Article in today's "Daily Mail" about coconut oil and MCT oil.

[beech mount]

Put it this way, food is good, lack of food is not, people get ill.
In victorian times the best think to improve the complextion and general health was a small dose each day of Arsenic, Coconuts are probably not as harmfull!
John.

[ockc]

Mercola is hardly an authoritative source.

9 Reasons to Completely Ignore Joseph Mercola

is just one example.

If you are going to make statements such as "Apparently, it isn't a good idea to cook with olive oil" then please, make sure your source has some legitimate science to back up such claims. Bear in mind that Mercola has a vested interest in promoting coconut oil - he sells it.

I'm sorry - this sort of thing makes me very cross: by all means try things that you think might help and won't do you much harm, but I'm not going to stand by and let people like this particular quack be held up as an authoritative source without making a strong protest.

I suggest you read this reference. Or alternatively this. "the general rule is to only cook with olive oil on Low to Medium heat, or use it cold. If you need a hardier oil for baking or high heat cooking, consider an oil with a higher Smoke Point such as coconut oil. Unrefined Coconut Oil is stable to medium heat cooking and Refined Coconut Oil is stable to medium-high heat cooking."

[virg]

To the best of my memory i can think of no illness that has been cured by a change in diet (Apart from Scurvy) Please correct me if i am wrong.
John.

Perhaps there aren't illnesses that are cured but certainly can help to be controlled. One of the significant ones relating to this thread I think is the ketogenic diet being used for childhood epilepsy. I don't really know much about it but I believe that certain forms of epilepsy where drugs don't seem to help can be helped by following a ketogenic diet for a period of around 3 years and then some people can be seizure free and drug free for years afterwards. There is a overly sentimental film with Meryl Streep called 'first do no harm' which covers this area. It makes me wonder if using that diet can sort out something in an epileptic's brain, why couldn't it do something for someone with Alzheimers?

I think the problem is that no-one will pay for research as a drug free solution wouldn't make any money so no-one will invest in it.

[Sue J]

I'm with you virg on this. There is also the Gerson diet - can't remember the details but he wrote a book about his experience of curing himself of cancer through diet. There is still so much we do not know. I would try anything to relieve these symptoms.

[nmintueo]

The (Not-So-)Beautiful (Un)Truth about the Gerson protocol and cancer quackery
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/...ncer-quackery/

Charlotte Gerson claims that treatment at the clinic has produced high cure rates for many cancers. In 1986, however, investigators learned that patients were not monitored after they left the facility. Although clinic personnel later said they would follow their patients systematically, there is no published evidence that they have done so. A naturopath who visited the Gerson Clinic in 1983 was able to track 21 patients over a 5-year period (or until death) through annual letters or phone calls. At the 5-year mark, only one was still alive (but not cancer-free); the rest had succumbed to their cancer.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01Quackery...cs/cancer.html

[ockc]

I think the problem is that no-one will pay for research as a drug free solution wouldn't make any money so no-one will invest in it.

At least maybe no pharmaceutical company would invest for this reason, especially if it leads to a potentially cheaper competitor. Fortunately, as I discovered from my MP this week, the Government has recently awarded £22 million for pioneering dementia research. He said he would see whether the issue of coconut oil is being explored. Presumably, if the research is publicly funded, there's no reason for it to exclude any avenue, including coconut oil and, more specifically, ketones.

I managed to get in touch with Kal Parmar, whose father's case was mentioned in the Daily Mail article. The original story was in the Harrow Observer in November. His aim is to have his father take part in the first human trial of ketone esters. So far the research on mice of the impact of a ketone ester diet has been encouraging, as reported in Neurobiology of Aging.

I hope he succeeds, also with his project to make a film of the effects of Alzheimer's on his father. As mentioned in the article, Professor Kieran Clarke at Oxford University, is developing a substance containing ketones, the same active ingredients found naturally in coconuts. So, in the meanwhile, we continue with the coconut oil - with the encouragement of my father's specialist. Apparently, there's no medication for fronto-temporal dementia.

Since some here wish to discuss 'quackery' rather than coconut oil, the British Medical Journal had an article last March on How the FDA forgot the evidence: the case of donezepil 23mg. The LA Times picked up the story: New Alzheimer's pill more likely to cause misery, medical experts say. 'Aricept 23 mg, found to be ineffective and cause stomach upset, was devised to serve commercial aims and was approved despite a poor showing in company-sponsored tests ... The drug, Aricept 23 mg, is no more effective on the whole than the disappointing ones already on the market. ... "there is no excuse for manipulating vulnerable patients, desperate family members and their doctors to use a product that is most likely to cause net harm." ... Dr. Marcia Angell, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and author of "The Truth About the Drug Companies," said the critique was important. "It illustrates very well how drug companies exaggerate the benefits of their drugs, minimize the side effects, and through misleading marketing to both doctors and the public convince them that a new version of a drug, with a new patent, is better than the old one, whose patent has expired," Angell told The Times.'

