Townsend Letter The Examiner of Alternative Medicine
Alternative Medicine Conference Calendar
Check recent tables of contents

From the Townsend Letter
May 2011

What Food Choices Are a Matter of Life and Death?
by Bill Misner, PhD

Search this site

 

Online publication only

Few dare to dream methods for resolving the health-care issues facing America. One best-selling author, T. Colin Campbell, after he completed the most comprehensive scientific study of nutrition ever conducted, argues that most health issues can be resolved by simply changing from animal-derived foods to plant foods.1,2 Is then our food choice either culprit or solution? Several esteemed clinicians, rather than dispute Campbell's findings, assigned patients suffering with heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases a strict plant food menu. Nearly all subjects progressed so well that they were taken off their previously prescribed medications. Each clinician observed that patient compliance in applying the plant-food protocol is required for attaining results. Of those patients whose health returned from consuming plant foods, once they "cheated" by adding a small portion from animal-derived food, their original complaints returned. If a plant-food intervention improves health, longevity, and resolves the health issues afflicting our modern industrialized society, examination to determine efficacy is rational.

Animal-derived foods have been identified as the active agents responsible for initiating disease in The China Study. Here Campbell presents remarkable evidence for resolving the health-care issues that plague our modern society. The book's conclusions are summed up in the following statements, which merit review:

  • Dietary animal-protein volume is associated with increased cancer risk.
  • Dietary animal-derived protein volume % effects cancer risks.
  • Dietary animal-derived protein volume % effects heart disease and diabetes risks.
  • Plant food diet prevents and reverses diabetic death.
  • Plant food diet prevents and reverses heart disease death.
  • Plant food diet increases metabolism [BMR] & decreases BMI, while animal foods decrease BMR and increase BMI.

1. Dietary animal-protein volume is associated with increased cancer risk.
Researchers gave rats a high dose of a known, potent carcinogen, aflatoxin, and fed them differing amounts (% total calories) of animal-derived milk protein (Chart I).3-5

CHART I. EFFECT OF PROTEIN % ON DNA ENZYME ACTIVITY


When rats consumed 5% of total calories from animal-derived milk-protein, only 1/5th DNA-enzyme activity resulted, compared with that from consuming 20% milk protein.6 The higher 20% milk protein total calories increased DNA-enzyme activity, which in turn increased DNA-binding, increased chromatin binding, increased protein binding, and increased mutagen activity, resulting in cancer cell formation. Cancer cell formation, therefore, is more closely associated with the amount of animal-derived milk protein consumed than the known cancer-cell precursor carcinogen aflatoxin (Chart II):

CHART I. EFFECT OF PROTEIN % ON DNA ENZYME ACTIVITY

2. Dietary Animal-Derived Protein Volume Percentage Affects Cancer Risks.
Campbell (1982) confirmed that low 5% milk-protein diet as compared with a high 20% protein diet decreases mutagenic effects and reduces the rate of precursor cancer cells formed7:

  • −72% in DNA-binding
  • −68% in chromatin-binding
  • −66% in protein-binding

They observed that the amount of milk protein calories consumed increases the amount of aflatoxin entering the cell, resulting in an increase in cell mitosis (reproduction) and mixed function oxidase enzyme activity (enzyme growth factor). A higher intake of animal-derived milk protein calories combined with exposure to aflatoxin, a potent carcinogen, increases the rate of cancer cell precursors, called foci. Foci production increases proportionately with each percentage of milk protein calories consumed (Chart III)8:

CHART III. FOCI PRODUCTION RATE

Similarly, Madhavin and Gopalan discovered that after rats were given aflatoxin, with a 20% milk protein calorie diet, 100% of them died from liver cancer within their 100-week lifespan, while those consuming aflatoxin with a 5% milk protein calorie diet survived; not one contracted liver cancer during its 100-week lifespan.9 From review of the Madhavin and Gopalan research, Campbell et al. (1989) identified which and how much dietary protein calorie amounts were associated with an increased carcinogenic effect.10 Animal-derived dairy milk is 87% casein, an animal-derived protein produced by a cow for the calf's growth during infancy. When 20% of protein calories originate from cow's milk, the resultant cancer growth in rats was determined by measuring foci response. Interestingly, no cancer growth occurs when 20% of the protein calories originate from plant proteins (wheat or soy), or, if the animal-derived dairy milk protein content is restricted to 5% of the total calories consumed (Chart IV). One interpretation is that one dietary protein formula known to support infant growth in one species may increase the risk of toxic consequences when chronically consumed by another species.

