Obesity Linked To Acid Reflux Disease
MedicalNewsToday
According to a new article in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GRD), more commonly known as, acid reflux, is linked to obesity. Since (GRD) is strongly associated with more serious conditions, such as esophageal ulcers and cancer, weight reduction therapy may be useful in treatment and prevention of these conditions.
"The condition is very common, but previous studies have not been successful at pinpointing risk factors for the condition," says Douglas Corley, author of the study. "Because we reviewed the results of 20 studies on the subject, we were able to better identify and understand the association between obesity and acid reflux."
In a nation becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of obesity, this new finding provides yet another reason to discuss weight management with a physician. "We know that an increase in body weight increases the chance of having heartburn and acid reflux, which can increase the risk of esophageal ulcers and cancer," says Corley. "While we can't say at this time that weight loss therapy is definitely the solution to this condition, it certainly warrants further research as a treatment."
This study is published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Dr. Douglas Corley studies gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California and with the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of California, San Francisco.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology is the official publication of the American College of Gastroenterology. Aimed at practicing clinicians, the journal's articles deal directly with the disorders seen most often in patients. The journal brings a broad-based, interdisciplinary approach to the study of gastroenterology, including articles reporting on current observations, research results, methods of treatment, drugs, epidemiology, and other topics relevant to clinical gastroenterology. For more information, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ajg
The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) was founded in 1932 to advance the scientific study and medical practice of diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The College promotes the highest standards in medical education and is guided by its commitment to meeting the individual and collective needs of clinical GI practitioners. For more information, please visit http://www.acg.gi.org/
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic, and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. The company employs over 1,000 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Singapore, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/.
The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) was founded in 1932 to advance the scientific study and medical practice of diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The College promotes the highest standards in medical education and is guided by its commitment to meeting the individual and collective needs of clinical GI practitioners. For more information, please visit http://www.acg.gi.org/
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic, and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. The company employs over 1,000 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Singapore, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/.
OHSU Findings May Improve How People With Chronic Heartburn, Precancer Of The Esophagus Are Screened
MedicalNewsToday
Researchers in the Oregon Health & Science University Digestive Health Center are first to report that screening people with chronic heartburn or pre-cancer of the esophagus in an office setting using a "skinny scope" is as accurate, less expensive and less risky than a traditional sedated screening in a procedure room - and patients prefer it. The findings are published online and in print in this month's issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
The study, led by principal investigator Blair A. Jobe, M.D., a surgeon in the OHSU Digestive Health Center and member of the OHSU Cancer Institute, found that study participants preferred unsedated, small-caliber upper endoscopy, commonly referred to as the skinny scope, to the standard screening method for upper digestive disease, sedated upper endoscopy.
Study participants in Jobe's Esophageal Care Clinic listed a number of reasons for preferring the skinny scope, including not having to undergo anesthesia, not missing a day of work and not having to arrange for transportation to and from home. But the best benefit, according to at least one study participant, was the ability to watch the entire procedure in real time on a color monitor and receive immediate feedback from the clinician.
"There was no pain. My wife and I watched the entire thing. I found it informative and appreciated not having to wait for the anesthesia to wear off to learn the results," said Dennis Murphy, 58, Tigard, Ore. Murphy was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus, a precursor to cancer, four years ago. As part of the study protocol, he underwent both procedures on separate occasions. At the end of the study, he said he preferred the skinny scope and would request it at his next checkup.
With approximately 10 million Americans struggling with chronic heartburn, also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) - a condition closely associated with the development of one of the most lethal forms of cancer: esophageal cancer - the need for a cost-effective screening and surveillance system was long apparent to Jobe, who also is an associate professor of surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
"However, given the relative rarity of esophageal cancer compared with the high prevalence of GERD," Jobe explained. "Routine screening within the general population using traditional upper endoscopy would be too costly."
Eager to find an economically viable means of screening and monitoring this patient population, Jobe and colleagues endeavored to devise a method that would reduce the cost, inconvenience and complications associated with sedated endoscopy - and they succeeded.
