Message Number: YG13463 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-06-02 10:27:00 UTC
Subject: dietary speculations

By now many will have heard news reports about the early research by
a Johns Hopkins researcher (both of whom are affiliated with a
broccoli sprout industry) and a Berkeley one indicating that
sulforaphane found in cruciferous veggies appears to inhibit the
human species of Helicobacter. Obviously more work, and independent
confirmation are essential, but if there is a basis to this I wonder
several things:

1. Might it be useful against the species of Helicobacter which ferrets get?

2. If so, to what degree?

3. If to a reasonable degree, might it also have uses for the ferret
Helicobacter species as a kibble inclusion?

4. If so, would the taste aspects be able to be worked around?

5. Should that be the case are there food-medicine conflicts
involving cruciferous veggies that might at times cause a temporary
hiatus from such foods?

Oh, on a different dietary aspect: the concerns some have about some
preservatives have been way overblown in much of the popular press
according to some things vets and other experts have written in the
past to the Ferret Mailing List. I can't recall those having been
addressed here on the FHL in the past, but guess I'd better do some
searches as time allows, while hoping for a more timely update by
those experts who know the details.