# Blood type **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 6, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167 "2013-09-06T11:17:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sdturf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@sdturf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdturf)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/1 "2013-09-06T11:17:46Z")
Regarding Cecil’s column on Eat Right for your Type, which is a book of recommendations based on your blood type: I have been looking at various diets like this for many years. I do think there is some merit in this one. With a few questions, I can generally determine someone’s blood type, well between blood type O and A anyway. The first one is “do you often get acid indigestion?” If so, it is highly likely they are blood type O, even though blood type A’s can sometimes suffer it. When type A’s suffer it, it is usually caused by incomplete food digestion so taking, amazingly, taking additional acid (like vinegar) often helps. When blood type O’s get it, it is usually from the body producing too much acid. often as a result of eating too much fat, and using vinegar is the last thing they want to do. But, a valuable fact I learned and have informally verified over the last 10 years is the body’s response to being a vegetarian. Blood type A’s can be strict vegetarians, blood type O’s cannot (in general, of course). When you see a pale, low-energy hippie working in a health food store it is highly likely they are a blood type O trying to be a vegetarian. Perhaps there is some mix of supplements that a blood type O can take (such as a lot of B-12 and MSM or other type of sulfur) that would allow them to be a vegetarian, but in general, once a blood type O uses up his stores of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or whatever from the meat he formerly ate, his health degrades. I have a coworker who is a strict vegetarian. I told him that’s fine for him since he is blood type A (with confidence, and it surprised him since of course, he is). He said there is no way that the ability to be a healthy vegetarian is dependent on blood type. I asked him if he had a lot of healthy vegetarian friends and he said yes. I told him that not a single one of them was blood type O, even though that is (marginally) the most popular blood type. He was astounded to find that out of all of the ones that did know their blood type, none of them was. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/2 "2013-09-06T11:40:14Z")
> [@sdturf](#): > > I do think there is some merit in this one. The evidence indicates otherwise. You may have some anecdotes but you aren’t keeping scientific track of when you are wrong. The fact is that there’s no evidence that blood type has any significant impact on diet. All of your observations don’t pan out when looked at with an unbiased eye. Here’s a link to the column in question - [Should I adjust my diet based on my blood type? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3125/should-i-adjust-my-diet-based-on-my-blood-type) ---
**Author:** ![PCUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@PCUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PCUK)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/3 "2013-09-11T08:41:34Z")
I tried the Blood type diet when no doctors or any other diet method could help my daughter who was 2 at the time, who was very ill and getting worse. This was 5 odd years ago. Within 3 days she started to get better. Now the whole family use it and the more updated version the genotype diet. all are healthier and more and more people are finding it helpful. The only person that seems to lose on the blood type diet are Monsanto and a whole bunch of other greedy people and companies. (including the big Pharma) None of us use any pharmaceuticals now, we all feel so , so much better. haven’t needed so much as an aspirin for 5 years. never get ill. this has happened to Me. I’m not repeating an anecdotal story. I would strongly advise you to review you advice on this diet and highly recommend that everyone tires it. it working for a lot of people. By the way the book was written a long time ago and is still selling loads. I think it is the most successful diet book. but it gets you healthy and quickly. I should also like to point out that “Science states that Bumble bees cannot fly” but science forget to inform the Bees ! ---
**Author:** ![PCUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@PCUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PCUK)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/4 "2013-09-11T08:48:15Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The evidence indicates otherwise. You may have some anecdotes but you aren’t keeping scientific track of when you are wrong. The fact is that there’s no evidence that blood type has any significant impact on diet. All of your observations don’t pan out when looked at with an unbiased eye. > > Here’s a link to the column in question - [Should I adjust my diet based on my blood type? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3125/should-i-adjust-my-diet-based-on-my-blood-type) In fairness, researchers have found links between certain diseases and blood types. For example: People with type B blood may have a lower incidence of Type 2 diabetes than the A, O, and AB groups. Type B folks, in fact, may have less than half the risk of type O. One study found a weak connection between gallstone formation and blood type, with type O folks being slightly less susceptible. A and B types are much less likely to develop peptic ulcers than O types, who are also more prone to norovirus infections. A recent study of a million Scandinavian blood donors found type AB folks were 26 percent more likely, and type B folks 8 percent less likely, to develop gastric cancers than O types. Compared to O, AB folks had 23 percent lower risk of gastric ulcers, and B people had 25 percent higher risk of duodenal ulcers. But there is a lot more evidence out there, ---
**Author:** ![PCUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@PCUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PCUK)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/5 "2013-09-11T08:49:36Z")
> **[Dr. Peter D'Adamo / Peter D'Adamo: Science Writings and Bioinformatics...](https://www.dadamo.com/txt/index.pl?3000)** > > A collection of the published articles, research, and software written and developed by Dr. Peter D'Adamo. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/6 "2013-09-11T12:14:59Z")
> [@PCUK](#): > > The only person that seems to lose on the blood type diet are Monsanto and a whole bunch of other greedy people and companies. (including the big Pharma) Yeah, saying there’s a conspiracy to suppress the information always lends you credibility. > [@](#): > > this has happened to Me. I’m not repeating an anecdotal story. Yes, you are. You just don’t understand the meaning of anecdotal. > [@](#): > > By the way the book was written a long time ago and is still selling loads. I think it is the most successful diet book. How well something sells has little to nothing to do with whether it actually works. > [@](#): > > I should also like to point out that “Science states that Bumble bees cannot fly” but science forget to inform the Bees ! Science states no such thing. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/7 "2013-09-11T12:26:13Z")