"This trial has established that unsedated small-caliber endoscopy used in an office setting is technically feasible, well-tolerated and accurate in the screening and diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. It's a more personal approach and represents the potential to eliminate the infrastructure and costs required for intravenous sedation. It's also more immediate. As soon as you're done, you can tell the patient what you've found."
To perform a sedated upper endoscopy, an endoscope, 9.8 mm in diameter, is passed through the mouth and throat to the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. The procedure requires the resources and infrastructure of an outpatient procedure unit, two assistants, intravenous sedation and post-procedure monitoring, with a total cost in the thousands of dollars. And, as with any procedure for which the patient is sedated, the risk of complications, though rare, is higher.
By comparison, the skinny scope procedure is performed by a single clinician in an office setting and does not require sedation. Patients inhale a topical anesthetic that numbs their nasal passages and throat. The clinician then passes a smaller-caliber endoscope, 4.9 mm in diameter, through the nose, pharynx and throat. The cost for this procedure is in the hundreds of dollars.
Only a handful of centers in the United States routinely employ the skinny scope as part of clinical practice. According to Jobe, this is due in part to the perception that the unsedated skinny scope increases patient anxiety and discomfort. In addition, some endoscopists, unfamiliar with the nasal approach, may lack the skills necessary to perform it. And, up until recently, endoscopes were not long enough to examine the entire upper digestive tract.
One hundred thirty-four men and women with long-standing histories of GERD symptoms and acid-reducing medication use were enrolled in this randomized, cross-over trial. Ninety-eight percent of subjects successfully completed unsedated small-caliber endoscopy (skinny scope) in an office setting. More than 70 percent of participants said they would choose the unsedated skinny scope over the conventional approach on a subsequent endoscopy. The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus discovered by both approaches was equal and there were no undetected cases of cancer.
The National Institutes of Health supported this research.
ABOUT ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
The National Cancer Institute estimates 13,200 Americans will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer this year and 12,500 will die of the malignancy. Of the new cases, 9,200 will occur in men and 3,100 will occur in women. An estimated 25 million Americans have some form of esophageal disease, the most common of which is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Patients with severe GERD have a 40 times greater risk of developing esophageal cancer than those without GERD symptoms, a risk similar to that of a cigarette smoker developing lung cancer. That said, for one particular individual with GERD, the risk of esophageal cancers is quite low.
Headaches And Abdominal Pain Cluster In Families
MedicalNewsToday
Ailments, such as headaches and abdominal pain, tend to cluster in families, especially in mothers and children, according to this analysis of national survey data from more than 30,000 families in the Netherlands. The authors conclude that when primary care doctors understand patients' family context, they can better diagnose and care for them.
All in the Family: Headaches and Abdominal Pain as Indicators for Consultation Patterns in Families
E. Coli In Green Onions - Fruit And Veg Under The Microscope
MedicalNewsToday
Taco Bell has withdrawn green onions from its 5,800 outlets throughout the US after preliminary tests revealed some samples to be infected with a strong strain of E. Coli. The fast food chain, a subsidiary of Yum Brands Inc, took the measure as a precaution, pending further tests on raw fruit and vegetables that will not be concluded until early next week.
Meanwhile it has been reported that health officials are investigating a warehouse in Burlington, New Jersey, as a possible source of the infection. The warehouse ships green onions to Taco Bell restaurants. Tracing the source of an infection like this is a painstaking exercise, since each stage of the supply chain from grower to consumer must be investigated. All non-meat foods are currently under the microscope.
At least five people are still in hospital, including a boy of 11 who has kidney damage, as a result of the outbreak which affected 40 people in New and New Jersey after they had eaten in Taco Bell restaurants last month.
There has been a spate of outbreaks of foodborne illness caused by raw fruit and vegetables recently, some of them fatal. Back in September three people who ate spinach grown in California died from E. Coli infection, and last month tomatoes infected with a rare strain of Salmonella led to outbreaks in 21 states in the US, fortunately no deaths were reported and most people recovered after a week.
