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IN THE NEWS

Belgian Study Reports Infected Gums Leak Endotoxins Into Bloodstream

[20.02.02]

A recent Belgian research report published in the January issue of the Journal of Periodontology, suggests that people with severe gum disease may be prone to releasing bacterial endotoxins into their bloodstream. This may explain the link between gum infections and cardiovascular disease.

Lead author Dr. Eric H. Rompen, of the University of Liege department of periodontology and dental surgery, said "The mouth can be a major source of chronic or permanent release of toxic bacterial components in the bloodstream during normal oral functions".

"This could be the missing link explaining the abnormally high blood levels of some inflammatory markers...observed in patients with periodontal disease," he added.

Previous research has found that people with periodontal disease are more likely to suffer strokes and coronary artery disease. While researchers have shown that bacteria in the mouth can be released into the bloodstream, they have not shown that endotoxins--poisons emitted by some bacteria--can also enter the bloodstream via the mouth.

In their study, Rompen and colleagues sought to determine whether endotoxins could in fact be released into the bloodstream by a "usual and frequent oral habit," such as chewing gum, and if people with more severe gum disease might release more endotoxin into their blood. To investigate, the researchers had 42 people with moderate to severe periodontal disease and 25 people with healthy gums chew gum 50 times on each side of their mouth. The investigators also measured the level of endotoxins circulating in each individual's bloodstream before chewing and 5 to 10 minutes afterwards.

According to the report the average amount of endotoxins present in the blood were significantly higher in all the patients after the gum chewing. Those with severe periodontal disease were nearly four times as likely to have significant levels of endotoxins after chewing than those with healthy gums. The authors concluded that these findings provide additional evidence for a link between the bacteria present in the mouth of those with periodontal disease and inflammatory reactions linked to heart disease.

 

 

Japanese Researchers Link Amalgam Fillings And Atopic Dermatitis

[20.02.02]

Two Japanese researchers have reported that dental amalgam causes the chronic skin disease atopic dermatitis and other allergic dermatitis. They have called for patients to be informed of the compound's potential side effects and have even asked for the government to prohibit its further use.

Tsunetoshi Shimazu, a Kyoto-based doctor specializing in allergic diseases made the announcement at the Sixth International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) being held last October in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

Shimazu conducted a survey with Nagakazu Ko, an Osaka-based dentist, from 1991 to 1998 on 300 allergic dermatitis patients in western Japan who had amalgam in their teeth.

According to Shimazu, after replacing the amalgam in their teeth with other metals or plastic materials, roughly 70% of the patients saw improvements in their dermatitis conditions a year later and about 58% of patients completely recovered from the dry, itchy and irritated skin, that characterises the illness.

Using test tubes, Shimazu and Ko also conducted a survey on the same 300 patients on their lymphocytes' allergic reaction to heavy metals such as mercury which found about 98% of the patients tested positive for a mercury allergy.

In a separate study, Shimazu conducted a survey on about 250 elementary students in Kyoto in 1997 and found about 38% of them had amalgam in their teeth.

While about 48% of those who had amalgam in their teeth suffered from dermatitis only 8% of students who had no amalgam suffered from dermatitis, Shimazu said.

From these results, Shimazu concluded that the mercury in amalgam plays a major role in triggering allergic dermatitis.

Some nations such as Sweden ban the use of amalgam for pregnant women and small children. About 1 ton of mercury for amalgam is used in Japan each year.

Shimazu said, "Measures to counter allergies should first focus on removing the causes, not just relying on steroids. The government should seriously consider whether to ban the use of amalgam."