Increasing number of children stricken by arthritis

[Emily]

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2342113/Increasing-number-of-kids-stricken-by-arthritis?google_editors_picks=true

Increasing number of kids stricken by arthritis
BY Josh Kerns on August 30, 2013 @ 6:30 am (Updated: 7:33 am - 8/30/13 )

When Lucy Jackson was just 2-and-a-half years old, she seemed like a perfectly normal, healthy youngster. But that all changed on Thanksgiving day in 2007 while the Mill Creek family vacationed in Florida.

"She woke up and couldn't walk," says her mom Katie. She was in serious pain.

Lucy had been perfectly healthy up to that point in her young life. At first, her parents thought she'd possibly been bitten by a bug or something and went to the emergency room. There, the doctor couldn't find anything wrong, except for some indicators she might have some inflammation in her joints. He mentioned the possibility of juvenile arthritis...

 

[Emily]

Re: Increasing number of children stricken by arthritis

The vitamin D deficiency and mold exposure, (though other toxins are discussed in the article), described in the case below make me wonder about the case in the previous post since the patient is from the cloudy Seattle area and her illness was triggered in what might be area with even higher mold presence.

http://shr.sagepub.com/content/2/4/32.full

Published online before print April 1, 2011, doi: 10.1258/shorts.2011.011012 JRSM Short Reports April 2011 vol. 2 no. 4 32

Free via Creative Commons: CC :tiphat:

Nutritional supplementation and dietary restriction in the resolution of enthesitis-related arthritis

Stephen J Genuis1⇑
Anna-Kristen J Siy2

1School of Human Development, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
2Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Correspondence to: Stephen J Genuis. Email: [See link]


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A case of a 14-year-old girl with a 2-year history of peripheral and sacroiliac joint pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, secondary to enthesitis-related arthritis, is presented along with the management.
...
As the combination of steroid treatment and juvenile idiopathic arthritis are known to predispose patients to a higher lifetime risk of osteoporosis,65,66 a series of agents were targeted at bone health. Studies support the use of strontium, magnesium and vitamin D, and to a lesser extent, vitamin K2 and DHA in increasing osteoblast activity and restoring bone density.67?73 Zinc and copper are increasingly recognized as important co-factors in preventing osteoporosis as well.74,75

Within one month, the patient saw significant improvements in function that allowed her to decrease, and then completely discontinue the methotrexate, sulfasalazine, naproxen and ondansetron after six months. At six months, antinuclear antibody testing was repeated and found to be negative, and CRP levels had returned to normal (result 1.0 mg/L), supporting the clinical picture of inactive disease. Two months after discontinuation, the patient reported that her functioning and quality of life were ?just like before? the onset of enthesitis-related arthritis, and she was fully participating in gym class without any concerns. She had lost the excess weight, was taking guitar lessons without further wrist or finger symptoms, and found the diet and lifestyle changes ?more than worth it? for the health she was experiencing. At 13 months post intervention, the patient remains completely well with no recurrence of symptoms. Follow-up will continue with the environmental health specialist to address the xenobiotics found on toxic elements and mycotoxin analysis ? the suspected factors likely involved in the initiation of sensitivity-related illness in this patient...

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Increasing number of children stricken by arthritis

Interesting case report.

One could argue: because of a deteriorated health status, caused by lifestyle and diet (not uncommon these days) the girl did not have a defence strong enough to counter the toxins (arsenic, mercury) and the molds which seem to be everywhere in modern society.

Toxicant analysis revealed elevated arsenic and mercury levels in whole blood, as well as the presence of two fungal mycotoxins – ochratoxins and tricothecenes in urine testing – suggesting a history of mold exposure.

Medical records from the environmental health clinic revealed that physical exam was unremarkable aside from a high BMI, and exposure history was typical for a North American teenager. However, biochemical analysis showed severe nutritional abnormalities including low serum levels of tryptophan, taurine and glutamic acid, and low blood levels of zinc and copper. Serum levels of sulfate, co-enzyme Q10, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin A, B-carotene, and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D were also markedly low.

Part of the intervention was to remove wheat (grains) and dairy from the diet. Wheat and dairy seem to be related to systemic inflammation, which in turn is related to a variety of chronic diseases, like arthritis.

Gluten and casein are commonly linked to sensitivity-related illnesses,48 and were thus eliminated from the patient's diet along with refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, flavouring agents and corn. Next, initial supplementation focused on vitamin D, zinc, copper, DHA, strontium, vitamin K2, magnesium and probiotics, due to the following indications:
Vitamin D deficiencies are linked to autoimmune rheumatic disease in adults,49 and adequate levels are known to be anti-inflammatory;50–52
Copper and zinc play significant roles as co-factors in normal immune functioning53–55 and deficiencies are linked to gut inflammation.56 Furthermore, copper and zinc deficiencies are associated with rheumatoid arthritis;57,58
Though evidence for probiotics is not yet conclusive,59 they may decrease gut inflammation,60–62 improve arthralgias,63 and improve gut barrier function.64

We seem to live in an environment which makes it hard to stay in good health. On top of that "severe nutritional abnormalities" seem to be normal these days.
This situation seems to make people helpless against health threats, like molds and like infectious diseases.