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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
THERE’S NO PROVEN LINK BETWEEN VACCINES AND AUTISM
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve been hearing a lot about mercury in vaccinations causing health problems in children. Is there a legitimate concern here? Have you seen an increase in mercury-poisoning symptoms? I’ve heard that mercury may be linked to autism. I have three girls who have been immunized. I just had a son, and I want to make an informed decision in this regard. Can you help me? — Madison, Wis.
ANSWER: Yes, go ahead with the vaccines for your son. Also, you can breathe easy about the vaccines you have given your three girls. Vaccines have never caused mercury poisoning.
Yes, mercury was often used in vaccines, in the form of thimerosal, which is a preservative to prevent germs from growing in vaccines. Several years ago, makers of vaccines agreed to stop using it; now other means are used to keep out germs.
Removal of thimerosal was done because of a theory. There was no evidence — just a theory that the tiny amounts of mercury in the vaccines might be acceptable for normal-sized infants but harmful to very small infants.
No one had proof of any harm. The suspicion came from the idea that small, premature babies would get more mercury from the vaccines than the government permitted. Not everyone agreed. The government standards didn’t even agree.
Still, the manufacturers agreed to remove the mercury. Now vaccines routinely used in infants and children, with the exception of the flu shot, no longer contain mercury. Not all flu vaccine has had the mercury removed, but that’s gradually changing too.
Since the removal of the mercury in the routine childhood shots, studies have shown no reduction in problems that children suffer, including autism. Over and over, research has shown no link between vaccines and autism.
Studies have looked at groups vaccinated and not vaccinated. Studies have looked for special forms of autism. Studies have looked at the age when autism was diagnosed. None show a link. Even the authors (except one) of the single study that claimed they found microbiological proof have taken back their conclusions.
Bottom line: We have no evidence that vaccines or thimerosal are linked with autism or other health problems.
— Robert Jacobson, M.D., Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Additional Resources:
Vaccinations
Appointment Information
Autism
READERS: While the obesity epidemic garners headlines, you may not have heard of metabolic syndrome. Yet this health threat affects 47 million adults in the United States.
The low profile may be because metabolic syndrome isn’t a disease, but a cluster of disorders of your body’s metabolism — including high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, excess body weight and abnormal lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels.
Doctors have talked about this group of risk factors for years, calling it everything from syndrome X to insulin resistance. Although the cause of metabolic syndrome is under debate, doctors recognize the association between the syndrome and the body’s resistance to insulin — a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates sugar in your blood. Insulin resistance means your body churns out more and more insulin, and you’re on your way to type 2 diabetes.
Because metabolic syndrome is widespread — affecting 40 percent of Americans over age 60 — the focus is no longer on what to call the syndrome. Instead, it’s on identifying and treating the syndrome’s causes and consequences before life-threatening illness develops. The primary goal of treatment is to prevent type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Prevention involves these changes:
— Lose weight. Losing as little as 10 percent of your body weight can lower blood pressure, decrease your triglycerides, raise your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level — the “good” kind
and reduce your percent of body weight due to fat.
— Exercise. Physical activity improves insulin resistance, increases HDL and burns calories.
— Stop smoking. Smoking increases insulin resistance and worsens the health consequences of metabolic syndrome.
— Eat fiber-rich foods. Fiber can lower insulin levels.
— Work with your doctor. Your doctor could prescribe any of several medications depending on your risk factors.
While metabolic syndrome often doesn’t get much attention, if your doctor uses the term, it’s important to take steps to reduce your risk of life-threatening illnesses.
Additional Resources:
Metabolic Syndrome
Appointment Information
Additional Information
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Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t
replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org,
or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave.,
Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.
© 2005 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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