What is the position of
NEMSN regarding the
cause of Eosinophilia-
Myalgia Syndrome?
Many people believe
genetically altered
bacteria used in the
production of l-tryptophan
by Showa Denko KK of
Japan was the cause of
EMS. Unfortunately, most
of the evidence was
likely destroyed by the
company. Scientists also
consider poor filtration
during manufacturing to
be the other significant
factor.
The specific contaminant
has never been
identified.
Because the NEMSN
organization is not a
scientific body, the
Board called upon
members of its medical
advisory board to
develop a position in
May 2000. The rationale
is stated clearly in the
statement below by
Gerald Gleich, M.D.
formerly with the
Allergic Diseases
Research Laboratory,
Departments of
Immunology and Medicine,
Mayo Clinic and
Foundation, the leading
researcher on L-Tryptophan
and EMS.
The
NEMSN position is:
"Even
though the bacteria used
to produce L-Tryptophan
were genetically
modified, there is
insufficient evidence to
prove that these
modifications were
solely responsible
for the contaminants
linked to the illness
Eosinophilia Myalgia
Syndrome."
Recently, thanks to the
House and Senate
appropriations
committee, NEMSN members
were successful in
encouraging the first
independently funded NIH
research money towards
identifying the cause;
prevent the re-occurance;
and improve the
treatment of EMS.
The board of directors
is also on record as
supporting the need for
more study, labeling,
safeguards and
regulations on
genetically engineered
foods and health food
products.
Sharron Lobaugh,
President NEMSN
Statement of Gerald J.
Gleich, M.D, formerly
with the Allergic
Diseases Research
Laboratory, Departments
of Immunology and
Medicine, Mayo Clinic
and Foundation, and a
leading expert on this
issue:
"The issues are twofold:
"Tryptophan itself
clearly is not the cause
of EMS in that
individuals
who consumed product
from companies other
than Showa Denko
did not develop EMS."
"The evidence points to
Showa Denko product as
the culprit and to
the contaminants as the
cause. But we still do
not know which
contaminant and
therefore we cannot know
whether the
fermentation
process employing the
genetically altered
bacterium was
responsible.
In retrospect, the
essence of the matter
comes down to a question
of
chemical purity and had
the Showa Denko product
been sufficiently
pure the epidemic would
not have occurred."
"A
direct link was found to
the consumption of
contaminated L-Tryptophan
(LT) manufactured by a
single petrochemical
company, Showa Denko KK
of Japan. (In its
natural form LT is an
amino acid found in such
foods as milk and
turkey.) Showa Denko KK
acknowledged that as
many as six different
strains of bacteria were
used to increase
production. In addition,
steps in the
purification process
using carbon filters
were changed possibly
leaving a number of
unidentified
contaminants."
For more information
regarding the Genetic
Engineering aspect of
this issue, please read:
Summary of
Tryptophan Toxicity
Incident by John Fagan
For additional
information regarding
EMS from Gerald Gleich
M.D., please read:
Current Status of
Research on EMS: Gerald
J. Gleich, M.D.
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