CHART IV. PROTEIN % EFFECT CANCER PRECURSOR FOCI

When researchers feed high- and low-protein diets with aflatoxin to rats over an expected 100-week life span, full tumor development occurred in the high-casein protein diet but not the low-casein protein diet. Rats consuming a low 6% milk-protein diet all survived after 100 weeks, while rats consuming a milk-protein diet after 100 weeks all died (Chart V).  

CHART V. TUMOR DEVELOPMENT 100 WEEEKS

Aflatoxin's carcinogenic effect appears to be activated by a "growth" property from casein. The amount and type of protein consumed determines whether or not a carcinogenic effect occurs. Hu et al. (1997) also identified another mechanism that relates to a strikingly similar effect related to dietary protein volume percent on cancer cells associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A piece of HBV virus inserts itself into a genetic piece in liver cells, resulting in liver cancer. Mice (not cows) infected by HBV, those consuming a higher volume of animal-derived protein  increased proportionately elevated expression of HBVGENE-A & GENE-B (Chart VI)11:

CHART VI. DIETARY PROTEIN EFFECT ON GENE EXPRESSION (Mice)

The amount of "animal" meats consumed has been associated  with human-female colorectal cancer deaths (Chart VII)12:

CHART VII. COLON CANCER DEATHS 

3. Dietary Animal-Derived Protein Volume Percentage Affects Heart Disease and Diabetes Risks.
Protein (animal-source) has been associated with heart disease death rate. Joliffe and Arthur (1959) reported significant statistical associations between coronary heart disease death and animal protein intake.13 As animal protein consumption increases, the rate of heart disease deaths per 100,000 increases (Chart VIII):

CHART VIII. ANIMAL PROTEIN % EFFECTS HEART DISEASE DEATH RATE

 

The question: If disease and death were associated from eating too much animal-derived foods, what would be the preventative effects in those whose diets consist only of plant foods?

4. Plant Food Diet Prevents and Reverses Diabetic Death.
Hinsworth reported (1935) that in countries where plant foods are consumed most (Japan), death from diabetes occurs less as compared with countries (US) where animal foods are consumed most (Chart XIX).14

CHART XIX. DIABETIC DEATH RATE AND PLANT FOOD CALORIES

5. Plant Food Diet Prevents and Reverses Heart Disease Death.
Esselstyn and colleagues reported similar but highly remarkable associations between the effects of a long-term plant-food diet reversing progressive coronary artery disease in human subjects (Chart X)15:

CHART X. PLANT FOOD DIET PREVENTS AND REVERSES CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

When a plant food diet is strictly adhered to, coronary artery disease is reversed; Esselstyn demonstrated this by a before-and-after angiogram of a subject after only 32 months on a plant-food diet (below)16:

Figure 1: Coronary angiograms of the distal left anterior descending artery before (A) and after (B) 32 months of a plant-based diet without cholesterol-lowering medication prove profound improvement.

Plant Food Diet Decreases Atherosclerosis Deaths
The plant-food diet has been associated with increased survival rate. In a country where a plant food menu is not practiced (US), death rate increases and number of survivors decreases. Morrison compared the death rate numbers related to consuming the typical American diet and eating a plant-food diet (reduced cholesterol and fat) for 8 years. He concluded that survival rate was remarkably higher due to consuming plant foods (Chart XI)17:

CHART XI. HIGH PLANT FOOD DIET COMPARED TO LOW PLANT FOOD DIET (IN USA)

6. Plant Food Diet Increases Metabolism (BMR) and Decreases BMI, While Animal Foods Decrease BMR And Increase BMI.
We are what we eat and, to a large extent, food choices make calories contribute to either positive or negative effects on body mass. Campbell compared how body mass index is affected by eating either a plant-food diet (China) or not a plant-food diet (USA; Chart XII).18

CHART XII. CHINA BMI PLANT FOOD COMPARED TO USA BMI LOW-PLANT FOOD

Plant Food Menu Increases Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
The comparison of Chinese calorie intake of 2640 k/cal from largely plant-foods create a body mass index of 21.5 as compared with Americans' calorie intake of 1980 k/cal per day that results in a body mass index of 27, which demonstrates that vegetarians have a higher basal metabolic rate than people who live on primarily animal-source calories. Campbell discovered that rats fed vegetarian diets or a low 5% protein exercised 200% more on training wheels than those rats whose diets were from high protein from animal sources.19 Poehlman (1988) also reported that vegetarians record much higher metabolic rates than nonvegetarians.20 Further evidence of higher basal metabolism is observed as weight loss in subjects changing from an animal-source to a plant-food menu (Chart XIII.)21

CHART XIII. PLANT FOOD EFFECT ON BMI & WEIGHT LOSS



Conclusions
The conclusions from The China Study illustrate the importance of plant-food choices for vigorous health and quality of life. Humans at birth up to 2 years of age require no more than 5% protein-calories from mother's breast milk for growth, which calls into question the need for foods derived from animal sources.22 If the caloric excess proteins and fats derived from animal foods enhance the onset of heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, then the lower-protein plant-food diet producing health with no provocative consequences deserves serious consideration. Individual compliance is the largest obstacle to be overcome, but once achieved, a plant-food lifestyle is a well-advised intervention that may resolve a majority of the health-care issues in the US.
 
