Early life chemical exposures play a critical role in the healthy life of our children, sometimes altering courses of health that cannot be undone. In our world today, we see more disorganized eating than ever before as obesity (with all its complications) skyrockets alongside undernutrition, leading not just to classic underweight conditions but also to delays in development from lack of nutrients. Amidst this mess of dysfunctional societal eating patterns, more and more toxic chemicals fan the flames of future health problems. We have more problems to deal with than just my mixed metaphors, is what I’m saying.
Today’s focus article recognizes the adverse effects of a society which depends on energy-dense processed foods which diverge so widely in health, not to mention the variance in health care. Specifically, it seeks a better understanding of the effects of various environmental pollutants which synergize with this ‘dys-nutritional’ society. The pollutants under their inspection include both synthetic and natural possibilities (such as mycotoxins), especially those that we call endocrine disruptors- in other words, those which alter our hormonal balance.
That children can be overweight and still be deficient in one or more essential nutrients is called the “Double Burden of Malnutrition” (DBM) and contributes to not only growth stunting but a variety of cognitive and physical adverse effects that have been shown to last into adulthood. The article’s writers reference others’ research into various chemicals, but lament that such work is more limited than they would hope given the immense impact these chemicals have on children.
They mention several different chemicals and their effects:
- Mycotoxins have been linked to slowed growth in children (the references: 14 through 22, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50,).
- A variety of EDC can impact gut microbiota (23).
- EDCs alter thyroid, reproductive, and growth hormones in terms of production, activity, and metabolism (25, 30, 31, 33).
- EDCs appear to affect later fertility and adult metabolic syndromes (12, 25, 38, 39, 40)
- EDCs enter our bodies through ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and during pregnancy.
Clearly, we live in a world where there is great opportunity for better health through better nutrition, but that same world presents hidden threats that we won’t see unless we know where to look. Helping our patients, especially our young patients in their critical development years, requires careful assessment and response to these nutritional and toxin issues when the window is open for intervention. Their healthier, more abundant lives can begin when we take these issues seriously.
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Original Article:
Owino VO, Cornelius C, Loechl CU. Elucidating Adverse Nutritional Implications of Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Mycotoxins through Stable Isotope Techniques. Nutrients. 2018;10(4):401. Published 2018 Mar 23. doi:10.3390/nu10040401
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
Dr. Eric Potter graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and then went on to specialize in internal medicine (adult) and pediatric care, spending significant time and effort in growing his medical understanding while caring for patients from all walks of life.
