Page 18 - Spring2009

Caustic Commentary

another: “On an unbearably hot day, two fierce monsters countries. In a study of children in Bangladesh, vitamin A sup-
wreak havoc on a sweltering city. Just when it seems de- plementation proved to be the most successful micronutrient
struction will be complete, their differences dissolve when intervention for treating the debilitating condition (Journal of
they come together over an ice-cold Coca-Cola. When these Health, Population and Nutrition 2008 Sep;26(3):340-55). The
eternal enemies Open Happiness, peace and fun return to the researchers noted that no sign of improvement appears with
city and its relieved, refreshed citizens.” Just one more proof iron-supplementation programs. While American medical
of the axiom: there is no truth in advertising (except in Wise personnel are hell bent on demonizing vitamin A, researchers
Traditions, of course). in other parts of the world are developing a grudging apprecia-
tion for the role of vitamin A in mineral metabolism.
MEDICINE OF THE FUTURE?
McKesson is the eighteenth largest corporation in the U.S. and LIVER AND SHELLFISH FOR THE BRAIN
the largest corporation of any kind involved in health care. While one branch of the UK government is warning people
The company processes about 80 percent of all prescriptions not to eat liver, other British researchers have discovered
written in America. In an article published in the February, that foods rich in vitamin B , such as liver and shellfish, can
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2009 issue of Harper’s Magazine, McKesson CEO, John protect against brain shrinkage leading to declining memory
Hammergren provided his vision for the future of medicine: and dementia. Researchers from the University of Oxford
“When my oldest daughter has her first child, I believe that looked at a group of people between ages 61 and 87. Those
baby will get a genomic profile for roughly $800. The data with the lowest levels of B were more likely to show signs
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obtained through that profile will be stored in a central of brain shrinkage, even though these levels were still above
information system called an integrated delivery network a threshold used by some scientists to define vitamin B de-
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(IDN), to which primary care physicians and specialists will ficiency (Neurology 2008 71(11): 826-832). But don’t look for
have access throughout the course of my grandchild’s life. appeals to eat more liver or shellfish anytime soon. According
. . My grandchildren’s doctors will know from the moment to Dr. Susanne Sorensen of the British Alzheimer’s Society,
of birth the likelihood that they will develop some form of “The best way to reduce your risk of developing dementia
chronic condition, cancer or other significant illness. This is to keep active, eat a balanced diet, don’t smoke and visit
knowledge will shape and form their health care for the rest your GP to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked”
of their lives. Compared to today’s 40-year gap in treatment, (www.news.bbc.co.uk, September 9, 2008).
my grandchildren will receive constant monitoring and pre-
vention. Tapping the database’s artificial intelligence, their SIZE 14 GALS HAVE MORE FUN
doctors will know which clinical interventions will be most According to a study sponsored Kellogg’s® Special K®
effective, which cardiology or cancer drugs they will respond cereal, “Size 14 women are the happiest with their life and
best to, and when care should be delivered.” Translation: the looks” (National Enquirer, February 2, 2009). “A quarter of
medicine of the future will create a pathological fear of disease gals who wear that dress size are as thrilled as can be with
and death from the moment of birth, and subject patients to their situations, while 43 percent of size 14s were pleased as
all sorts of harebrained diets and harmful treatments for ill- punch with their careers and almost 33 percent are content
nesses they don’t even have in the name of the greater good. with their love life.” Second happiest are size 12s, followed
Database companies like McKesson will profit enormously by size 8, size 16, size 10, size 6 and size 18. Perhaps size 14
while the general population will succumb to poor nutrition is the happiest because women of this size—not too thin and
and paralyzing angst. not too large—are the best nourished.

VITAMIN A TO THE RESCUE AGAIN WHICH PLANET ARE THESE GUYS FROM?
Anemia is a major health concern for children in Third World Last August, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences
16 Wise Traditions SPRING 2009