Also, earlier this week Jamba Juice of San Francisco alerted the public that strawberries in smoothies sold in some of its outlets at end of last month may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can be fatal to children and the elderly and lead to miscarriages and stillbirths.
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), foodborne illnesses infect about 76 million Americans every year, of which 325,000 become hospitalized and 5,000 die. The estimated total cost to the nation, including pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost productivity is between 10 and 83 billion US dollars a year.
The foods that caused the most infections between 1990 and 2004 were greens-based salads, turkey, chicken, ground beef and shellfish, causing over 800 outbreaks and some 23,000 individual cases in the 15 year period (CSPI database). Infections specifically due to E. Coli resulted mostly from ingestion of ground beef, followed by lettuce, unpasteurised milk and greens-based salads.
Holiday Heartburn: Tasty Treats May Trigger Acid Reflux
MedicalNewsToday
Whether it's thoughts of sugarplums, turkey and mashed potatoes covered in gravy, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin pies with whipped cream dancing in your head, no holiday celebration would be complete without food - and lots of it.
But some tasty holiday treats may leave you reaching for the antacids instead of another turkey drumstick. And for the 15 million Americans who experience chronic heartburn, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), the holidays can be especially painful.
"The holiday season is clearly one of the worst times of the year for patients with GERD," says William Chey, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the University of Michigan Health System. "The large amounts of food we eat during the holidays, and the types of food served during the holidays - especially fatty and caffeinated foods - can be a recipe for disaster for chronic heartburn sufferers."
GERD is a common digestive condition caused by a relaxed or weakened lower esophageal sphincter - the muscular valve between the esophagus and the stomach - that is unable to prevent stomach acid from flowing up into the esophagus.
After eating, people with GERD will often experience a burning feeling in their chest, similar to heartburn, as well as a sour taste in their mouth as a result of the stomach acid in the esophagus.
Lifestyle changes - not eating certain foods and avoiding large meals - can help relieve some of the symptoms of GERD.
But avoiding holiday food temptations is not always easy. To help people with GERD survive the holidays, Chey dishes up some advice to keep your stomach and esophagus merry and acid-free.
Chey's five tips for surviving the holidays with GERD
-- Don't overeat: "Large amounts of food distend, or stretch the stomach, which can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and release acid back up through the esophagus," says Chey.
-- Stay caffeine-free: Caffeinated beverages and foods like soda pop, ice cream and chocolate will work to aggravate symptoms of GERD.
-- Avoid fatty, greasy foods: Foods that are f-a-t-t-y will only spell trouble for people with GERD. "Excessive fats in foods work to slow the process of food leaving the stomach. If food isn't emptied from the stomach, it can backup into the esophagus," says Chey. In addition, he notes, fatty and greasy foods promote relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing acid rise into the esophagus.
-- Keep the wine in the bottle: Chey says research has consistently shown that red wine can cause heartburn. White wine, too, may cause acid reflux -related symptoms.
-- When you eat is as important as what you eat: The time of day you eat can have an impact on acid reflux disease. "Gravity actually serves as an important barrier for acid reflux during the day. So when you lie down at night after eating a meal, you no longer have that gravity barrier to prevent acid reflux," notes Chey. For people who tend to have nighttime acid reflux symptoms, Chey recommends that they avoid eating or drinking three to four hours before bedtime.
Treating GERD
Over-the-counter antacids are some of the most widely used products to relieve the symptoms of heartburn.
"Antacids are a very attractive option for heartburn sufferers because they provide immediate relief," says Chey. "The problem, however, is that the affects of antacids are short-lived, and there are some side-effects associated with their use such as diarrhea or constipation, particularly if you ingest a large amount."
Another group of over-the-counter medications that provide fast relief are called Histamine 2-Receptor Antagonists, which include medications such as Pepcid� or Zantac�. While these medications have longer-lasting affects than antacids, Chey says they offer only modest benefit for patients with frequent and severe heartburn symptoms. And, he warns, that overuse of such medications may lessen their effectiveness in some patients.
