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Nutrition Guide For Clinicians: From The Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine / Spring 2007 / Vol. XVI, No. 2
Nutrition Guide For Clinicians: From The Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine / Spring 2007 / Vol. XVI, No. 2
From the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine / Spring 2007 / Vol. XVI, No. 2
Introducing PCRMs
Nutrition Guide
for Clinicians
American Medical
Student Association
Rejects Animal
Use in Education
Reverse Diabetes
Tour Spreads
Message of Hope
NutritionMD.org:
Your Personal
Nutrition Expert
Die Like a Man
Compassion
Wins in Texas
The Cancer Project
Heads South
Editorial
hey trail behind their professors like ducklings, just as we all did at first. A bit awkward in their white
coats and nervous in their first patient encounters, they fit the nerdy medical student stereotype.
But appearances aside, todays bright medical students are a new breed, and they are asking new and
important questions: When will animal laboratories be eliminated from our curricula? How can we bring
a new emphasis on prevention and nutrition?
In March, the American Medical Student Association went on record as follows: AMSA strongly encourages the replacement of animal laboratories with non-animal alternatives in undergraduate medical
education. At the AMSA annual convention, the resolution became organizational policy. The association went further, condemning the practice of pound seizure, in which animals are removed from pounds
and shelters and sold for experimentation. The measures were brought by students from the University of
Virginia School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Medical College
of Wisconsin, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
As AMSA noted, the vast majority of schools have done away with animal laboratories already. Thanks
largely to PCRMs work on this issue for more than 20 years, alternatives are in place and animal labs
are definitely out. In the 1980s, when animal laboratories were not only offered but often required,
AMSA spoke out against faculty intimidation of students who wanted to opt out. The new resolution
goes much further. The last handful of schools that insist on using animals now have to contend with a
new student attitude. No more are live dogs or other animals to be laid out on a table, experimented on,
and killed for educational purposes, if the students have anything to say about it. Many medical students
are members of both AMSA and PCRM, and PCRM has often come to the aid of students working for
ethical medical education.
Todays medical students are also eager for a change of emphasis in medical practicea new focus on
prevention and nutrition. They have heard of Dean Ornishs research showing that lifestyle changes can
reverse heart disease and improve prostate cancer treatment. They know about PCRMs studies on diet
and diabetes. They know of Caldwell Esselstyns studies showing that the right
kind of diet can make patients practically heart-attack-proof. They want to put
these principles to work. PCRM will help them do it.
Todays bright medical
Our new Nutrition Guide for Clinicians confirms their sense that diet is critical
students are a new breed,
to health, and gives them practical tools to put it to work. Distributed free of
and they are asking new and
charge to medical students and other health care students, the 900-page guide
important questions.
moves knowledge out of research laboratories and medical libraries and puts it
into their hands, ready to be shared with patients.
PCRMs new Web site, NutritionMD.org, goes a step further, giving health
care providers and patients access to the latest information on diet and
health, along with all the means to simplify the process of change.
Yes, they still wear awkward white coats and are as nervous as ever
about getting it right when it comes to clinical care. But, with the right
information and encouragement, todays students can build a new kind
of ethical and effective medical practice.
Harry Giglio
Good Medicine
From the Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine
spring 2007
Contents
Contents
www.PCRM.org
printed on recycled paper
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Research Issues
PCRM
The Latest in
The Latest in
Research Ethics
GOOD MEDICINE
MEDICINE Winter
Spring 2006
2007
GOOD
nanoparticlesminiscule particles of
commonly used materials such as carbon
or silver.
Most importantly, this method will
allow assessment of the effects of pollutants directly on human lung cells, instead
of animal cells. In vitro toxicity tests
can improve the scientific, economic,
and ethical value of research and play a
significant role in the screening of toxic
chemicals and the replacement of animals, Dr. Hayes said.
istockphoto
istockphoto
Nutrition
The Latest in
HEART HEALTH
BONE HEALTH
istockphoto
tio being
ideal) of
omega-6
to omega-3 and
not the total consumption
of omega-3. Consumption of walnuts and flaxseed has also shown a beneficial effect on
risk of cardiovascular disease.
Griel AE, Kris-etherton PM, Hilpert KF, et al. An increase in dietary n-3
fatty acids decreases a marker of bone resorption in humans. Nutr
J. January 16, 2007;6:2.
PLANT-BASED DIETS
A
Red Meat Linked to Heart Disease
in Women with Diabetes
istockphoto
Spring 2006
2007 GOOD
GOOD MEDICINE
MEDICINE
Winter
GOOD MEDICINE
MEDICINE Spring
Spring 2007
2007
GOOD
Vicki Kerr
Author Spotlight
distribution to students
will take place every
year, and the guide will
be updated periodically
to ensure students are
getting the latest information. Second-year
students were selected as
the recipients in hopes
that the guide will help
them prepare for their
first clinical year.
Knowledge of the
critical relationships
between diet and disease
is essential for students
so that they can inform their patients of
NutritionMD.org
RICK DELIA
Neal Barnard, M.D., explains his diabetes program to an enthusiastic audience in Phoenix, Ariz. Many Reverse Diabetes tour stops include demonstrations
of vegan cooking, here presented by chef Jason Wyrick.
his February, PCRM member physician Milton Mills, M.D., led a two-day
health seminar in Oakland, Calif., featuring sessions on the link between diet and
disease. The course covered cancer, heart
disease, diabetes, dementia, and other
chronic diseases.
Dr. Mills, who graduated in 1991 from
Stanford University School of Medicine, practices
clinic-based outpatient medicine in northern Virginia
and works as a critical care physician with Fairfax
Hospital in Fairfax, Va. You might recognize him as a
video nutrition spokesman for the Discovery Health
Channel or as one of the featured doctors in PCRMs
public service announcement on childhood obesity.
To receive e-mail alerts about PCRM events in your
area and to sign up for PCRMs free e-publications, visit
support.pcrm.org/subscriptions.
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most egregious
adver tisement
was by Burger
King.
In Burger
Kings advertisement, a parade
of men of all
ages, shapes, and
Hummer: Tofu endangers manhood
sizes marches
to Burger King
while flaunting their muscles and singing about not
wanting to eat chick food. A voiceover at the end of
the commercial asserts, Eat like a man, man.
Apparently, eating like a man means buying the
Burger King Texas Double Whopper, which packs
in 195 milligrams of cholesterol and a staggering 24
grams of saturated fat, which is more than double the
daily limit for saturated fat recommended by health
organizations. Research shows that high-fat, meat-based
diets have been linked to increased rates of heart disease,
diabetes, stroke, and many cancers, including prostate
cancer, the most common cancer in men.
Research Issues
iSTOCKPHOTO
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Research Issues
PCRM Ethologist
Reports from Lecture
Tour of India
By Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D.
Alternatives to Dissection:
re you a student who has recently taken a stand against classroom dissection? Are you a teacher who has replaced dissection
with humane alternatives in your classroom? We want you to share
your experiences with us!
More and more people are becoming aware of the ethical problems
involved with dissection and the increasing number of alternatives.
While many classrooms have switched to humane and educationally superior methods such as interactive computer software, many
students are still asked to participate in classroom dissection.
However, there are other options. Students who are asked to dissect animals should talk to their parents and teachers about their
reasons for objecting to dissection and should be prepared with a list
of alternatives. In some states, schools are legally required to allow
students to opt out of dissection.
Students can help each other by sharing their dissection-related
experiences. If you or someone you know has a story to share, you
could be featured on our Dissection Alternatives Web site. Please
send your story to dissection@pcrm.org.
For tips on how to make your classroom dissection-free, information about available alternatives, a list of states with student choice
laws, and to order a free copy of the interactive CD-ROM Digital
Frog 2, please visit www.DissectionAlternatives.org/students.
12
Research Issues
ACTION ALERT
e want to demonstrate to the Food and Drug Administration that there are many thousands of people who
support alternatives to animal testing. The FDAs own statistics
reveal that 92 percent of drugs tested as safe and effective in
animals fail when tested on humans. Of the remaining 8 percent
of the drugs that reach the public, more than half are relabeled
or withdrawn because of serious toxic effects that were not
predicted by animal experiments.
Without further efforts to encourage the use of non-animal
tests, drug companies will continue to put countless human and
animal lives at risk. Proven and less expensive alternatives to animal testing are available and are widely used in Europe. Tell the
FDA that it is time for a change. Write to the FDA commissioner
and urge him to end mandatory animal testing for every drug
sold in the United States:
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
Commissioner
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 14-71
Rockville, MD 20857
In addition to having
ethical advantages,
growing cells without
animal serum ensures
that fewer variables
are introduced
into experiments,
meaning that
results are easily
reproducible by
different laboratories.
Spring 2007 GOOD MEDICINE
13
Research Issues
hat do the Alexis Foundation, International Suicide Prevention Inc., and Birth Defect Research
for Children Inc. have in common? They have all
been awarded the Humane Charity Seal of Approval
and have recently been featured on the Humane Seals
Web site.
The Humane Charity Seal of Approval recognizes
charities that meet their research needs by exclusively
using non-animal methods. The Humane Charity Seal
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GOOD MEDICINE
MEDICINE Spring
GOOD
Spring 2007
2007
istockphoto
Research Issues
his spring, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) took a major step toward modernizing medical education. AMSA passed a resolution
encouraging the replacement of live animal laboratories
with non-animal alternatives in undergraduate medical
education. The AMSA resolution also condemned the
practice of pound seizure and obtaining animals from
Class B dealers.
AMSA amended its official position regarding alternatives to animal laboratories from a statement that the
organization urges that alternative educational materials,
such as films, videotapes and computer simulations be
provided for students who do not choose to attend these
classes and labs (1986), to AMSA strongly encourages
the replacement of animal laboratories with non-animal
alternatives in undergraduate medical education.
AMSA also completely reversed its stance on obtain-
Sixty-seven percent of donors prefer to support health charities that fund vital patient services or
life-saving medical research, but never animal experiments charities with the Humane Seal.
Use of the Seal is free to approved charities and includes advertising in national media.
For more information, please visit www.HumaneSeal.org or contact info@humaneseal.org.
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iStockphoto
ew research
suggests that
a specific compound in cruciferous vegetables
(broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels
sprouts, cabbage,
kale, etc.) may be
especially helpful in inhibiting
breast cancer development. Researchers at the
University of Leicester looked at the effect of indole-3carbinol (I3C) on four different types of breast cancer
cells. Previous studies have shown that foods rich in
indoles may help to kill breast cancer cells by diminishing the expression of the epidermal growth factor
receptor, which protects cancer cells. This study found
that I3C helped to reduce these receptors in three of the
four types of breast cancer cells. Consuming cruciferous
vegetables daily may significantly lower breast cancer
risk and increase survival.
Moiseeva EP, Heukers R, Manson MM. EGFR and Src are involved in indole-3-carbinol-induced
death and cell cycle arrest of human breast cancer cells. Carcinogenesis 2007. Feb;28:435-45.
iStockPHOTO
followup of the
U.K. Womens Cohort
Study involving more than
35,000 women found that
premenopausal women who ate 30 grams of fiber a day had
half the risk of breast cancer compared with those who
ate less than 20 grams per day. In addition, high protein
Cancer-Related Hormones
Associated with Protein and
Dairy Consumption
www.CancerProject.org
The Cancer Project is a nonprofit PCRM subsidiary that advances
cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research.
Spring 2007 GOOD MEDICINE
17
Member Support
Betsy Wason
Director of Development
bequests
18
gift annuities
Name
Address
City
State/Province
zip/Postal Code
Country
E-mail Phone
iStockphoto
Member Support
Both the Anderliks and their daughter Kerry have put their donations to
PCRM to long-term use by becoming
Lifetime Partners, dedicating funds for a
charitable gift annuity. We believe that
PCRM needs support for the long term
for the great work it is accomplishing, so
we wanted to be part of that long-term
support. PCRM is solid, Chris said. We
trust you.
We like everything you guys do! Bob
added.
Lovin Spoonfuls owner Dr. Peggy Raisglid welcomes guests to a benefit dinner at her vegan
restaurant in Tucson, Ariz. On Dec. 3, 2006, the
restaurant was packed with PCRM members and
new friends to hear a program update from PCRM
president Dr. Neal Barnard. Volunteers organized
a silent auction featuring local artwork and
treasures to help raise funds in support of PCRMs
programs and campaigns. Thank you, Peggy!
19
PCRM Marketplace
PCRM Marketplace
Research Issues
What Will We Do If We Dont
Experiment on Animals?
Medical Research for the 21st Century
C. Ray Greek, M.D., and Jean Swingle Greek, D.V.M.
The Greeks answer the titles question with a tour of truly
modern medical research. With advances in the study
of human genetics and the ability to measure human
responses to drugs at the molecular level, researchers will
find it increasingly difficult to justify the crude data accumulated from animal experimentation. 262 pgs, $24.99
Pleasurable Kingdom
Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good
Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D.
Life as experienced by animals is
not a grim struggle for survival,
according to animal behavior
researcher Balcombe. He presents persuasive evidence that
animalslike humansfind
enjoyment in touch, food, aesthetics, companionship,
anticipation, and more. Full of insight and humor, the
book poses vital ethical questions. 256 pgs, $24.95
New!
PCRM Marketplace
From Neal D. Barnard, M.D., PCRM president
Dr. Neal Barnards Program
New!
for Reversing Diabetes
I f you have diabetes or are
concerned about developing it,
this program could change the
course of your life. Dr. Barnards
groundbreaking clinical studies,
the latest funded by the National
Institutes of Health, show that
diabetes responds dramatically to a low-fat, vegetarian
diet. Rather than just compensating for malfunctioning
insulin like other treatment plans, Dr.Barnards program
helps repair how the body uses insulin. Includes 50
delicious recipes. 288 pgs, $25.95
Breaking the Food Seduction
We all have foods we cant resist, foods that sabotage
our health. But banishing those cravings for chocolate,
cookies, cheese, or burgers isnt a question of willpower,
its a matter of biochemistry. Drawing on his own
research and that of other leading institutions, Dr.
Barnard reveals how diet and lifestyle changes can
break the craving cycle. 324 pgs, $14.95
Breaking the Food Seduction Audio Summary
by the author, 68 mins, compact disc, $10.00
Turn Off the Fat Genes
Genes, including those that shape our bodies, actually
Appetite for Profit
New!
Michele Simon
Law professor and health food
policy expert Michele Simon
exposes the misleading messages from fast-food, beverage,
and processed-food corporations.
Through advertising and political
manipulation, this misinformation finds its way into governmental policy and
consumer beliefs. The result is a national epidemic
of obesity , heart disease, and diabetes. Fascinating
and empowering reading. 416 pgs, $15.95
Dont Drink Your Milk
Frank Oski, M.D.
Milk is the perfect foodfor a calf. For humans, however,
milk poses several health risks, as outlined in this very
readable book by the former director of the Johns Hopkins
University Department of Pediatrics. 92 pgs, $9.95
The Whole Foods Diabetic Cookbook
Patricia Stevenson, Michael Cook, Patricia Bertron, R.D.
Its not just about sugar anymore! A low-fat, vegetarian diet
high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans will keep
21
PCRM Marketplace
From PCRM
Choose Health! Four Food Groups Poster
Striking color photos
illustrate PCRMs New
Four Food Groups for
complete nutrition
without cholesterol
and excess fat.
Includes serving
recommendations.
22"x17", $6.00
Refrigerator Magnet
Full color, 2"x3". $1.00
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Vegetarian Diets:
A Smart Choice
Children with higher intelligence are more likely to
follow a vegetarian diet
later in life, according to a
study in the British Medical
Journal. Researchers from
the University of Southampton analyzed data on 8,170
participants from the 1970
British Cohort Study and
concluded that a higher IQ at
age 10 was associated with a
38 percent increased chance
of being vegetarian at age
30. The study included 366
vegetarians, which was 4.5
percent of the total sample.
These data may help explain why having a higher
IQ in childhood or adolescence leads to a reduced
risk of heart disease during
adulthood.
Global Warming:
Dont Have a Cow, Man
Eating meat may be as bad for
the earth as it is for our own
health. According to a new
report by the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization, the greenhouse gases
produced by farmed animals may be doing more damage
to the environment than the pollution from our cars. These
animals produce 35 percent to 40 percent of all methane
emissions (which have 23 times the global warming potential
of carbon dioxide), 65 percent of nitrous oxide (which is 320
times as warming as carbon dioxide), and 64 percent of ammonia, which contributes to acid rain. According to the report,
livestock take up 30 percent of the Earths entire land surface,
and total meat production is projected to double from 2001
to 2050. Global meat production, which adds immensely to
water pollution and the reduction of forests for livestock grazing, continues to grow and threaten the health of the planet.
Chinese Obesity, American-Style
Chinas children are facing an obesity crisis, American-style.
Due to the countrys economic boom over the past decade,
more children have access to McDonalds, Kentucky Fried
Chicken, and other American fast-food restaurants in Chinas
cities and surrounding areas. Families can now afford more
high-fat meat and dairy products, and the population is
increasingly leading sedentary lifestyles because of access to
cars and the Internet. About 8 percent of 10- to 12-year-olds
in Chinas cities are considered obese, according to Education
Ministry data, and an additional 15 percent are overweight.
Six-year-old boys in urban areas of China are 2.5 inches taller
and 6.6 pounds heavier on average than their counterparts
from 30 years ago.
A Chemical Addition to the Diet
A laboratory analysis found high levels of toxic chemicals in a
popular brand of omega-3 fish oil supplements. OmegaPure
was found to contain DDT, Dieldrin, and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). All
three chemicals have been deemed by
the Environmental Protection Agency
as probable carcinogens and have
been banned in the United States.
OmegaPure is manufactured by the
largest producer of fish oil in the country, Omega Protein Inc.
Spring 2006
2007 GOOD
GOOD MEDICINE
MEDICINE
Winter
23
PCRM
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Random Lake, WI
Permit #1
Physician Profile
Paulette Chandler, M.D.
Prescribing Health
YOULL BE SHOCKED! With postage, printing, and handling expenses, each returned
copy of Good Medicine costs PCRM almost $2. Over the year, this adds up to thousands of lost
dollars. If your address has changed, please let us know promptly.
24
Ivo Gretener