Magic pill for spine injuries: blue M&Ms?
| July 28, 2009 | 11:33 AM
More journal entries from John Moore »
We all know it takes a lot of nerve to stand up for plain or peanut M&Ms in the face of opposition.
But for someone to claim that an ingredient in one of the candies actually could help patients with paralysis from spine injuries? And it’s the relative newcomer, the blue one?
Let me azure you, it’s true.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have found that the food dye used to make M&Ms and Gatorade blue could be used to reduce damage caused by spine injuries, and boost the chances for recovery. After they injected the compound Brilliant Blue G into rats with broken backs, the rodents were able to walk again — although they did have a limp.
And they turned blue. But only temporarily.
Apparently BBG blocks a natural chemical in the body that rushes to the site of a spinal cord injury — a substance that causes inflammation that makes the injury worse.
Researchers are seeking approval to test BBG on humans.
In the meantime, maybe they can figure out that whole peanut-vs.-plain debate.
Read more at cnn.com.
blue m&m, gatorade, nerve damage, rats, spinal cord, spinal injuries, spine
