That blood type issue (related to Endo Poll)

[Lauren2005]

Hi everyone,

This post is related to the thread "Endo Poll." A number of people asked for more information about blood types and the possibility of a connection to endo.

I'm not a scientist but, in simultaneously reading "Eat Right For Your Baby: The Individualized Guide to Fertility and Maximum Health During Pregnancy, Nursing, and Your Baby's First Year" and "Endometriosis: The Complete Reference for Taking Charge of Your Health," I kept seeing parallels between the theories expressed in the first book and the studies and data available in the second (though the endo book never directly addresses blood type.)

It's hard to do a good job of putting into words why I was so intrigued by the blood type issue... As a non-doctor, I can't say that I'm familiar with the science. However, the overlaps were so interesting that I found myself asking whether there isn't something here worth investigating.

I've included a ton of information below. Also, beware that the topic of cancer is raised in this discussion.

Here are a few paragraphs that got my attention from "Eat Right...":

"Early in my practice as a naturopath, I discovered, almost by coincidence, that when my female patients followed the correct diet for their blood type [O, A, B, AB], fertility increased dramatically. Even women with long-standing fertility problems, including repeated miscarriages, were able to conceive and carry their babies to term. It wasn't immediately apparent why this was so..."

"Your blood type is the key to your body's entire immune system. Blood type determines and controls the influence of viruses, bacteria, infections, chemicals, stress, and any other invaders and conditions that may compromise your immune system."

"Several studies conducted over the past forty years have concluded that [some] infertility and habitual miscarriage may be the result of antibodies in the woman's vaginal secretions reacting with blood type antigens in the man's sperm. In one of these studies, it was determined that the majority of miscarriages were of Type A or Type B fetuses, caused as a result of incompatibility with Type O mothers who produced anti-A and anti-B antibodies..."

"[The Rh system] has everything to do with reproduction.... [Rh-positve individuals carry an Rh antigen.] Rh-negative women do not make an antibody to the Rh antigen uness they are first sensitized. This sensitization usually occurs when blood is exchanged between the mother and infant during birth, so the mother's immune system does not have enough time to react to the first baby. However, should a later conception result in yet another Rh-positive baby, the mother, now sensitized, will produce antibodies to the baby's blood type..."

"There is a chemical reaction between your blood type antigen and the food you eat. That's because the proteins in foods have antigens as well, and these antigens are similar to the blood type antigens. If you eat food that contains a foreign antigen, your immune system will create anti-blood type antibodies to it, and it will be rejected by your system. These antibody reactions can dramatically affect your health -- weakening your immune system, increasing inflammation, disturbing your digestive processes, and upsetting your metabolic balance..."

The "Endometriosis" book includes information such as:

"Ever since Association Advisors Leila Adamian, M.D., of Russia, and Paul Dmowski, M.D., Ph.D., of the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Endometriosis, Chicago, published research on certain immune abnormalities in women with endo in the late 1970's and early 1980's, it's been clear that the immune system plays a pivotal role in endo. A flurry of research in the mid- to late 1980's demonstrated that almost every immune cell studied in women with endo was malfunctioning in some way... The more researchers studied, the more complex it all got..."

"Some endo patients exhibit multiple autoantibodies, antibodies that are directed against self-antigens, such as endometrial cells or cellular components..."

"Scientists are only beginning to learn how the immune system of the female reproductive tract works. We do know that our hormones (estrogen and progesterone) give instructions to our reproductive tract immune cells... Thus, in the endometrium, our hormones and our immune system must coordinate their activities perfectly..."

"Endometriosis has been described as many things, from an autoimmune disease with overactive immune activity to a disease of weakened immunity... Endo is truly a fascinating and unique disease because it can actually be characterized by aspects of both types of problems..."

To clarify the next part, there is an entire chapter in the "Endometriosis" book devoted to the potential connection between endo and cancer. I was stunned by the information and would recommend that anyone unaware of this apparent connection research the topic. ("It has long been documented that endometriosis can transform and become cancerous.") !!! But, sticking to the theme at hand (blood type), here's a paragraph from that chapter:

"Angiogenesis is one more characteristic common to both endo and tumors. Angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels to supply the blood that endo and cancer tissues need to survive. Angiogenesis is induced by immune reactions, among other things..."

The "Eat Right" book goes on to talk about specific vulnerabilities based on blood type. My particular blood type, A, says:

"Type A is particularly susceptible to stress-related health problems, such as colds and flu, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and even cancer. Stress has a weakening effect on body systems and hormonal activity and can also be an impediment to fertility. Gestational hypertension and diabetes are always potential risk factors for the type A woman."

And the other blood types:

"Type O has a tendency to suffer from hormonal and metabolic disorders, which are a major impediment to fertility. The Type O's hyperactive immune defenses can lead to allergies, inflammation, chronic fatigue, and a number of other autoimmune disorders that can interfere with the ability to conceive."

"Type Bs are susceptible to the effects of high stress, such as chronic viral and bacterial infections. Stress has a weakening effect on body systems and hormonal activity and can also be an impediment to fertility."

"Type AB's rather unique immune defenses can hyperfunction, leading to allergies, inflammation, chronic fatigue, and a number of other autoimmune disorders that can sap your vitality and interfere with the ability to conceive. These disorders can also create problems during pregnancy."

OKAY... so where does all of this information take my brain...? I wonder the following things:

1) If type O women and type AB women are likely to have immune systems that hyperfunction, and type A women and type B women tend toward weaker immune systems, would that explain why endo appears one way in some women, and another way in others? (Remember: "overactive immune activity" versus "a disease of weakened immunity.") Should treatment protocol for endo women take blood type into consideration? Is the topic worth scientific exploration?

2) If there is a connection between endo and cancer, but only in some women, are those women mostly types A and B?

3) Type A is the only description that specifically mentions cancer (in this book.) Since cancer and endo are connected in some way, does that mean that endo women would more likely be type A?

4) Since some women have the Rh antigen, and others have nothing (including antibodies to the antigen) until they have a baby or miscarriage, would endo women be more likely to be Rh+?

5) If random endo women started eating according to "their type's diet," would their endo symptoms decrease and fertility increase?

6) Does blood type relate to the age a woman is likely to get endo, or her ability to have a baby? If it does, are there different treatment protocols that could be utilized?

I don't know where to go with any of this. From my own perspective, I found it to be fascinating. I always hear about endo women having allergies, chronic fatigue, and other types of challenges... I haven't had any of these, but my family is full of cancer, heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc... Does blood type explain this? Am I one of the endo women more likely to have it turn into cancer? I just keep thinking about how little everyone knows about endo and its origins, even after years of studying it.

Anyway, like I said, I'm no doctor. I'm not even in the medical field. In fact, now my head hurts. What do people think about all this????? I'm so interested to know.

Lauren

[alpwoman]

Lauren -

I found your entry really interesting. (I'd read most of the book Eat Right According to your Blood Type about 4 years ago-- but, have not read the pregnancy one - makes me want to go out and purchase that right now.)

I am thinking that my endo problems began in a very stressful part of my life when I also couldn't eat as well as I needed to.
My blood type is A+

+ would be the Rh factor - right?

So I think I'm going to run your thoughts by a friend of mine who is a nurse and also has endo.

[balty06]

This info is absolutely fascinating. I want to run out and get that book right now! I am 23, and have had endo since I was 15. The endo started when the stress of "teenage-hood" finally got to me and I struggled emotionally. My blood type is also A+ and I am almost always sick. If fact, just recently I wanted to show my husband how I am always sick (he didn't think that I was sick all that often) so I pulled up my HR site at work where my sick days are logged. I have consistently been out sick 2 times a month for the past year.

Very interesting, makes me want to research it some more.....thanks!

[AnnaOz]

Yes it was interesting and strangely I have Grade IV Endo and am A+ ... I have also been diagnosed MTHFR homozygous (gene mutation) which is a where you don't process folic acid properly so it's related to tendency for blood clotting - anyone else have this??

[EndoAdnoGirl]

Wow, I love this idea. My blood type is also A+. One thing I would love to know, have any of you gone through periods of dizzyness and confusion? For the past few months, I have been dizzy/confused all day long. I was just diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia, but with the current onset of the symptoms, I am thinking it might be something else.

Amie
Endo, Adno, Endometrioma, Inguinal Hernias, Reactive Hypoglycemic
1st Dx Lap - 2004
2nd Dx Lap - Oct/2009