I previously made a post that hypothesized a combination of the extra oral ethanol from Lumina and genetic aldehyde deficiency may lead to increased oral cancer risks in certain population. It has been cited in a recent post about Lumina potentially causing blindness in humans.
I’ve found that hypothesis less and less plausible ever since I published that post. I still think it is theoretically possible in a small proportion (extremely bad oral hygene) of the aldehyde deficient population, but even then it is very unlikely to raise the oral cancer incidence above the Asian average (aldehyde deficiency->less ethanol consumption->less oral cancer overall despite aldehyde deficiency causing increased oral cancer rates for a given ethanol consumption level). I notice in my unpublished followup that my best guess is that Lumina is still a (very small) net negative for me, but I would apply it if offered for free because I am for biological self-experimentation on moral principle, it would be a clear signal for being (mostly) wrong on the mangitude implied in my previous post, and because it sounds cool.
But the methanol blindness claim I’ve seen circulating lately is completely bonkers. If I’m not reading it wrong, he’s actually trying to suggest that formic acid formed in the mouth (or even stomach!) can diffuse to the optic nerves in sufficient concentration to cause blindness. This goes against everything I know about cellular and circulatory biology. I will go into a more in-depth analysis if anyone is interested but I would be willing to bet $100 against their $1 that this is true. I would quibble about judging criteria, but I have a train to catch, which is why I didn’t give $1000 to $1.
Yeah, my idea is just based on physical proximity. There’s no way systemic concentrations would be enough, plus the E. Coli in the gut produce way more formate in total given the much larger surface area… yet I can’t ignore that my mouth is directly below my eyes. I’m totally willing to bet on it, though I don’t know how you’d judge something like this. Formate optic neuropathy doesn’t necessarily have specific signs, though in the two case reports it does follow a progressive course and then suddenly get much worse. Is it just based on whether I end up becoming one of the mysterious idiopathic optic neuropathy cases AND test positive for Lumina if they ever come out with their testing kit thing?
Either way please do explain your reasoning on this, I’m looking for some reason to imagine I’m not totally done for but I haven’t been able to come up with anything myself.
I previously made a post that hypothesized a combination of the extra oral ethanol from Lumina and genetic aldehyde deficiency may lead to increased oral cancer risks in certain population. It has been cited in a recent post about Lumina potentially causing blindness in humans.
I’ve found that hypothesis less and less plausible ever since I published that post. I still think it is theoretically possible in a small proportion (extremely bad oral hygene) of the aldehyde deficient population, but even then it is very unlikely to raise the oral cancer incidence above the Asian average (aldehyde deficiency->less ethanol consumption->less oral cancer overall despite aldehyde deficiency causing increased oral cancer rates for a given ethanol consumption level). I notice in my unpublished followup that my best guess is that Lumina is still a (very small) net negative for me, but I would apply it if offered for free because I am for biological self-experimentation on moral principle, it would be a clear signal for being (mostly) wrong on the mangitude implied in my previous post, and because it sounds cool.
But the methanol blindness claim I’ve seen circulating lately is completely bonkers. If I’m not reading it wrong, he’s actually trying to suggest that formic acid formed in the mouth (or even stomach!) can diffuse to the optic nerves in sufficient concentration to cause blindness. This goes against everything I know about cellular and circulatory biology. I will go into a more in-depth analysis if anyone is interested but I would be willing to bet $100 against their $1 that this is true. I would quibble about judging criteria, but I have a train to catch, which is why I didn’t give $1000 to $1.
Yeah, my idea is just based on physical proximity. There’s no way systemic concentrations would be enough, plus the E. Coli in the gut produce way more formate in total given the much larger surface area… yet I can’t ignore that my mouth is directly below my eyes. I’m totally willing to bet on it, though I don’t know how you’d judge something like this. Formate optic neuropathy doesn’t necessarily have specific signs, though in the two case reports it does follow a progressive course and then suddenly get much worse. Is it just based on whether I end up becoming one of the mysterious idiopathic optic neuropathy cases AND test positive for Lumina if they ever come out with their testing kit thing?
Either way please do explain your reasoning on this, I’m looking for some reason to imagine I’m not totally done for but I haven’t been able to come up with anything myself.