David Perlmutter

Last updated
David Perlmutter
Born (1954-12-31) December 31, 1954 (age 69)
Alma mater Lafayette College, University of Miami School of Medicine
Known forGrain Brain
Scientific career
Fields Medicine, Neurology, Neurogastroenterology
Website www.drperlmutter.com

David Perlmutter (born December 31, 1954) is an American celebrity doctor, author, low-carbohydrate diet advocate and promoter of functional medicine. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Perlmutter has been widely criticized by dietitians and physicians for promoting misinformation about gluten-containing grains including whole grains which he argues are a main cause of many diseases including brain disorders. [1] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Early life and education

Perlmutter's father Irwin was a neurosurgeon in Miami. [8] David Perlmutter received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He is also a fellow of the American College of Nutrition. [9]

Career

Perlmutter is known for advocating a functional and holistic approach toward treating brain disorders and for advocating for the importance of dietary changes. [1] [2] Perlmutter serves as a medical advisor for The Dr. Oz Show and Men's Health . [10] [11] He is also a contributor to publications such as Daily Beast , Huffington Post , Mind Body Green, and Staying Alive. [12] [13] [14] [15]

Perlmutter wrote the book Grain Brain, released in September 2013, promoting the concept that gluten causes neurological conditions, which was on the New York Times bestseller list for several weeks. [16] [17] [18] The book was cowritten with Kristen Loberg, a ghostwriter known for working with other celebrity doctors such as Sanjay Gupta and David Agus. In 2023 it was discovered that Grain Brain contained passages plagiarized from Agus' 2012 The End of Illness, which was also cowritten by Loberg. [19]

He was president of Perlmutter Health Center until its sale in 2015. [20] Perlmutter is a presenter for the Institute For Functional Medicine. [3]

In 2022, Perlmutter published Drop Acid, which advocates for a theory that excess levels of uric acid has negative physiological and neurological health consequences. [21]

Awards

Perlmutter has received the 2002 Linus Pauling Award from the Institute for Functional Medicine, [22] and 2006 National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician Award. [23] In 2015, Perlmutter was awarded the "Communications and Media Award" from the American College of Nutrition [24] In 2019, Perlmutter was awarded the Leadership Award from the Integrative Healthcare Symposium. [25]

Reception

Perlmutter and his books have faced criticism from other physicians and commentators. [1] [26] His endorsement of gluten-free and paleolithic diets has been criticized by physicians and is not supported by anthropological research on the Pleistocene human diet. [27] For example, Nash and Slutzky (2014) have written that "according to Grain Brain, much chronic disease originates in the widespread ingestion of carbohydrates, and these foodstuff, rather than cholesterol or saturated fats, are the premier contributor to an unhealthy individual. Numerous recent studies, however, have provided high-level evidence to the contrary." [26]

Epidemiologist David Katz, founding director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT, has criticized Grain Brain, calling it a "silly book" and saying that "Perlmutter is way ahead of any justifiable conclusion". [6] Perlmutter's opinion that hormonal birth control has long term negative effects on women has also been criticized by medical experts. [28]

Microbiome expert Jonathan Eisen criticized Brain Maker in blunt terms. "To think we can magically heal diseases by changing to a gluten-free diet and taking some probiotics is idiotic... It resembles more the presentation of a snake-oil salesman than that of a person interested in actually figuring out how to help people." [1]

Perlmutter's advice to parents that they should ask their pediatricians about scheduling childhood vaccinations separately [1] is contrary to advice from the CDC [29] and the American Academy of Pediatrics. [30]

A review of Grain Brain by The Health Sciences Academy quotes Perlmutter as saying even whole grains, are "a terrorist group that bullies our most precious organ, the brain" but noted the health data on whole grain consumption is associated with a reduced risk of many chronic diseases. The review concluded that "Perlmutter based his book primarily on belief, selectively citing studies and not including the full body of scientific evidence". [5]

A 2020 paper in Palgrave Communications stated that Perlmutter "has received severe criticism from scientists about his claims that Alzheimer’s disease, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be prevented by avoiding grains, or that the link between autism and vaccines is “ill-defined”". [7]

Perlmutter is listed by Quackwatch as a promoter of questionable health products. [31]

Personal life

Perlmutter is the father of artist Reisha Perlmutter. [32]

Selected publications

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gluten</span> Group of cereal grain proteins

Gluten is a structural protein naturally found in certain cereal grains. The term gluten usually refers to the combination of prolamin and glutelin proteins that naturally occur in many cereal grains, and which can trigger celiac disease in some people. The types of grains that contain gluten include all species of wheat, and barley, rye, and some cultivars of oat; moreover, cross hybrids of any of these cereal grains also contain gluten, e.g. triticale. Gluten makes up 75–85% of the total protein in bread wheat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uric acid</span> Organic compound

Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with the formula C5H4N4O3. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates, such as ammonium acid urate. Uric acid is a product of the metabolic breakdown of purine nucleotides, and it is a normal component of urine. High blood concentrations of uric acid can lead to gout and are associated with other medical conditions, including diabetes and the formation of ammonium acid urate kidney stones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gout</span> Form of arthritis causing swollen joints

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot and swollen joint, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crystals. Pain typically comes on rapidly, reaching maximal intensity in less than 12 hours. The joint at the base of the big toe is affected (Podagra) in about half of cases. It may also result in tophi, kidney stones, or kidney damage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clinical chemistry</span> Area of clinical pathology that is generally concerned with analysis of bodily fluids

Clinical chemistry is a division in medical laboratory sciences focusing on qualitative tests of important compounds, referred to as analytes or markers, in bodily fluids and tissues using analytical techniques and specialized instruments. This interdisciplinary field includes knowledge from medicine, biology, chemistry, biomedical engineering, informatics, and an applied form of biochemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Fuhrman</span> American celebrity doctor (born 1953)

Joel Fuhrman is an American celebrity doctor who advocates a plant-based diet termed the "nutritarian" diet which emphasizes nutrient-dense foods. His practice is based on his nutrition-based approach to obesity and chronic disease, as well as promoting his products and books. He has written books promoting his dietary approaches including the bestsellers Eat to Live, Super Immunity, The Eat to Live Cookbook, The End of Dieting (2016) and The End of Heart Disease (2016). He sells a related line of nutrition-related products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediterranean diet</span> Diet inspired by the Mediterranean region

The Mediterranean diet is a diet inspired by the eating habits and traditional food typical of southern Spain, southern Italy, and Crete, and formulated in the early 1960s. It is distinct from Mediterranean cuisine, which covers the actual cuisines of the Mediterranean countries, and from the Atlantic diet of Northwestern Spain and Portugal. While inspired by a specific time and place, the "Mediterranean diet" was later refined based on the results of multiple scientific studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gluten-free diet</span> Diet excluding proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye

A gluten-free diet (GFD) is a nutritional plan that strictly excludes gluten, which is a mixture of prolamin proteins found in wheat, as well as barley, rye, and oats. The inclusion of oats in a gluten-free diet remains controversial, and may depend on the oat cultivar and the frequent cross-contamination with other gluten-containing cereals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Healthy diet</span> Type of diet

A healthy diet is a diet that maintains or improves overall health. A healthy diet provides the body with essential nutrition: fluid, macronutrients such as protein, micronutrients such as vitamins, and adequate fibre and food energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whole grain</span> Cereal containing endosperm, germ, and bran

A whole grain is a grain of any cereal and pseudocereal that contains the endosperm, germ, and bran, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm.

Abdominal bloating is a short-term disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Bloating is generally characterized by an excess buildup of gas, air or fluids in the stomach. A person may have feelings of tightness, pressure or fullness in the stomach; it may or may not be accompanied by a visibly distended abdomen. Bloating can affect anyone of any age range and is usually self-diagnosed, in most cases does not require serious medical attention or treatment. Although this term is usually used interchangeably with abdominal distension, these symptoms probably have different pathophysiological processes, which are not fully understood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Amen</span> American celebrity doctor

Daniel Gregory Amen is an American celebrity doctor who practices as a psychiatrist and brain disorder specialist as director of the Amen Clinics. He is a five-time New York Times best-selling author as of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Agus</span> English scientist, American physician, Professor of Medicine and Engineering and author

David B. Agus is an American physician, cancer researcher and author who serves as a professor of medicine and engineering at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and Viterbi School of Engineering and the Founding Director and CEO of the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine. He is also the cofounder of several personalized medicine companies and a contributor to CBS News on health topics. He is also the author of four books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Greger</span> American physician, author, and vegan health activist

Michael Herschel Greger is an American physician, author, and professional speaker on public health issues, best known for his advocacy of a whole-food, plant-based diet, and his opposition to animal-derived food products.

William R. Davis is a Milwaukee-based American cardiologist, low-carbohydrate diet advocate and author of health books known for his stance against "modern wheat", which he labels a "perfect, chronic poison."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Lipski</span>

Elizabeth Lipski is a clinical nutritionist and author of several books on nutrition and digestion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Hyman (doctor)</span> American physician and author (born 1959)

Mark Adam Hyman is an American physician and author. He is the founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center and was a columnist for The Huffington Post. Hyman was a regular contributor to the Katie Couric Show until the show's cancellation in 2013. He writes a blog called The Doctor’s Farmacy, which examines many topics related to human health and welfare. He is the author of several books on nutrition and longevity, including Food Fix, Eat Fat, Get Thin, and Young Forever.