The most effective options for people with acid reflux disease, however, are Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI). PPI include Prilosec�, which is available over-the-counter, or prescription strength alternatives, available from your doctor.
"While these drugs don't work as quickly as other over-the-counter options, they are by far the most potent drugs in terms of suppressing acid production by the stomach, and relieving acid reflux symptoms," says Chey. "They're also good to use before a big meal, such as Thanksgiving dinner, to help prevent symptoms of acid reflux."
University of Michigan Health System
2901 Hubbard St., Ste. 2400
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2435
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Crohn's And Colitis Awareness Month 2006 - Message From Tony Clement, Minister Of Health, Canada
MedicalNewsToday
November is Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month. As Minister of Health, I encourage all Canadians to use this opportunity to raise awareness about these two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
In Canada, approximately 144,000 people are suffering from IBD, with symptoms that include abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea. Canada has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world, with it primarily affecting children and young adults.
There is no known cause or cure for IBD. Studies have shown, however, that it tends to be hereditary, and that up to 25 percent of patients may have a close relative with either Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.
Canada's new government is committed to working closely with the provinces and territories, and other partners, to keep Canadians healthy. The Government of Canada supports research on disorders like Crohn's and Colitis to help prevent illness and promote good health, and ultimately reduce the strain on the health care system."
As the Minister of Health, I would like to recognize those who are involved in the battle against Crohn's and Colitis. Thank you for your support, perseverance and hard work.
Tony Clement
Minister of Health
Government of Canada
Celiac Disease Raises Tuberculosis Risk
HealthDay News
People with celiac disease , also known as gluten intolerance, are about four times more likely to develop active tuberculosis infection than other people, new research shows.
In people with gluten intolerance, an exaggerated immune response to the gluten found in wheat, barley and rye causes chronic inflammation of the small bowel. Gluten intolerance affects about one percent of the population and has been linked to several autoimmune diseases, as well as with pregnancy complications and increased risk of cancer.
In this study, researchers at Orebro University Hospital in Sweden compared 14,335 people with gluten intolerance to 70,000 people without the condition.
Reporting online in the journal Thorax, they concluded that people diagnosed with celiac disease in adulthood had nearly four times the risk of active TB infection, while those diagnosed as children had triple the risk.
The study also found that a prior diagnosis of TB nearly doubled the risk of celiac disease.
The association between gluten intolerance and TB may be due to poor intake of vitamin D and calcium, caused by intestinal malabsorption and the nutritional deficiencies of a gluten-free diet, in people with celiac disease, the researchers said. Vitamin D plays an important role in immune system response against TB.
Low Birth Weight Ups Risk of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
HealthDay News
Low-birth-weight babies appear to be at significantly higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in later life, Norwegian researchers report.
IBS is a chronic bowel ailment characterized by cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation.
Now, the new study finds that "restricted fetal growth significantly affected susceptibility to IBS later in life," according to lead researcher Dr. May-Bente Bengtson, from the department of medicine at the University of Oslo.
She added that "the rate of IBS was significantly higher in women compared with men, and [the] genetic contribution appeared to be important for IBS among females," she said.
The report was published in the Sept. 27 online edition of the journal Gut.
In the study, Bengtson's team tracked the health of 3,334 twin pairs, 1,250 of whom were identical twins. The twins filled in a questionnaire about their health, including whether they had ever had IBS. The data were then matched with their weight at birth.
Among all the twins, the rate of IBS was 5.4 percent, about one in 20. However, the IBS rate among women was 7 percent, compared with just 3 percent among men, the researchers found.
Furthermore, the risk of developing IBS was 2.5 times greater among those whose birth weights were below 1,500 grams (3.3 pounds) compared with those weighing more than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) at birth. The risk was generally higher for the lower-weight baby of the twin pair, the researchers found.
Bengtson's team also found that babies who weighed less than 1,500 grams tended to develop IBS symptoms some 7.7 years earlier compared with babies weighing more than 1,500 grams.
