Jane Kelley On (08 Jan 97) was overheard to say to John Prather
 JK> Be advised that a mother of a child with Down's syndrome was recently
 JK> interviewed on TV because she has developed a food supplement formula
 JK> for that problem.
  My god Jane!  I was so astonished when I read this I had to get up
 and go talk to my dog about the benefits of being a dog and not
 having to put up with ignorant BS like this.
 Now just who in the world do you think is going to place any credence
 in any claims that food supplements are going to do anything for
 trisomy 21? (it is, by the way Jane, Down not Down's).
 Nondisjunction during meiosis is the cause of trisomy 21.  Trisomy 21
 is present and irreversible from the moment of conception.
 JK> Kids born with Down's syndrome do not get the nutrition they need to
 JK> have their brain cells grow.
 
 No amount of food supplement formula developed by anyone is going to
 reverse or have _any_ effect on an innate chromosomal anomaly.
 JK> THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE MENTAL RETARDATION AS THE NERVE CELLS ARE
 JK> NORMAL AT BIRTH!
 Are the caps supposed to mean that you have some vague notion of what
 you are talking about?
 There are no identified or even suspected teratogens that contribute
 to trisomy 21.  It is at the chromosomal level.  Do you even know
 what I'm talking about here Jane?
 JK> Ask anyone who knows why a PKU test is done on every child born
 JK> in a hospital and how many turn up positive.  Only those
 JK> who do get a special diet to prevent mental retardation.
 Okay Jane.. you keep bringing up Phenylketonuria as if it were a
 great revelation from on high.  In 1934 Folling's work was
 revolutionary - granted - admitted - very praiseworthy.  It is not
 "new" news.  The fact that _this_ amino acid disorder can be controlled
 and in many cases reversed by the elimination of protein foods such
 as fish, meat and eggs has absolutely nothing to do with ADD/ADHD or,
 in this case trisomy 21.
 JK> What else do we have to do to convince parents that feeding kids for
 JK> their specific problem is useful?
 What's with the royal "we"?  You haven't contributed diddly to any
 thing to convince anyone that it is daylight outside at high noon in
 the Mojave Desert let alone anything to do with ADD/ADHD.
 For the benefit of others who read this conference I empathize with
 the mother of the child Jane mentioned.  I understand what she is
 doing, the fact that it is hopeless doesn't make any difference.
 Strict attention to the diet of a child/adult with Down Syndrome is
 always required due to concurrent medical problems usually associated
 with the syndrome.  Mom's food supplements probably can't hurt the
 child but most assuredly won't do anything for the root problem.
... Couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel.
--- PPoint 2.02
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