deirdre earls rd
08-26-2007, 09:15 PM
hi folks,
given how we p sufferers can suffer terribly from itch, and often we are left wondering what in the heck is at the root of this awful sensation, i thought you might be interested in this article.
many of you have read the study in the british journal of dermatology on diet and p and have seen their recommendations that emphasize a plant-based diet that's high in antioxidants to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation. interesting, there are chemical connections between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (that's mentioned in this article), saturated fat (found in animal foods) and oxidative stress.
'Blood chemicals link' to eczema
Scientists have identified two blood chemicals linked to itchy eczema, offering new treatment possibilities.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong devised an "itchometer" that was worn by 24 children and monitored how much they scratched while they slept.
Researchers found that as scratching increased, so did levels of two specific blood chemicals, reported the British Journal of Dermatology.
A British expert said the finding could point to the skin problem's root cause.
Wrist movement
One in 10 babies are affected by the dry, scaly, skin rashes of eczema, and the condition can persist into adulthood.
Sufferers can be treated with steroid creams, but the mechanisms behind the "eczema itch" are complex and poorly understood.
The latest research adds to evidence that two specific chemicals found in the blood - "brain-derived neurotrophic factor" (BDNF) and "substance P" - are somehow connected to itchy sensations.
The scientists recruited 24 children, with an average age of 11, to wear a wrist monitor which recorded wrist movement during the night.
The assumption was that this could record when the child scratched in their sleep - a reliable indicator of the level of itchiness.
For most eczema sufferers, itching is the worst symptom of the disease
Dr Colin Holden, British Association of Dermatologists
Blood tests from the children showed that as night-time scratching increased, so did the levels of the two chemicals in the bloodstream.
Kam-lun Ellis Hon, one of the researchers, said: "As far as we are aware, this is the first report to demonstrate that BDNF and substance P are significantly linked to disease activity, quality of life, as well as the levels of scratching as recorded by the wrist monitor."
Dr Colin Holden, the President of the British Association of Dermatologists, welcomed the report.
He said: "For most eczema sufferers, itching is the worst symptom of the disease. It is known to keep children awake at night, which in turn affects parents and can put pressure on the whole family, and even affect children's performance at school.
"It is by discovering the mechanisms behind the disease and its symptoms that we can develop new therapies that specifically target the root cause of the problem."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/...lth/6962450.stm
Published: 2007/08/26 23:01:51 GMT
© BBC MMVII
__________________
deirdre earls, registered dietitian, licensed dietitian
given how we p sufferers can suffer terribly from itch, and often we are left wondering what in the heck is at the root of this awful sensation, i thought you might be interested in this article.
many of you have read the study in the british journal of dermatology on diet and p and have seen their recommendations that emphasize a plant-based diet that's high in antioxidants to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation. interesting, there are chemical connections between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (that's mentioned in this article), saturated fat (found in animal foods) and oxidative stress.
'Blood chemicals link' to eczema
Scientists have identified two blood chemicals linked to itchy eczema, offering new treatment possibilities.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong devised an "itchometer" that was worn by 24 children and monitored how much they scratched while they slept.
Researchers found that as scratching increased, so did levels of two specific blood chemicals, reported the British Journal of Dermatology.
A British expert said the finding could point to the skin problem's root cause.
Wrist movement
One in 10 babies are affected by the dry, scaly, skin rashes of eczema, and the condition can persist into adulthood.
Sufferers can be treated with steroid creams, but the mechanisms behind the "eczema itch" are complex and poorly understood.
The latest research adds to evidence that two specific chemicals found in the blood - "brain-derived neurotrophic factor" (BDNF) and "substance P" - are somehow connected to itchy sensations.
The scientists recruited 24 children, with an average age of 11, to wear a wrist monitor which recorded wrist movement during the night.
The assumption was that this could record when the child scratched in their sleep - a reliable indicator of the level of itchiness.
For most eczema sufferers, itching is the worst symptom of the disease
Dr Colin Holden, British Association of Dermatologists
Blood tests from the children showed that as night-time scratching increased, so did the levels of the two chemicals in the bloodstream.
Kam-lun Ellis Hon, one of the researchers, said: "As far as we are aware, this is the first report to demonstrate that BDNF and substance P are significantly linked to disease activity, quality of life, as well as the levels of scratching as recorded by the wrist monitor."
Dr Colin Holden, the President of the British Association of Dermatologists, welcomed the report.
He said: "For most eczema sufferers, itching is the worst symptom of the disease. It is known to keep children awake at night, which in turn affects parents and can put pressure on the whole family, and even affect children's performance at school.
"It is by discovering the mechanisms behind the disease and its symptoms that we can develop new therapies that specifically target the root cause of the problem."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/...lth/6962450.stm
Published: 2007/08/26 23:01:51 GMT
© BBC MMVII
__________________
deirdre earls, registered dietitian, licensed dietitian