"Like other twin studies, we have shown that restricted birth weight, when below 2500 grams, increases the risk of morbidity, and the risk increases with decreasing birth weight," Bengtson said. "Convincing evidence exists to suggest that restricted development of specific fetal organs could predispose [individuals] to other chronic diseases like cardiovascular heart disease, non-insulin diabetes and hypertension."
The average age of IBS onset was similar for both men and women, with the first signs of the illness appearing at about the age of 18 in men, and a year earlier in women.
In addition, the likelihood of IBS was stronger among the identical twins, suggesting that genetic factors play a key role in the illness.
Growth of the bowel is a dynamic process that is ongoing at birth, Bengtson noted. She speculates that a "lack of [fetal] nutrition might disturb the development of the gut and the nervous system, and thereby cause symptoms of IBS, like abdominal pain, bloating and disturbed defecation," she said.
One expert said the connection between IBS and low birth weight is a new finding, but needs explaining.
"There is one question regarding their interpretation of results -- is this a genetic effect or is this a result of parental concern over a twin who weighs significantly less than the other twin?" said Dr. Charles Gerson, a clinical professor of medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City. For example, parents might feed a lower-weight twin differently than they do the larger twin, he said.
The important role of genes in IBS in twins is already known, Gerson said, but "interpretation of data in IBS is always confounded by psychosocial variables," he said.
Weakened Immune System May Cause Crohn's Disease
HealthDay News
A weak immune system, rather than an overactive one, may be responsible for Crohn's disease , a new study reports.
Even more surprising, the researchers also believe Viagra may aid in the treatment of Crohn's by restoring normal blood flow to the intestines.
"When you see a patient with Crohn's, you find they have a lot of inflammation, so it's been assumed that they have a hyper-inflammatory response," said Dr. Anthony W. Segal, a professor of medicine at University College London. "But we believe that the underlying problem is not hyper[activity], but failure of the acute inflammatory response."
Segal is the senior author of a paper detailing the findings in the Feb. 25 issue of The Lancet.
But others feel that the work does not really break new ground. "There have been other studies in the last year or two that Crohn's disease is really a problem dealing with bacteria in the colon and the inflammation is set up because there's more of a defective immune response to the bacteria in the gut," said Dr. John Thompson, director of the division of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
People with Crohn's disease have chronic inflammation, usually of the small intestine, which results in pain and diarrhea.
Many experts believe that disease flare-ups are caused when immune system cells release excess amounts of molecules called cytokines, which attack the intestinal cells and cause the inflammation.
The actual cause of the disorder remains unknown.
These British researchers investigated the possibility that immunodeficiency might be at the root of the problem.
Segal and his colleagues measured the number of neutrophils (white blood cells) produced by Crohn's patients in response to trauma in the bowel and on the surface of the skin.
Surprisingly, these patients produced 79 percent fewer neutrophils and inflammatory mediators compared with healthy individuals subjected to the same trauma.
When a harmless form of bacteria was injected under the skin, blood flow in healthy volunteers increased tenfold over 24 hours. But in people with Crohn's disease, blood flow increased only fourfold.
"There's nothing wrong with the cells. The messages to accumulate cells are missing," Segal explained.
"Zillions of bacteria are growing in the lining of the bowel and there's a very effective barrier, but sometimes it breaks down," he continued. "When this happens, bacteria get through to the wall of the bowel."
In normal people, the bacteria is gobbled up and cleared away. Not so in Crohn's, where a weakened immune response allows the bacteria to linger.
Restoring normal blood flow allows the necessary cell "workers" to clear away the problem. And because Viagra works by enhancing blood flow, the researchers decided to try it.
"We showed that Viagra restored the blood flow to almost normal levels, suggesting that it might be an effective therapy," Segal said.
Which doesn't mean Crohn's patients should go off their medication and start taking Viagra.
"Existing treatments are the best we've got," Segal warned. "We don't want people to go off them."
Thompson, however, said that the size of the study sample was too small to draw any real conclusions and also dismiss Viagra a non issue.
