Page 21 - What Doctors Don't Tell You - AU-NZ (February-March 2020)
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UPFRONT
T
Three Three CT scans
k
more kick-start
c
Healthy countries s cancer
CT (
computed tomography) is
c
phase out suppo
osed to be a safe screening
lifestyle dental techn vered that the radiation from just
ology—but researchers have
discov
amalgam m cancero scans can prime cells to become
three
trumps fillings DNA radiolo e CT radiation doesn’t damage
ous.
Becaus
DNA, radiologists have been told the
technology is safe—but instead the scans
Three more European countries are
genetic phasing out the use of amalgam— alter healthy cells and make them “cancer-
capable,” which means they make cancer
which is 50 percent mercury—in dental
practices. Ireland, Finland and Slovakia more likely to develop.
Radiation from just three CT scans is
riskof have announced a timetable that will see enough to increase the risk, say researchers
amalgam banned over the next few years.
from the University of Cambridge, and
They join Sweden and Norway in creates mutations in cells—known as p53
dementia banning amalgam, which has been linked mutations—that make them more likely to
to neurological and kidney problems.
become cancerous.
The researchers have examined the effects
Dentists in all 27 member states of
the European Union are forbidden from of CT scans on cells in the esophagus—which
Lifestyle can trump genetics—even when
using the material in pregnant and connects the throat to the stomach—of
it comes to having an inherited biological laboratory mice. A radiation dose equivalent
makeup that doubles the risk of dementia. breastfeeding women and in children to three scans started the spread of p53
A healthy lifestyle—including a good under the age of 15. mutant cells until they overwhelmed the
diet and not smoking—reduces the risk of Under the 2018 ruling, the member
healthy cells, in what the researchers called
dementia by around 30 percent in people states have also been asked to submit
the body’s “Game of Clones.”
who have a genetic predisposition to develop plans for the phased withdrawal of But taking an antioxidant before having
the condition. amalgamfromalldentalpractices.Ireland, a scan seems to block any damage it may
Healthy living has an even bigger Finland and Slovakia have been among the cause. An over-the-counter antioxidant—the
protective effect in people who don’t have
first to respond. researchers used N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)—
the ‘bad genes,’ which suggests the problem
The ruling follows pressure from lobby gives healthy cells the extra boost they need
is avoidable for most people who live well,
groups such as the Campaign for Mercury- to ward off the mutations.
say researchers from the University of Exeter
Free Dentistry, which is now turning its CellStemCell,2019;pii:S1934-5909(19)30275-9
in the UK.
focus to North America.
They tracked the health of more than
Although the American Dental
196,000 people with an average age of 64,
who weren’t showing any signs of dementia. Association still supports the use of
Of these, 20 percent had a higher risk of amalgam, claiming it doesn’t have any
developing the condition because of their health risks, the campaign is confident the
genetic profile—and 1.13 percent of those US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
who followed a healthy lifestyle eventually may soon shift its position.
suffered from dementia compared to 1.78 CampaignpresidentCharlesBrownsaid:
percent who had an unhealthy diet and “Wecongratulatethesecountriesontaking
didn’t exercise, suggesting lifestyle did have
thisimportantsteptoprotectourplanet
an impact on genes.
andpatientsfromthisoutdatedmercury
Just 0.5 percent of people with both a low
product.NowtheheatisontheFDAand
genetic risk and good lifestyle developed
HealthCanadatogetoffthedime.”
dementia.
Regulators are concerned about any
Ahealthylifestyle includesphysicalactivity,
moderate alcohol drinking, a healthy diet backlash to an outright ban. A sudden
and not smoking, the researchers say. announcement that amalgam is unsafe
JAMA,2019;322:430–7 could trigger millions of demands for
the removal of dental fillings, and there
is also the worry that people may sue
the authorities if they link neurological
problems to their fillings.
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