|
Essential Oils |
Bella Mira Essential Oil Supplements
Essential Oil Information and Use
|
Chemical Free |
Chemical Free Body Care Products
Chemical Free Cleaning Products
|
Gluten Free |
Gluten Free Living and Recipes
|
Important Information |
Detoxification and Digestion Products
Save Your Computer Free Protection
|
Great Products |
|
FREE Wellness Tests |
Hormone Balance Test New Improved
|
Contact Us |
(918) 640-2973
Our Shopping Cart Is:
Free Samples w/$100 Order.
L-Acetylcarnitine Found Effective Against ADHD in Fragile X 3-20-08
ROME, Feb. 20 -- In boys with fragile X syndrome, an amino acid derivative
reduces hyperactivity without the side effects seen with stimulants, researchers
here said.
L-acetylcarnitine, now available in the U.S., significantly reduced attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder and improved socialization in a multicenter
placebo-controlled randomized trial, found Giovanni Neri, M.D., of the
Università Cattolica, and colleagues.
There were no adverse effects associated with the supplement, Dr. Neri and
colleagues reported online in advance of the April 1 issue of the American
Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
About 73% of boys with fragile X have ADHD, compared with 33% of age- and
IQ-matched boys without the syndrome and treatment with methylphenidate
(Ritalin) has been shown to be effective, Dr. Neri and colleagues said.
But methylphenidate causes side effects, including increased irritability,
decreased verbalization, social withdrawal, and increased stereotypic behavior
such as finger picking, that worsen with increasing doses.
For that reason, they said, "alternative pharmacological treatment of ADHD
symptoms is desirable."
A 1999 study showed fragile X boys benefited from the drug, which is approved in
Italy for the treatment of mechanical and inflammatory lesions of peripheral
nerve trunk or root.
The current study was intended to test the effects of the drug in a larger
population.
The researchers randomized 63 patients between the ages of six and 13 to get
either placebo or 500 mg twice daily of L-acetylcarnitine for 12 months.
Fifty-six patients completed the study, but five were not included in the
analysis because of missing data.
The children were evaluated several times during the study on Conners' Global
Index-Parents and Conners' Global Index-Teachers, as well as the Vineland
Adaptive Behavior Scales.
Some of the patients were also tested genetically to see if the drug had an
effect on their mutated FMR1 gene.
The researchers found that both groups improved their behavior -- an effect
attributed to psychosocial intervention -- but the children in the treatment arm
had a statistically significant improvement, compared with placebo.
Specifically, over the entire 12-month period:
* The Conners' parents score decreased eight points in the treatment group and
4.4 points in the placebo group. The difference was significant at P<0.05 as
shown by a F-value of 2.55 obtained by a repeated-measures multivariate
analysis.
* The Conners' teacher score fell in both groups but the difference had an
F-value of minus 1.74 and was not significant, possibly because not all teachers
evaluated their students at all time points.
* Treated children did significantly better (P=0.042) than those getting placebo
on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite scale, with an F-value of 2.95.
* The same was true of the Vineland Socialization scale, with an F-value of 4.37
and P=0.008.
There was no change in IQ at the end of the study, compared with baseline, in
either group.
Also, the genetic testing showed no sign that the mutated FMR1 gene had been
reactivated, Dr. Neri and colleagues said.
The study confirms that the supplement "effectively reduces hyperactive behavior
and increases attention in (fragile X syndrome) boys," Dr. Neri and colleagues
concluded.
"We propose that this supplement can be recommended as an effective treatment
for ADHD in (fragile X syndrome) children, especially those who do not tolerate
stimulant drugs," they said.
More to come later: