Ask Dr. D'Adamo

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Questions About Specific Health Issues

Blood Type and Fibromyalgia

QUESTION

Dr. D'Adamo, I'm a Type O with Fibromyaliga and I have found some relief in my pain levels in eating in accordance with the Type O Plan, have you done any research into this condition and could you offer any specific diet or supplement guidelines that would help me further.

ANSWER

In my own patients and the outcomes registered on this website, it soon becomes quite obvious that those who are type O and suffering from fibromyalgia can see quite dramatic responses if they can stick to the wheat-free component of the diet for long enough duration. A recent study indicates that dietary lectins interacting with enterocytes (cells lining the intestines) and lymphocytes may facilitate the transportation of both dietary and gut-derived pathogenic antigens to peripheral tissues, which in turn causes persistent immune stimulation at the periphery of the body, such as the joints and muscles. (1)

This, despite the fact that many nutrition 'authorities' still question whether lectins even get into the systemic circulation!

In genetically susceptible individuals, this lectin stimulation may ultimately result in the expression of disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia via molecular mimicry, a process whereby foreign peptides, similar in structure to endogenous peptides, may cause antibodies or T-lymphocytes to cross-react and thereby break immunological tolerance.

Thus by removing the general and type O specific lectins from the diet, we allow for the immune system to redevelop tolerance, the inflammation begins to ebb, and healing can begin.

1.Cordain L, Toohey L, Smith MJ, Hickey MS. Modulation of immune function by dietary lectins in rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Nutr. 2000 Mar;83(3):207-17. Review.

The Ask Dr. D'Adamo internet advice column ran from 1996 to 2009, at which time Dr. D'Adamo's teaching and programming responsibilities no longer allowed him to devote time and resources to directly answering visitor questions. However we've recently reorganized this treasure-trove of material and made it again available to his readership. He occasionally posts new entries. These are marked with a NEW tag.

SPOTLIGHT

INTRINSA

To promote a healthy digestive system, Dr. Peter D'Adamo blended two synergistic dietary nutrients, Butyric Acid and Caprylic Acid, with Larch Arabinogalactan to create Intrinsa.

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