I recently attended a full day seminar by Ron Smith PhD on nutrition, mood
and brain.  He is working with Michael Maes on some interesting stuff that
relates depression with cytocines (signalling peptides of the immune system).
 Cytokines and other immune cell secretions can powerfully affect almost
every cell and tissue in the body, including the brain (they pass the blood
brain barrier and can be made in the brain, too).  Cytokines are responsible
for the feelings of malaise we get when we are "sick".

During birth, the immune system would be activated by tissue damage,
inflammation and possibly even the hormone changes.

The description below is taken from the syllabus I received:
"Interferon-alpha, in psychiatrically normal volunteers produces all the
symptoms necessary for the diagnosis of major depression.  AFter the second
day of administration, all had mild euthoria.  AFter the 6th day, all had
severe fatigue, psychomotor slowing, anorexia, irritability, depressed mood,
hypersomnia, confusion, inability to concentrate, inertia, lack of interest.
 Acta Psychiatr Scand 78:622, 1988, Lancet 2:1175. 1987. Med Hypoth 35:298.
1991."
(Does this sound like a typical mom?)

He also talked about linking PMS to cytokines and one study found that in
women with recent onset PMS that treating with antibiotics for  chronic low
grade infection cured the PMS. J Int Med Res 16:270. 1988.,. Science 227:
1247. 1985.

And, all you food allergy people, the gut is one of the most active immune
organs and can make cytokines and related substances.  This could be the
cause of mental symptoms of food allergies.  Fascinating stuff.  Frankly, I'm
still trying to get my head around even a small portion of it.  Now that we
know more, the big question is what to do with this knowledge?


Martha Grodrian Brower, RD LD IBCLC
Sitting on top of a huge pile of unread research....... (maybe I could
fashion it into a throne)

PS.  Jan, grubs do not have an exoskeleton until they grow up, so I'd suggest
garden snails or carpenter ants (they'd also increase your fiber!!)