Bill Misner, PhD, is an AAMA board-certified alternative medicine practitioner.

Disclosure: No competing interests declared.

Notes
1. Campbell TC, Campbell TM. The China Study. Benbella Books. Dallas, Texas.
2. Animal-derived foods are identified as calories originating from any living creatures (cattle, dairy milks, poultry, livestock, and fish).
3. Campbell TC. Influence of nutrition on metabolism of carcinogens (Martha Maso honor's thesis). Adv Nutr Res. 1979:29–55.
4. Appleton BS. Campbell TC. "Inhibition of Aflatoxin-initiated preneoplastic liver lesions by low dietary protein." Nutr. Cancer 3 (1982) 200–206.
5. Dunatf GE. Campbell TC. "Relative contribution of dietary protein level and Aflatoxin B1 dose in generation of presumptive preneoplastic foci in rat liver." J. Natl. Cancer Inst. (78) (1987): 365–369.
6. Preston RS. Hayes JR. Campbell TC. "The effect of protein deficiency on the in vivo binding of aflatoxin B1 to rat liver macromolecules." Life Sci. 19 (1976):1191–1198.
7. Appleton BS. Campbell TC. "Inhibition of Aflatoxin-initiated preneoplastic liver lesions by low dietary protein." Nutr. Cancer 3 (1982) 200–206.
8. Dunaif GE. Campbell TC. Relative Ccontribution of dietary protein level and Aflatoxin B1 dose in generation of presumptive preneoplastic foci in rat liver. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. (78) (1987): 365–369.
9. Madhavin TV, Gopalan C. The effect of dietary protein on carcinogenesis of aflatoxin. Arch Path. 1968;85:133–137.
10. Schulsinger DA, Root MM, Campbell TC. Effect of dietary protein on development of Aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic preneoplastic lesions. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1989;81:1241–1245.
11. Hu J, Cheng Z, Chisari FV, et al. Repression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgene and HBV-induced liver injury by low protein diet. Oncogene. 1997;15: 2795–2801.
12. Armstrong D, Doll R. Environmental factors and cancer incidence and mortality in different countries with special references to dietary practices. Int J Cancer. 1975;15:617–631.
13. Joliffe N, Arthur M. Statistical associations between international coronary heart disease death rates and certain environmental factors. J Chronic Dis. 1959;9:636–652.
14. Hinsworth HP. Diet and the incidence of Diabetes Mellitus. Clin Sci. 1935;2:117–148.
15. Esselstyn CB, Ellis SB, Medendorps SV, et al. A strategy to arrest and reverse coronary artery disease: a 5-year longitudinal study of a single physician's practice.  J Fam Pract. 1995;41:560–568.
16. Ibid.
17. Morrison LM. Diet in atherosclerosis. JAMA. 1960:884–888.
18. Campbell, Campbell. China Study:74.
19. Kreiger E, Youngman LD, Campbell TC. The modulation of aflatoxin (AFB1) induced preneoplastic lesions by dietary protein and voluntary exercise in fischer rates. FASEB J. 1988;2:3304[abstract].
20. Poehlman ET, Arciero PJ, Melby CL, et al. Resting metabolic rate and postprandial thermogensis in vegetarians and nonvegetrarians. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988;48:209–213.
21. Campbell, Campbell. China Study:139.
22. High intake 20% milk protein calories [but not 5%] increased DNA-enzyme activity, DNA-binding, chromatin-binding, protein-binding, and mutagen activity in cells, which increased the risk of cancers.

 

 

Consult your doctor before using any of the treatments found within this site.

Subscriptions are available for Townsend Letter, the Examiner of Alternative Medicine magazine, which is published 10 times each year.

Search our pre-2001 archives for further information. Older issues of the printed magazine are also indexed for your convenience.
1983-2001 indices ; recent indices

Once you find the magazines you'd like to order, please use our convenient form, e-mail subscriptions@townsendletter.com, or call 360.385.6021 (PST).

Who are we? | New articles | Featured topics |
Tables of contents
| Subscriptions | Contact us | Links | Classifieds | Advertise | Alternative Medicine Conference Calendar | Search site | Archives |
EDTA Chelation Therapy | Home

© 1983-2011 Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients
All rights reserved.
Website by Sandy Hershelman Designs
April 26, 2011

Order back issues
Advertise with TLDP!

Visit our pre-2001 archives