Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, May 14, 2012
Fukushima Radiation Release is Worse than You Have Been Told
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
by Steve Hickey, PhD; Atsuo Yanagisawa, MD, PhD; Andrew W. Saul, PhD; Gert E. Schuitemaker, PhD; Damien Downing, MD
(OMNS May 14, 2012) People have been
misinformed about the tragedy at Fukushima and its consequences. There
is a continuing cover up, the reactors have not been stabilized, and
radiation continues to be released. The Japanese College of Intravenous
Therapy (JCIT) has recently released a video for people wishing to learn
more about how to protect themselves from contamination by taking large
doses of vitamin C.
All four parts of the video are also available here http://firstlaw.wordpress.com/. Readers may link to, embed in their webpages, and make copies of the video for free distribution.
Japanese Government Minimizes Danger; Ignores Vitamin C
In the fall of 2011, JCIT presented a
study that Fukushima workers had abnormality gene expression, which may
be avoided using dietary antioxidants, especially vitamin C. The data
was presented in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. The JCIT sent letters to the
government urging the government to tell the people how they may protect
themselves from radiation. To date, the recommendation has been ignored
by Japanese government and TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company).
Linus Pauling gained the Nobel Peace
Prize in part based on his calculations of the number of deaths from
nuclear weapons fallout.[1] He was supported by physicist and father of
the Soviet bomb Andrei Sakharov, who also later received the Nobel
Prize for peace.[2] These and other scientists estimated that there
would be an extra 10,000 deaths worldwide for each megaton nuclear test
in the atmosphere. A nuclear reactor can contain much more radioactive
material than a nuclear weapon. Fukushima had six reactors, plus stored
additional radioactive material and nuclear waste.
How Radiation Damages Cells
Ionizing radiation acts to damage living
tissue by forming free radicals. Essentially, electrons are ripped from
molecules. Removing an electron from an atom or molecule turns it into
an ion, hence the term ionizing radiation. X-rays, gamma rays, alpha-
and beta-radiation are all ionizing.
Most of the damage occurs from ionizing
radiation generating free radicals in water, as water molecules are by
far the most abundant in the body. While avoiding unnecessary exposure
to ionizing radiation is clearly preferable, people affected by
Fukushima do not have the luxury of avoiding contamination.
Antioxidants: Free-Radical Scavengers
Free-radical scavengers, as the name
suggests, mop up the damaging radicals produced by radiation. The more
common term for free radical scavenger is antioxidant. Antioxidants
replace the electrons stripped from molecules by ionizing radiation.
Antioxidants have long been used in the treatment of radiation
poisoning.[3-7] Most of the harm from ionizing radiation occurs from
free radical damage which may be quenched by the free electrons
antioxidants provide. Fortunately, safe antioxidants are widely
available as nutritional supplements. Vitamin C is the prime example.
Why Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is of particular importance
and should be included at high intakes for anyone trying to minimize
radiation poisoning. High dose vitamin C provides continual antioxidant
flow through the body. It is absorbed from the gut and helps to
replenish the other antioxidants. When it is used up, it is excreted in
the urine. Importantly, it can chelate, or grab onto, radioactive heavy
metal atoms and help eliminate them from the body. Large dynamic flow
doses of vitamin C (about 3,000 mg, taken 4 times a day for a total of
12,000 mg) would exemplify antioxidant treatment. Higher doses have been
used by Dr. Atsuo Yanagisawa and colleagues. [8,9]
Shortly after the disaster, Dr. Damien
Downing described how supplements can help protect against radioactive
fallout.[10] OMNS issued an update on the response to Fukushima in
Japan.[11] Recently, Dr. Gert Schuitemaker has provided a review of
vitamin C as a radio-protectant for Fukushima contamination.[12]
Persons living in the areas affected by
radioactive contamination can take antioxidant supplements, especially
high doses of vitamin C, to counteract the negative consequences of
long-term low dose radiation exposure, as well as to protect the health
of coming generations.[12,13] People who have a possible internal or
external radiation exposure should take antioxidant supplements to
maintain an optimal antioxidant reserve. Because of the enormous size
and oceanic spread of Fukushima contamination, this literally applies to
everyone.
"The International
Society for Orthomolecular Medicine is pleased to have participated in
the making of this important DVD on the protective effects of
intravenous vitamin C on radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear
plant in March 2011. We are in full support of the valuable work of Dr.
Yanagisawa and his colleagues, and we very much appreciate the
commitment of Mr. Daisuke Shibata, who has made it possible for the free
distribution of the video around the world. May this orthomolecular
message raise awareness and foster improvement in the treatment of
radiation exposure."
Steven Carter
Director, International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine |
References:
1. The Nobel Foundation (1962) The Nobel Peace Prize 1962, Linus Pauling Biography, http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1962/pauling-bio.html.
