat something that can act like sex hormones, it is logical to wonder if that could change the baby's development." The researchers analysed amniotic fluid samples of 54 pregnant women from the Los Angeles area. They found that about 80% of the foetuses were exposed to phytoestrogens at levels up to 180 times the norm. The amniotic fluid samples were taken during routine amniocentesis between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation - after a baby's organs have formed but during a critical stage of development. The researchers tested the impact of exposure to phytoestrogen by feeding them to pregnant rats at a similar stage of their pregnancy. 'Masculinising' effect The phytoestrogen had a "masculinising" effect on both the male and female rat foetuses. Male rat pups also experienced early onset of puberty. Dr Hughes said the rat experiment was likely to give some indication of the effect of phytoestrogens on human foetuses. He said: "There is no reason to assume that there will be gross malformations of foetuses but there may be subtle changes, such as neurobehavioral attributes, immune function, and sex hormone levels." "There are many long-term health questions that come about when the little clocks in our heads are changed. There may be subtle things occurring and we don't know it. "Or it could be that humans are much more resistant to these effects than are other animals, and this is not an issue. We will not know until we get the data." ~~~~~~~ http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_613000/613396.stm Sex drive warning to vegetarians and elderly BBC News Online - Health Friday, 21 January, 2000 The decrease in bioavailable testosterone can then result in declines in sexual function and red cell mass, and contribute to the loss of bone density --Dr Christopher Longcope Elderly and vegetarian men are being warned about the effect of low protein diets on their sex lives in later years. Researchers say people who do not eat enough protein are at risk of low testosterone levels which can cause a decline in sexual function as well as muscle loss, reduced red blood cells and damage to bones. People who do not eat meat are particularly at risk, because animal products are good sources of high biological value proteins. As well as vegetarians and vegans who choose not to eat animal products, the elderly are known to eat less meat because of loss of appetite in later years and difficulty with chewing. Dr Christopher Longcope, of the University of Massachusetts medical school, says his latest findings mean the elderly in particular should be counselled about the importance of eating enough protein. He found that low protein diets lead to increases in sex hormone-binding globulin in older men, which reduces the availability of testosterone. Sex hormone levels Dr Longcope and colleagues looked at globulin levels in 1,552 men aged between 40 and 70. Protein and fibre intake levels were significant contributors to sex hormone levels, as were age and body mass, they said in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He said: "The decrease in bioavailable testosterone can then result in declines in sexual function and red cell mass, and contribute to the loss of bone density." And high protein diets could increase the available testosterone, though further research into this areas was needed, he said. Denise Parish, a dietician at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, said it was known that low protein diets caused muscle loss, but the link with testosterone had not previously been made. She added: "In the elderly population, people tend to have lower protein intake because of poor denticulation, which means they can't eat as much meat, and poorer appetite. The same is the case for vegetarians and vegans." She said foods such as textured vegetable proteins, soya, pulses and rice and bread were good providers of protein for these groups of people. A spokeswoman for the Vegan Society said there was not usually a problem of low protein intake for vegans, who do not eat meat or dairy products. "It is just sensible to eat a varied diet," she said. "As long as you are doing that, you will be fine." Internet links: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism http://www.scherago.com/endo_journals/jcem.html ~~~~~~~ http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_286000/286265.stm Vegetarian diet linked to genital defects A vegetarian diet may put babies at risk by BBC Bristol health correspondent Matthew Hill BBC News Online - Health Thursday, February 25, 1999 A vegetarian diet could be responsible for genital defects in baby boys, according to BBC-funded research carried out by scientists in Bristol. Researchers found that boys born to vegetarian mums are five times more likely to suffer from hypospadias, a condition that effects the male urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries the urine from the bladder to an external opening. In males, the urethra should open at the tip of the penis. If the urethra opens below the tip of the penis, this is called hypospadias. There are various grades of hypospadias depending on how far down the shaft of the penis the urethral opening is located. The only way to correct this is with surgery, which is usually performed at one to two years of age. Children with hypospadias should never be circumsized as the foreskin may be used to repair the hypospadias. Hypospadias is very painful, often combined with undescended testicles and could lead to testicular cancer. The number of cases of hypospadias has doubled in the past 30 years. The increase mirrors an increase in other problems with the male reproductive system such as low sperm count, undescended testicles and testicular cancer. The research was carried out by Bristol University's "Children of the 90s" Project which is investigating the health of 14,000 children born at the start of this decade. The researchers found 51 boys suffering from hypospadias. Pesticides implicated They believe that a vegetarian diet alone is unlikely to cause hypospadias. But they think vegetarians are probably eating more of something that is to blame -- soya is a suspect. According to the researchers, the defect may be caused by crop pesticides or naturally occurring chemicals called phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are generally thought to be behind hormonal imbalances leading to defects. The researchers say that more investigations are needed before the link can be properly established. Project leader Professor Jean Golding says: "We know that vegetables are good for all sorts of reasons and we are certainly not advocating that people stop eating vegetables. "We think, however, that such studies may help us find answers to this distressing condition. "It is potentially disastrous for the human race, and it is important that it is addressed early." Professor Golding said the majority of mothers of affected boys were meat-eaters, but proportionately vegetarian mothers were at greater risk of producing a boy with the condition. Kym Godier, 32, of Wells, Somerset, began a parents' national support group after her son Thomas was born with the hypospadias defect. Thomas, now three, had corrective surgery and is "fine", says his mother. She said: "I was shocked and confused when I heard of this condition as there seemed no-one to turn to for explanation. "I was surprised to hear that vegetarians were more at risk as you generally think of them leading a healthier lifestyle." . We are about to go on a Journey. All Aboard http://sites.netscape.net/gsussnzl/poleshift <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