> [@PCUK](#): > > But there is a lot more evidence out there, But none of that evidence supports any of the claims of the Blood Type diet advocates. No one is arguing that blood type doesn’t have medical impact, but to go from that to the clearly and definitively false claims made by the advocates of this diet is folly. The premise of the entire movement (about the origins of blood type and its impact on diet) is false. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/8 "2013-09-11T15:21:12Z")
> [@PCUK](#): > > I should also like to point out that “Science states that Bumble bees cannot fly” An old urban legend debunked by [Snopes.com](http://Snopes.com), _Science News_, and _Physics World_ here: [http://www.snopes.com/science/bumblebees.asp](http://www.snopes.com/science/bumblebees.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/9 "2013-09-11T15:55:41Z")
What science actually says is that bumblebees can’t fly in the same way as airplanes. And in fact they don’t. They fly in a completely different way. ---
**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/10 "2013-09-11T17:37:16Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Yes, you are. You just don’t understand the meaning of anecdotal. Now now, technically, he’s correct. He’s not repeating an anecdotal story; he’s originating one. Powers &8^] ---
**Author:** ![ERFYT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b2d939/32.png) [@ERFYT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ERFYT)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/11 "2013-09-13T00:26:51Z")
Your comments about Dr.DaDamo and The Blood Type Diet are uninformed and downright false. :smack: Please go to his website and click on the science link. If you really read it, I think you’ll change your mind. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/12 "2013-09-13T00:31:37Z")
Doubt it. Prove it works. [Link to column.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3125/should-i-adjust-my-diet-based-on-my-blood-type) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/13 "2013-09-13T00:32:10Z")
Type Os can’t eat bacon?! Screw that. And no cheese except farmer, feta, goat and mozzarella? No way in hell. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/14 "2013-09-13T00:52:59Z")
It’s a nice story. Folks who work with antibodies and lectins say he’s in the Dunning-Kruger zone, though. Or is that the Narrativium zone? Since I don’t have a few million to sponsor the tests, I’m just going to believe them. ---
**Author:** ![AvMD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@AvMD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AvMD)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/15 "2013-09-13T12:53:18Z")
It’s easy to dismiss anyone’s research. Much easier to debunk naysayers who’s opinions are based on material they’ve not personally investigated. So have a look at the science writings of Dr. D’Adamo, and ask whether there just might be something to it. Those who have enjoy their good health with not the slightest concern whether the success of their results were earned through the imprimatur of rote skepticism. Research Writings of Peter D’Adamo > **[Dr. Peter D'Adamo / Peter D'Adamo: Science Writings and Bioinformatics...](https://www.dadamo.com/txt/index.pl?3000)** > > A collection of the published articles, research, and software written and developed by Dr. Peter D'Adamo. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/16 "2013-09-13T13:18:18Z")
> [@AvMD](#): > > It’s easy to dismiss anyone’s research. There is no scientific research that supports this hypothesis. It’s poorly collected guesswork and anecdotes. Actual data doesn’t support the idea of the Blood Type Diet. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/17 "2013-09-13T14:15:45Z")
> [@ERFYT](#): > > Your comments about Dr.DaDamo and The Blood Type Diet are uninformed and downright false. Why don’t you pick one downright false statement and show that it’s false? Be sure to use citations to back up your claims. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/18 "2013-09-13T14:22:47Z")
> [@ERFYT](#): > > Your comments about Dr.DaDamo and The Blood Type Diet are uninformed and downright false. Oh, don’t pay no mind to Cecil. He can’t help it He’s type O. You know how emotional they get at _that time of the month_. Or, are they the inscrutable ones? I can’t tell. They all look alike to me. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/19 "2013-09-13T16:29:57Z")
I checked Google Scholar for work by Peter J. D’Adamo. There was one article in a peer-reviewed journal. That was from 2001 and was in _Alternative Medicine Review: a Journal of Clinical Therapeutic_. That’s not much of a body of work to base a whole discipline on. And the problem about checking the science is that it brings up opposing views just as easily. Like [Blood type diets lack supporting evidence: a systematic review](http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/98/1/99). Am J Clin Nutr July 2013 vol. 98 no. 1 99-104 > [@](#): > > Abstract > > Background: Diets that are based on the ABO blood group system have been promoted over the past decade and claim to improve health and decrease risk of disease. To our knowledge, the evidence to support the effectiveness of blood type diets has not previously been assessed in the scientific literature. > > Objective: In this current systematic review, published studies that presented data related to blood type diets were identified and critically appraised by using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. > > Design: A systematic search was performed to answer the following question: In humans grouped according to blood type, does adherence to a specific diet improve health and/or decrease risk of disease compared with nonadherence to the diet? The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and Embase were systematically searched by using sensitive search strategies. > > Results: Sixteen articles were identified from a total of 1415 screened references, with only one article that was considered eligible according to the selection criteria. The identified article studied the variation between LDL-cholesterol responses of different MNS blood types to a low-fat diet. However, the study did not directly answer the current question. No studies that showed the health effects of ABO blood type diets were identified. > > Conclusions: No evidence currently exists to validate the purported health benefits of blood type diets. To validate these claims, studies are required that compare the health outcomes between participants adhering to a particular blood type diet (experimental group) and participants continuing a standard diet (control group) within a particular blood type population. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167/20 "2013-09-13T18:25:40Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > Oh, don’t pay no mind to Cecil. He can’t help it He’s type O. You know how emotional they get at _that time of the month_. Or, are they the inscrutable ones? > > I can’t tell. They all look alike to me. Well, his sign is in the second house, rising. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-type/668167.md?page=2)