2. Sakharov A. (1975) The Nobel Peace Prize 1975, Andrei Sakharov, Autobiography, http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1975/sakharov-autobio.html.
3. Brown SL, Kolozsvary A, Liu J, et al:
Antioxidant diet supplementation starting 24 hours after exposure
reduces radiation lethality. Radiat Res, 2010; 173: 462-468.
4. Zueva NA, Metelitsa LA, Kovalenko AN,
et al: Immunomodulating effect of berlithione in clean-up workers of
the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident [Article in Russian]. Lik Sprava,
2002; (1): 24-26.
5. Yamamoto T, Kinoshita M et al.
Pretreatment with ascorbic acid prevents lethal gastrointestinal
syndrome in mice receiving a massive amount of radiation. J Radiat Res
(Tokyo) 2010; 51(2):145-56
6. Gaby A. Intravenous Nutrient Therapy: the "Myers' Cocktail". Alt Med Rev 2002; 7(5):389:403
7. Narra VR, Howell RW, Sastry KS, Rao
DV. Vitamin C as a radioprotector against iodine-131 in vivo. J Nucl Med
1993; 34(4):637-40
8. Yanagisawa A. Orthomolecular
approaches against radiation exposure. Presentation Orthomolecular
Medicine Today Conference. Toronto 2011 http://www.doctoryourself.com/Radiation_VitC.pptx.pdf )
9. Green MH, Lowe JE et al. Effect of
diet and vitamin C on DNA strand breakage in freshly-isolated human
white blood cells. Mutat Res 1994; 316(2):91-102
10. Downing D. (2011) Radioactive Fallout: Can Nutritional Supplements Help?, A Personal Viewpoint, OMNS, May 10, http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v07n04.shtml.
11. OMNS (2012) Vitamin C Prevents
Radiation Damage, Nutritional Medicine in Japan, Orthomolecular Medicine
News Service, February 1. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v08n06.shtml
12. Schuitemaker GE. Vitamin C as
protection against radiation exposure. J Orthomolecular Med 2011, 26: 3;
141-145. [Also in Dutch: Schuitemaker G.E. Radioactiviteit in Japan:
Orthomoleculair antwoord. Ortho 2011:3, June. http://www.ortho.nl ]
13. Yanagisawa A, Uwabu M, Burkson BE,
Weeks BS, Hunninghake R, Hickey S, Levy T, (2011) Environmental
radioactivity and health. Official JCIT Statement, March 29. http://media.iv-therapy.jp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Statement.pdf
Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine
Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org
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Editorial Review Board:
Ian Brighthope, M.D. (Australia)
Ralph K. Campbell, M.D. (USA)
Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. (USA)
Damien Downing, M.D. (United Kingdom)
Dean Elledge, D.D.S., M.S. (USA)
Michael Ellis, M.D. (Australia)
Martin P. Gallagher, M.D., D.C. (USA)
Michael Gonzalez, D.Sc., Ph.D. (Puerto Rico)
William B. Grant, Ph.D. (USA)
Steve Hickey, Ph.D. (United Kingdom)
James A. Jackson, Ph.D. (USA)
Michael Janson, M.D. (USA)
Robert E. Jenkins, D.C. (USA)
Bo H. Jonsson, M.D., Ph.D. (Sweden)
Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D. (USA)
Stuart Lindsey, Pharm.D. (USA)
Jorge R. Miranda-Massari, Pharm.D. (Puerto Rico)
Karin Munsterhjelm-Ahumada, M.D. (Finland)
Erik Paterson, M.D. (Canada)
W. Todd Penberthy, Ph.D. (USA)
Gert E. Schuitemaker, Ph.D. (Netherlands)
Robert G. Smith, Ph.D. (USA)
Jagan Nathan Vamanan, M.D. (India)
Ralph K. Campbell, M.D. (USA)
Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. (USA)
Damien Downing, M.D. (United Kingdom)
Dean Elledge, D.D.S., M.S. (USA)
Michael Ellis, M.D. (Australia)
Martin P. Gallagher, M.D., D.C. (USA)
Michael Gonzalez, D.Sc., Ph.D. (Puerto Rico)
William B. Grant, Ph.D. (USA)
Steve Hickey, Ph.D. (United Kingdom)
James A. Jackson, Ph.D. (USA)
Michael Janson, M.D. (USA)
Robert E. Jenkins, D.C. (USA)
Bo H. Jonsson, M.D., Ph.D. (Sweden)
Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D. (USA)
Stuart Lindsey, Pharm.D. (USA)
Jorge R. Miranda-Massari, Pharm.D. (Puerto Rico)
Karin Munsterhjelm-Ahumada, M.D. (Finland)
Erik Paterson, M.D. (Canada)
W. Todd Penberthy, Ph.D. (USA)
Gert E. Schuitemaker, Ph.D. (Netherlands)
Robert G. Smith, Ph.D. (USA)
Jagan Nathan Vamanan, M.D. (India)