Table 1.
Summary of findings from nutraceutical pre-clinical and clinical trials.
| Nutraceutical | Mechanism | mdx Mouse | Human Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-enzyme Q10 | Antioxidant | - | Initial study anecdotal [76]. Small-scale CINRG trial showed improvement in muscle function and promise in improving cardiac function [77]. Large scale CINRG trial ongoing [79]. |
| Melatonin | Antioxidant | Reduced serum CK and improved muscle contraction times in biceps [89]. | Reduced oxidative stress and serum CK [90]. |
| Chinese herbal medicine | Antioxidant | - | Clinical trial reported only anecdotal evidence [92]. |
| Prostandim (contains Chinese herbs) | Antioxidant | No improvement in serum CK, histology, MRI or muscle functional parameters [94]. | - |
| Green Tea Extract | Antioxidant | Reduced necrosis in EDL but not soleus [119]. Some improvement in EDL muscle function [120,121]. Slight (10%) improvement in TA muscle [125]. Variable reduction in CK depending on administration route [126]. Some hypertrophy observed in heart | A trial is in recruitment phase, results expected in 2017 [221,262]. |
| Taurine | Antioxidant | Improved fore limb grip strength, improved isometric force, reduced stretch induced damage, reduced protein thiol oxidation [220]. | - |
| Soybeans | Anti-inflammatory | Genestein reduced serum CK, necrotic area and improved biceps muscle strength. Comparable to methylprednisolone [161]. Bowman Birk Inhibitor (BBIC) reduced fibrosis, serum CK and necrosis. Improved EDL muscle function [151]. | - |
| Curcumin | Anti-inflammatory | Improved contractile properties [179]. Reduced necrosis, serum CK and central nuclei (not quantitated). Improved grip strength and hang time [180]. | - |
| Resveratrol | Anti-inflammatory | Decreased fibrosis [204]. Reduced bodyweight and EDL, soleus and TA weights. Increased fatigue resistance in soleus [208]. Decreased immune cell infiltration in gastrocnemius [205]. | - |
| Beetroot Juice | Increasing NO | - | Improved blood flow. Corrected deficient sympatholysis [238]. |
| l-arginine | Increasing NO | Reduced percentage of Evans blue dye positive myofibers, protected from contraction induced injury [245]. Reduced percentage of Evans blue dye positive myofibers, reduced expression of improved exercise performance [246]. Reduced necrosis in diaphragm [247]. Reduced inflammatory cytokine expression. Reduced fibrosis, improved grip strength no change in serum CK [248]. | |
| Vitamin D | Unkown | - | Increased probability of walking through age 12 [259]. Calcifediol decreased markers of bone resorption, increased bone mineral content and bone mineral density [260]. Maintenance dose to obtain optimum serum vitamin D levels is 1500 IU daily along with a 3-month replenishment dose of 6000 IU daily for 6 months. |
Abbreviations: Tibialis anterior (TA), Extensor digitorum longus (EDL), Creatine kinase (CK), The Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG).