I am writing this MSCureEnigmas site to encourage MSers to find better ways (like my 6 steps to MS health) to enhance their health than to take marginally effective drugs which increase the risk of stroke and migraines (among other things.) Also, to recognize the vascular connection in MS. Finally, to seek ways to minimize the deleterious effects of Birth Control Pills which apparently double the synthesis of inflammatory C-Reactive Proteins. Would diet correct that danger?
My answer ? Yes, I believe a correct diet can go a long way to overcoming that fatality (which needn’t be a fatality.) This is the same diet which led to my first MS heaiing 1984 through 1992. So what links these phenomena – Birth Control Pills, Diet, Blood Flow, EBV (Mononucleosis), Myelin Sheath ?
Answer : C-Reactive Protein.
Birth Control Pills double the synthesis of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) which is a non specific marker for inflammation. That is to say, a high incidence of CRP indicates inflammation somewhere in the body without indicating where.
See Quote below.
www.webmd.com › Stroke › News
« April 7, 2003 - High blood levels of a substance known as C-reactive protein, or CRP, may increase the risk of stroke by nearly 400%...
Researchers say CRP may block blood flow in the brain -- leading to a stroke -- by stimulating the formation of cholesterol plaque on the interior walls of blood vessels. »
C-Reactive Protein’s is also thought to damage the vein’s walls (endothelium) and cause blood clots . The focus of the following study concerns primarily heart attacks, but for our purposes we will assume that C-reactive protein impacts the entire vascular system, veins incuded. See Quote below.
« NEWS | January 9, 2003
https://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/2601
UC DAVIS STUDY IDENTIFIES C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AS CAUSE OF BLOOD CLOT FORMATION
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) --
« a new study by UC Davis physicians is the first to conclusively link C-reactive proteins (CRP) to formation of blood clots, a major cause of heart attacks, strokes and other vascular disease... athttp://www.circulationaha.org…
Ishwarlal Jialal, professor of pathology and director of the Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center.
The study demonstrates that CRP causes cells in the arteries, known as human aortic endothelial cells, to produce higher levels of an enzyme that inhibits the breakdown of clots. The enzyme, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is also a strong risk marker for heart disease, especially in diabetics. The study used a variety of techniques to convincingly show how CRP activates PAI-1 in aortic cells, causing lesions in the arteries that ultimately lead to formation of plaque and blood clots.
The study underscores the need to use CRP screening to more accurately assess at-risk populations, according to Jialal, who is the Robert E. Stowell Endowed Chair in Experimental Pathology…
High CRP levels can occur in otherwise healthy individuals, according to the study. Patients with high levels of CRP can reduce risk by losing weight, exercising on a regular basis, stopping cigarette smoking, or taking statin drugs, Jialal added…
The new study adds to the findings of another landmark study on CRP by Jialal's team at UC Davis that showed CRP actually damages the blood vessel wall by blocking a critical "protector" protein and inhibiting nitric oxide.
"Interestingly, the new study indicates that activation of PAI-1 was unrelated to the nitric oxide inhibition identified in the earlier study," said Jialal. "This indicates that CRP has multiple, independent effects that cause heart disease."… »
MY CONCLUSION : CRP damages vascular walls, may lead to blood clots and stroke as well as obstructed, stenosed vains draining the brain i.e. CCSVI MS. (That last isn’t part of the above study, but logic suggests it.)
RETHINKING INFLAMMATION FOR MS :
Dietary treatment for MS recommends non-inflammatory foods. I always assumed the idea is to reduce the myelin inflammation of an auto-immune MS attack. Maybe Not So.
Maybe the first step is to reduce incidence of C Reactive Protein in the blood to facilitate blood flow and overcome vascular pathology. Let’s say one drop of blood leaking into the central nervous system can trigger myelin damage/inflammation. The only auto-immune factor here would be one’s own blood being out of place. Again, it’s a vascular problem, CCSVI in shorthand.
Basically, recommended MS Diets follow the same rules.
For example :
Inflammatory foods include (LOlivia Tarantino May 3, 2016)
- Sugar 2. Vegetebal Oil 3. Fried Food 4. Refined Flour 5. Dairy 6. Artificial Sweeteners 7. Artificial Additives 8. Saturated Fats 9. Grain Fed Meat (beef, chicken, pork) 10. Processed Meat 11. Glutens 12. Alcohol 13. Trans fat foods 14. Fast Food
Anti-Inflammatory Diets
FOODS TO INCREASE
These foods are the ones that should make up most of your diet.
- Fish (especially fatty sh), skinless chicken breast and game meat.
- As many vegetables as possible with a wide variety consumed.
- Fruit with an emphasis on berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries).
- Nuts can be a great snack.
- Coffee and green tea are not a problem and can be consumed in normal amounts.
- A variety of supplements which are detailed in a separate document.
See also the Wahls Protocol. https://www.webmd.com ›
The diet is a version of the Paleolithic (Paleo) diet. That's based on the idea that humans should eat more like our ancient ancestors and avoid the foods we started eating in the past several hundred years, like wheat and processed foods.
On the Wahls Protocol, you eat lots of:
- Meat and fish
- Vegetables, especially green, leafy ones
- Brightly colored fruit, like berries
- Fat from animal and plant sources, especially omega-3 fatty acids
- Dairy products and eggs
- Grains (including wheat, rice, and oatmeal)
- Legumes (beans and lentils)
- Nightshade vegetables, which include tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers
- Sugar »
In my opinion MS researchers/therapists are focusing on the wrong inflammation. They are treating the myelin inflammation which comes AFTER – IN RESPONSE TO -the initial wound – the damaged vascular system. A single drop of blood in the nerve tissue will severely injure it.
The aim of MS treatment should be to reduce incidence of C Reactive Protein AND facilitate blood/CSF circulation by doing the following (for example).
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/health/how-to-lower-your-crp-levels/all#ixzz4zFmOxlEY
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet
- Exercise
- Lose Weight
- Quit Smoking
- De-Stress and get enough Sleep
- Multi-vitamins
- Magnesium
- Vit D
- Vit C
- Fish Oil Supplements EPA/DHA
- Curcumin (Termeric)
- Omega 7
Another interesting link between CRP and MS. CRP is synthesized in the liver. THE LIVER. All MSers have experienced Mononucleosis which is caused by the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) which injures the liver. (I had hepatitus with Mono.) So here we have a link between EBV, the LIVER, C REACTIVE PROTEIN, vascular pathology, and ultimately CCSVI MS.
So, we arrive at even more confirmation of the necessity of proper diet in MS healing in order to :
- Reduce C Reactive Protein to facilitate blood circulation, overcome venous pathology. (Focus – Endothelium, inner layer of vein)
2.Reduce Cellular Inflammation to Prevent Muscle cramps/spasms and thereby facilitate fluid circulation. (Focus, smooth muscle layer of vein – Autonomioc Nervous System.)
QUOTE from August 23, 2017 blog post… « cellular inflammation (toxicity) leads to calcium release, followed by muscle contraction which leads to poor CNS fluid circulation (blood, CSF) and a MS attack…
Dr. Owiesy’s work provided the vital missing factor in my understanding of what is happening in my body. He administers dexamethasone/lidocaine/thiamine in the area around the Internal Jugular Vein to overcome spasms in the vein’s smooth muscle which can obstruct blood flow. He is treating the ANS autonomic nervous system.
Consider DR. Arata’S TRANSVASCULAR AUTONOMIC MODULATION (CCSVI plus massage) Dr. Arata’s work on CCSVI complements Dr. Owiesy’s approach, viewed from a differenct perspective. He, too, refers to the ANS which runs from the spine up the IJV (for example) towards the brain. He believes angioplasty to the internal jugular veins acts upon the autonomic nervous system as well. https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/ ... -patients/
« Drs. Arata and Sternberg conclude that the combination of balloon angioplasty of anatomically normal veins coupled with external compression during dilation of these veins can improve indicators of ANS dysfunction »
END OF QUOTE from Aug 23, 2017
CONCLUSION :
CORRECT DIET/SUPPLEMENTS act to 1.) reduce C-Reactive Protein which may damage the vein’s endothelium and 2.) reduce cellular inflammation which triggers spasms in the vein’s smooth layer.
In both cases venous blood circulation is enhanced to prevent a CCSVI MS attack.
I clearly need to revise/update my paper to incorporate these new insights.
TAGS : MS, C-Reactive Protein, Birth Control Pills, Diet, Blood Flow, EBV, Myelin Sheath