ALS is the acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. This is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells that control muscles in the brain and spinal cord. The progressive degeneration eventually leads to the death of the person who suffers from ALS. Using medications and nutritional support, physicians are able to improve the length of life and quality of life for people who suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Before adding any nutritional supplementation to your program, check with your primary care physician to ensure there are no interactions with either medications or underlying medical conditions that will hurt your health.
High-Calorie Supplements
Because the disease affects the muscular control of the body, it becomes more difficult to eat and breathe, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS Division. This may lead to severe weight loss and a significant compromise to the immune system. Improved survival times are associated with an aggressive nutritional management program. The addition of foods that are calorie-dense can help maintain weight and support the work of breathing. Serving several small meals throughout the day can reduce the amount of fatigue that eating creates, and helps boost the amount of calories consumed.
Vitamin E
Free radical damage has been implicated as one possible factor in the degenerative changes in people who suffer from ALS, according to LifeExtension.com. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that protects cell membranes against oxidation. In a study published in the Annals of Neurology in 2005, research led by Alberto Ascherio, M.D., used a prospective study approach to prove that people who regularly used vitamin E supplementation for 10 or more years had less than half the risk of death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis than nonusers.
Thiamine
A deficiency of thiamine, or vitamin B1, has been associated with the development of ALS, according to Dr. Ronald Steriti at NaturDoctor.com. Deficiency in thiamine can result in the non-inflammatory degeneration of the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects the nerve cells. Other degenerative neurological diseases associated with thiamine deficiency are Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and dry beriberi. In measures of the cerebral spinal fluid of patients suffering from ALS, doctors find a reduction in the normal amount of thiamine and thiamine monophosphate values. Consult your doctor before adding thiamin or vitamin B1 to your daily regimen.
Blue Green Algae
In a study released in December 2010, researchers at the University of Florida found that the use of spirulina, a blue green algae supplement, can provide support to the motor neurons in mice that suffer from amytrophic lateral sclerosis. A dietary supplement using spirulina, available at health food stores, was shown to delay the onset of motor symptoms of the disease and to reduce the progression of the debilitation. Lead researcher Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, Ph.D., DSc., of the Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair says that although this research has shown promise, more work is needed to prove clinical benefits for patients with ALS. Your doctor must evaluate the addition of spirulina in order to ensure it has no drug interactions with medications you may be taking.
References
- Muscular Dystrophy Association - ALS Division: ALS Caregivers' Guide
- LifeExtension.com: Amytotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Annals of Neurology;"Vitamin E Intake and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis"; Alberto Ascherio MD, marc Weisskopf PhD, Eilis O'Reilly MSc, et. al.; November 2004
- NaturDoctor.com: ALS- Mineral Deficiency
- The Open Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Journal; "Short Communication: Neuroprotective Effect of Spirulina in a Mouse Model of ALS"; Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, Paula C. Bickford; December 2010