Frank Lipman is a South African celebrity doctor, acupuncturist and alternative medicine advocate who resides in New York. He is a promoter of functional medicine.

Undurti Narasimha Das shortly Undurti N. Das and U. N. Das is an Indian clinical immunologist, endocrinologist and the founder president and chief executive officer of UND Life Sciences. Additionally, he serves as the Chief Medical Officer and the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Asha Nutrition Sciences, Inc. An elected fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, Das is known for his researches in the fields of Immunology, Endocrinology and Rheumatology. He holds a number of patents for his work The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards for his contributions to Medical Sciences in 1992.

Alexander Haig was a Scottish physician, dietitian and vegetarianism activist. He was best known for pioneering the uric-acid free diet.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Levinovitz, Alan (June 24, 2015). "The Problem With David Perlmutter, the Grain Brain Doctor". New York Magazine. Yet despite this heightened concern about the accuracy of health information, best-selling celebrity neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter seems to have escaped much scrutiny, even though he has a decades-long history of offering — and profiting from — suspect medical advice.
  2. 1 2 David Perlmutter, M.D. "Entry at". Hayhouse.com. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  3. 1 2 "David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM". ifm.org. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "Charlatans like Dr. Oz and Dr. "Grain Brain" Perlmutter are giving doctors a bad name". vox.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Book Review. Grain Brain – by David Perlmutter". thehealthsciencesacademy.org. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  6. 1 2 Hamblin, James (20 December 2013). "This Is Your Brain on Gluten". The Atlantic . Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  7. 1 2 Marton, R.M., Wang, X., Barabási, AL. (2020). "Science, advocacy, and quackery in nutritional books: an analysis of conflicting advice and purported claims of nutritional best-sellers". Palgrave Communications. 6: 43. doi: 10.1057/s41599-020-0415-6 .{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "Renowned neurosurgeon loved healing, teaching". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  9. ↑ Hamblin, James (2013-12-20). "This Is Your Brain on Gluten". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  10. ↑ "David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM | The Dr. Oz Show". Doctoroz.com. 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  11. ↑ "David Perlmutter, MD | Men's Health". menshealth.com. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  12. ↑ "David Perlmutter, M.D. | HuffPost". www.huffpost.com. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  13. ↑ "David Perlmutter, M.D." The Daily Beast .
  14. ↑ "David Perlmutter, M.D. on mindbodygreen". mindbodygreen. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  15. ↑ "Dr. David Perlmutter, M.D. - Health & Biohacking Expert". Staying Alive. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  16. ↑ Taylor, Ihsan. "NY Times best sellers list". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  17. ↑ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 6, 2013 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  18. ↑ "New York Times Best Sellers October 20, 2013". The New York Times.
  19. ↑ Stein, Joel (March 24, 2023). "Giving Up the Ghostwriter". LA Mag.
  20. ↑ "Get Well and Live Well Naturally at Hughes Center for Functional Medicine". Hughes Center for Functional Medicine. Retrieved 25 June 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  21. ↑ "Learn About the Health Effects of Elevated Uric Acid in 'Drop Acid'". Men's Journal . February 15, 2022.
  22. ↑ "About the Linus Pauling Award". The Institute for Functional Medicine. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  23. ↑ "Annual Awards Past Winners". Natural Products Association. 2013-02-11. Archived from the original on 2013-11-25. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  24. ↑ "Communications and Media Award Recipient David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM, author of New York Times Best-Seller Brain Maker". 2016-01-06.
  25. ↑ "Symposium to honor three integrative healthcare visionaries, leaders". The Integrative Healthcare Symposium. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  26. 1 2 Nash DT, Slutzky AR (2014). "Gluten sensitivity: new epidemic or new myth?". Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 27 (4): 377–378. doi:10.1080/08998280.2014.11929164. PMC   4255872 . PMID   25484517.
  27. ↑ "Nutrition: Pay no mind to 'Grain Brain'". Duluth News Tribune. 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  28. ↑ Berry, Sarah (2016-03-16). "Neurologist David Perlmutter gets to the guts of brain health with surprising advice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  29. ↑ "Multiple Vaccines and the Immune System". CDC. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  30. ↑ "Multiple Vaccinations at One Time". healthychildren.org. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  31. ↑ "Promoters of Questionable Methods and/or Advice". Quackwatch. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  32. ↑ Redding, Lauren Amalia (2022-07-01). "Reisha Perlmutter - Lady in Blue". Gulfshore Life. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
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