In a conversation about the reasoning behind the mandatory
pasteurization, and having read the article entitled
"Micro-Organisms in Milk Cause Crohn's Disease" at:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/jan2000/2000L-01-27-01.html
Donna said:
> > This is scientific garbage. If this were true then Crohn's would be more
> > common than allergies or the common cold in the UK.
Donna also said:
> > the weakened immune system and the altered
> > biochemistry of the gut of people with Crohn's disease provides a perfect
> > environment for the growth of the mycobacterium.
to which Bart replied: (after making loads of good points)
> The ... statement here implies that the Crohn's article misses the
> truth, yet as I read things the question of immune systems and gut
> chemistry actually *reinforces* the general approach of the article.
and Bart says:
> In the case of the Crohn's mycobacterium, one part of prevention is to
> maintain a healthy immune system and a healthy gut. *Another* part of
> prevention is pasteurisation.
It is here that we part company in understanding. I am not ready to call
it "the Crohn's bacterium." This bacterium has been found correlated
with Crohns disease, it is found in "a high proportion of people with
Crohn's disease" according to the article. Well, is this the Marketing
meaning of high or the common meaning? It is not found in all Crohn's
disease cases. According to my read of the article, there is a
correlation, but I can find no basis within the article for their
conclusion that the bacterium is causative of Crohn's disease.
So when Donna said:
> > The truth is closer to this: the weakened immune system and the altered
> > biochemistry of the gut of people with Crohn's disease provides a perfect
> > environment for the growth of the mycobacterium. Presence does not connote
> > pathogenicity.
to explain the observed correlation, I understood her point to be
analogous to the following, which many of those present may recall:
Some time ago (mid 1970s?) there was an idea that aluminum might be
causing Alzheimer's disease, because aluminum was found in the brain
lesions of autopsied patients with Alzheimer's. We were all told we had
to get rid of our aluminum cooking pots or it would be curtains for us.
Later this was modified by the discovery that, while aluminum does tend
to be deposited in these brain lesions if they are already there, there
is no reason to believe that aluminum causes the lesions. I note that,
to this day, I still hear people admonishing one another that aluminum
pots CAUSE Alzheimer's disease.
Similarly, I remain unconvinced that the Crohn's disease is caused by
the bacterium. If there IS evidence to this effect, it was omitted from
the article!
I have not looked for it elsewhere. The author failed to provide any
support for either the "scientific" conclusion that Crohn's is caused by
the bacterium or the "public health management" conclusion that more
pasteurization is indicated.
Again, all of your (Bart) other comments were entirely helpful,
informative, and reasonable and I appreciate your bothering to make the
connections at such length for my benefit.
To both Donna and Bart, please jump in and correct me if I have quoted
you out of context or misunderstood your statements. I do not do so
intenetionally.
LM
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