Page 35 - Spring2008

in cholesterol synthesis for whom dietary choles- lesterol synthesis that may make dietary cholesterol essential. For these
terol is likely an essential nutrient. groups, animal foods are absolutely necessary.
Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS)
is the best-understood cholesterol defi ciency THE ESSENTIALITY OF ANIMAL FOODS
syndrome. It results from a genetic defect in the When Weston Price traveled to the South Sea Islands of the Pacifi c,
enzyme that converts 7-dehydrocholesterol (a he hoped to fi nd “plants or fruits which together, without the use of animal
common precursor of vitamin D and cholesterol) products, were capable of providing all of the requirements of the body for
to cholesterol. Most commonly, it results in spon- growth and for maintenance of good health and a high state of physical

taneous abortion within the first sixteen weeks of effi ciency.” He was disappointed. On the island of Viti Levu, he instead
gestation so it shows up in only one in 60,000 live found inland-dwelling groups relying largely on plant products who found
births. Children who are born with the defect may it so essential to consume shellfi sh at least once every few months that they
suffer from mental retardation, autism, facial and would trade plant foods from the mountains for shellfi sh with coast-dwell-
skeletal malformations, visual dysfunctions and ing groups even when these groups were at war with each other.

failure to thrive. The current treatment is dietary Shellfish are especially dense in animal-based nutrients. One serving
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cholesterol. of clams per month provides the same amount of vitamin B as two servings
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Because both parents must supply a de- of salmon per week. One serving of oysters per week likewise provides
fective copy of the gene in order for SLOS to the same amount of zinc as a quarter pound of beef per day. People who
manifest, and because most pregnancies that wish to minimize their intake of animal products would do best to consume

would result in an SLOS birth are spontaneously small amounts of shellfish to obtain these nutrients. For those who do not

terminated, the number of people who carry a wish to eat shellfish, the requirement for animal products might be much
single copy of the defective gene is far higher higher.
than the number of people with the full-blown Price’s research led him to the following conclusion about vegetarian-
syndrome. One in a hundred North American ism: “As yet, I have not found a single group of primitive racial stock which

Caucasians and as many as one in fifty or even was building and maintaining excellent bodies by living entirely on plant
one in thirty Central Europeans carry the defec- foods. I have found in many parts of the world most devout representatives
tive gene. These people, called “SLOS carriers,” of modern ethical systems advocating restriction of foods to the vegetable
have a decreased rate of cholesterol synthesis, products. In every instance where the groups involved had been long under
but still synthesize enough to escape the severe this teaching, I found evidence of degeneration in the form of abnormal
risks and abnormalities that characterize clinical dental arches to an extent very much higher than in the primitive groups
SLOS. who were not under this infl uence.”
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One small study has examined possible Thus, we can conclude from Dr Price’s studies and a large body of
mental health effects in 105 SLOS carriers. Car- subsequent research that animal foods should be used throughout childhood
riers were more than three times as likely to have development, especially those animal foods that are richest in vitamins and
attempted suicide as those who do not carry the minerals, such as liver, shellfi sh, egg yolks, bone broths, and high-quality
gene, and the methods of committing suicide dairy products. Depending on their individual constitutions, adults may
were more violent. Unfortunately, the study was have varying needs for animal products and those who object to the use
not statistically powerful enough to conclusively of meat should either consume shellfi sh on a weekly or monthly basis, or
determine whether or not these associations were high-quality dairy and egg products on a daily basis. Additionally, red palm
due to chance, but it was powerful enough to oil and bananas would respectively be useful sources of carotenoids and
show a conclusive relationship between carry- vitamin B .
6
ing the gene and having biological relatives who Many people may last a long time on a diet that does not contain
attempted suicide. Carriers were more than four optimal levels of animal products, while others like myself may develop
times as likely as controls to have at least one health problems very quickly. Given all the nutrients that are so much more
biological relative and almost six times as likely easily obtained from animal products, it should not be surprising that some
to have a fi rst-degree relative who attempted or people adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet may develop defi ciencies very
committed suicide. quickly. Each person has to pay careful attention to his or her own body and
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It may be the case, then, that dietary cho- give it the nutrients it needs—and for many people this will mean giving
lesterol is an essential nutrient for one to three up on the myths of vegetarianism and consuming the animal products we
percent of the population. There may also be require by nature.
additional genetic defects or variations in cho-
SPRING 2008 Wise Traditions 35