[nmintueo]

See also:

Don’t Believe The Hype: Cholinesterase Inhibitors As A Treatment For Dementia
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/...-for-dementia/

Some posters here see a good response to Aricept, some an adverse response, and others see no clear response at all but continue with it in the hope that it might be slowing the disease progression.

[Canadian Joanne]

Some posters here see a good response to Aricept, some an adverse response, and others see no clear response at all but continue with it in the hope that it might be slowing the disease progression.

That's very true and exactly how it was presented to us when my mother was put on it. My mother was in the percentage that responded very well. It's not only about maintaining cognitive function but, as was in our case, stabilizing moods and behaviours.

It was very clearly stated that Aricept was not a wonder drug so we were properly informed and made our decision based on that. We were and are willing to try different approaches. I had to be very persistent to get my mother put on Ritalin for her lethargy, as I had read about a study using Ritalin for lethargy in dementia patients. It also helped her for some time. Eventually, after about 10 months, we had to discontinue the Ritalin as it was affecting her moods but at least she wasn't sleeping 16 to 18 hours a day.

My reservations about coconut oil is that people purport it to be a cure, full stop. Mary Newport, who is considered the guru of coconut oil, is now referencing the Daily Mail article as bolstering her arguments about coconut oil. That's a bit of a vicious circle,isn't it? Plus, she is now saying that coconut oil will 'improve' people with Parkinson's and ALS. What I find most interesting is that I can no longer find the references she had made to her husband's 'setbacks'. I guess that's not helping to sell her books.

The 700 Club television show in the U.S. to be a big supporter of Mary Newport. It is an evangelical Christian program which has no medical qualifications.

Unlike the qualifications we were told about Aricept, there are no qualification for the claims for coconut oil. I see no problem with taking a spoonful of coconut oil daily but we must remember that it is high in saturated fats. I am highly skeptical of the claims, as they are unsubstantiated at this point.

Researching the possibilities of coconut oil is a good idea, I think all possibilities should be investigated. But unsubstantiated claims about a 'cure' for a terminal disease are inappropriate, irresponsible and, in my opinion, very cruel to those who are desparate and distraught about the ravages of Alzheimer's on their loved ones.

[ockc]

... we must remember that it is high in saturated fats. I am highly skeptical of the claims, as they are unsubstantiated at this point.

Researching the possibilities of coconut oil is a good idea, I think all possibilities should be investigated. But unsubstantiated claims about a 'cure' for a terminal disease are inappropriate, irresponsible and, in my opinion, very cruel to those who are desparate and distraught about the ravages of Alzheimer's on their loved ones.

Well, since many, including the NHS, seem to lump coconut oil together with other saturated fats, while asking my MP to ensure that there is research into coconut oil/ketones and Alzheimer's/dementia, I asked him to persuade at least the NHS to get its facts and its fats straight. I also took the opportunity to ask him to get trans fats banned in the UK, as they have been in other countries. The consumption of trans fats increases the risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of 'bad' cholesterol and lowering levels of 'good' cholesterol. Indeed, one study found a possible link between trans fats and increased risk of Alzheimer's.

The research into ketones and their possible effect on Alzheimer's was not done by Dr Newport, although she seems to have been the first to put it into practice with her husband. She had come across the underlying research on ketones done by Professor Kieran Clarke at Oxford University and tried to replicate it with a natural source of ketones: coconut oil. More recently, according to this article in Science News, "Veech, Clarke, and four of their colleagues from Japan demonstrated 3 years ago that, in test tubes, the ketone D-beta-hydroxybutyrate protects neurons that have the mitochondrial defects associated with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. ... The Columbia researchers' findings support the idea that ketones could help people with Parkinson's disease, says Theodore B. VanItallie of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. "There's enough evidence available now to encourage people to test the hypothesis," he says. "There's at least a reasonable possibility that these things [ketones] will work.""

What I find remarkable - irresponsible even - is that, over several years, no-one has thought it worth funding further research into this. Had they done so, maybe we would know by now whether or not ketones/coconut oil is the way to go.

In our case, we're dealing with fronto-temporal dementia, for which my father's doctor had said that there is no medication available which was likely to have an effect. That leaves us with alternative therapy as the only option. The only alternative therapy which seemed plausible to us was coconut oil (gingko biloba was another suggestion we had heard but this 'works' by thinning the blood, which has other side effects, so we didn't try that). If anyone has a better idea, we'd obviously be delighted to hear about it.

[stanleypj]

Well, since many, including the NHS, seem to lump coconut oil together with other saturated fats, while asking my MP to ensure that there is research into coconut oil/ketones and Alzheimer's/dementia, I asked him to persuade at least the NHS to get its facts and its fats straight. I also took the opportunity to ask him to get trans fats banned in the UK, as they have been in other countries. The consumption of trans fats increases the risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of 'bad' cholesterol and lowering levels of 'good' cholesterol. Indeed, one study found a possible link between trans fats and increased risk of Alzheimer's.

The research into ketones and their possible effect on Alzheimer's was not done by Dr Newport, although she seems to have been the first to put it into practice with her husband. She had come across the underlying research on ketones done by Professor Kieran Clarke at Oxford University and tried to replicate it with a natural source of ketones: coconut oil. More recently, according to this article in Science News, "Veech, Clarke, and four of their colleagues from Japan demonstrated 3 years ago that, in test tubes, the ketone D-beta-hydroxybutyrate protects neurons that have the mitochondrial defects associated with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. ... The Columbia researchers' findings support the idea that ketones could help people with Parkinson's disease, says Theodore B. VanItallie of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. "There's enough evidence available now to encourage people to test the hypothesis," he says. "There's at least a reasonable possibility that these things [ketones] will work.""

What I find remarkable - irresponsible even - is that, over several years, no-one has thought it worth funding further research into this. Had they done so, maybe we would know by now whether or not ketones/coconut oil is the way to go.

In our case, we're dealing with fronto-temporal dementia, for which my father's doctor had said that there is no medication available which was likely to have an effect. That leaves us with alternative therapy as the only option. The only alternative therapy which seemed plausible to us was coconut oil (gingko biloba was another suggestion we had heard but this 'works' by thinning the blood, which has other side effects, so we didn't try that). If anyone has a better idea, we'd obviously be delighted to hear about it.

You seem to be expecting a lot from your MP.

More seriously, we can relate to your decision to try whatever might work. We were advised by the memory clinic to try ginkgo biloba and did for several years. We spent quite a lot on it. It made no discernible difference and then along came a definitive study that concluded that it was useless.

The research currently undertaken is mostly focussed in a a very narrow way on the tired orthodoxies which have consistently failed to provide anything of substance and those who hold the purse-strings seem unable to think outside the (very small) box, thus perpetuating the examination of dead-ends. It is instructive to read some of the dismissive comments on suggested new research.

The attitude to coconut oil and ketones is very similar to the line taken with regard to the research on the HSV1 virus which, as I've learned and noted in my blog is associated with cognitive impairment in a number of other diseases as well as AD.

In our situation, anything which might work and is unlikely to do harm is worth a try, particularly as the paltry handful of drugs available fail to meet either or both of these criteria for many people.

[ockc]

You seem to be expecting a lot from your MP.

Well, yes, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Still, he used to be the Health Minister, did manage to get £22 million set aside for dementia research and initiated the Parliamentary debate on dementia a couple of weeks ago. So at least his heart's in the right place ;-).

In our situation, anything which might work and is unlikely to do harm is worth a try ... .

Precisely.

You make an interesting parallel between HSV1, Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's/dementia on your blog. The mechanism seems similar to the one which ketones / coconut oil is supposed to use: the theory is that Alzheimer's is related to a problem of glucose in the brain.

Were you also aware of a study of the "effect of vitamin B supplements on cognitive impairment"?

It concluded that "The accelerated rate of brain atrophy in elderly with mild cognitive impairment can be slowed by treatment with homocysteine-lowering B vitamins. Sixteen percent of those over 70 y old have mild cognitive impairment and half of these develop Alzheimer's disease. Since accelerated brain atrophy is a characteristic of subjects with mild cognitive impairment who convert to Alzheimer's disease, trials are needed to see if the same treatment will delay the development of Alzheimer's disease."

No funding available for that either, apparently ... .

Anyhow, congratulations on your blog. Wish I had the time to write something like that! Maybe I'll start filming my father's face, speech and walking periodically. At least this way I can record the changes.

[stanleypj]

Sorry for the delay in responding and thanks for your kind comment on my blog. I started the blog partly as therapy for me and I do manage to find the time for it somehow as it has become important to me. The herpes posts attract by far the largest number of readers from many countries.

Yes, I have seen stuff about Vit B deficiency over the years, also Vit D deficiency which has also been linked with cognitive impairment. My wife was tested for both at some point and there was no evidence of deficiency.

As you suggest, there are so many promising lines of research that are simply being ignored.

It is so frustrating.

[Pam72]

I'm afraid to get too excited about the coconut oil, but have decided I might as well give it a go. However, has anyone used it for someone who is in latter stages - my mum scored 6/30 a few months ago and I'm fairly sure she will be less than that now.

Thanks

[ockc]

I'm afraid to get too excited about the coconut oil, but have decided I might as well give it a go. However, has anyone used it for someone who is in latter stages - my mum scored 6/30 a few months ago and I'm fairly sure she will be less than that now.

Thanks

Indeed, best not to get too excited. However, it would seem we have little to lose by trying.

My father-in-law has advanced Alzheimer's and was recently diagnosed as having signs of Parkinson's as well. We started mixing virgin coconut oil with his usual food mixture a few days ago - increasing gradually to 2 tablespoons with each meal. It's too early to tell whether the subtle improvements we've noted will last.