"It happened that the people with Crohn's, after the bacteria was injected, had a significantly diminished blood flow response, which Viagra was able to reverse. But the Viagra thing is really not at all important," he added.
Health Tip: Proper Diet Can Help Constipation
HealthDay News
Constipation refers to difficult or infrequent bowel movements.
Insufficient fiber and fluids in the diet are the most common causes of constipation, according to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Certain supplements and medications may also affect the regularity of bowel movements, including blood pressure medications, painkillers and antidepressants.
The ASCRS says the best way to get regular again is to increase daily dietary fiber, making sure to drink plenty of fluids. Bran, whole grains and whole wheat, fruits and vegetables are all high in fiber and will help constipation. Fiber supplements may also help, but laxatives should be used under a doctor's guidance, the society says.
Enzyme Could Help Celiac Disease Patients Tolerate Gluten
HealthDay News
Patients with celiac disease have to carefully monitor their diet to avoid consuming gluten, a ubiquitous protein found in whole grains.
Now, researchers say a newly discovered enzyme may prevent an allergic reaction in celiac patients who have accidentally consumed gluten.
Gluten causes an inflammatory reaction that can lead to significant intestinal damage in people suffering from celiac disease. The damage prevents the intestine from properly absorbing nutrients from food. Avoiding gluten in the diet prevents this damage, but the risk of accidentally ingesting gluten remains high.
However, researchers at Stanford University say they've identified an enzyme called EP-B2 that successfully digested gluten in an acidic environment similar to that of a human stomach. The enzyme even broke down the elements of the protein associated with causing the inflammatory reactions in celiac patients.
"Non-dietary therapies that allow celiac patients to safely incorporate low-to-moderate levels of gluten into their daily diet would be of considerable benefit," study author Dr. Chaitan Khosla, of Stanford University and the Celiac Sprue Research Foundation, said in a prepared statement. "Having demonstrated earlier that certain types of enzymes can detoxify gluten, our laboratory set out to devise an optimal oral enzyme therapy for celiac sprue by borrowing from nature," Khosla said.
"In germinating barley seed, gluten serves as a nutritious storage protein that is efficiently digested by enzymes. One enzyme, EP-B2, plays a crucial role in this process by breaking gluten proteins after glutamine residues, which comprise one-third of all amino acid residues in gluten," Khosla added.
Khosla's team used a combination of EP-B2 and PEP, another enzyme known to digest gluten. The two enzymes together broke down and detoxified gluten within 10 minutes. Neither was effective when used alone.
"Our results suggest that recombinant EP-B2 should be effective as supportive therapy to help celiacs cope with the 'hidden' gluten in everyday life, and that a two-enzyme cocktail containing PEP and EP-B2 may even allow celiacs to resume a more normal diet in the future," concluded Khosla.
Results from the study are reported in the June issue of Chemistry and Biology.
Gastric Bypass May Boost Blindness Risk
HealthDay News
A boom in gastric bypass surgery could lead to an unwelcome trend: an increase in vitamin A deficiency among patients that raises their risk for vision loss.
So conclude U.S. researchers who studied the medical histories of patients who were nearly blind or had very poor eyesight but no family history of blindness.
The study, published in the current issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, focused on three patients over age 65 who had been diagnosed with vitamin A deficiency. Each of the patients had also undergone major intestinal surgery in the last 20 to 35 years.
Vitamin A is needed to maintain healthy tissues and functions of the eye. Blindness or poor eyesight is one of the first symptoms of vitamin A deficiency, which results from malnutrition and is the primary cause of blindness in children in less affluent countries.
But researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston note that vitamin A is absorbed through the small intestine. So, with gastric bypass surgeries on the rise, vitamin A deficiency may also increase in developed countries -- even though it's been predominantly an issue for underdeveloped countries until now.
Patients in the study had either intestinal bypass or gallbladder surgery, or surgery to remove tissue damaged by inflammatory bowel disease. Each patient had also taken vitamin A supplements, but still maintained poor eyesight. Two of the patients received intramuscular injections of vitamin A, and saw improvements in their vision within just a few days.
