The Use Of Medical Foods And Herbal Products To Treat Alzheimer’S Disease
The increasing interest in alternative ‘natural’ approaches to treat AD has spurred the development of medical foods. There are three that claim to offer symptomatic benefits: Axona, Souvenaid and CerefolinNAC. Axona supplies ketone bodies as alternative energy source to neurons. Souvenaid provides precursors thought to enhance synaptic function. CerefolinNAC addresses the role of oxidative stress related to memory loss and homocysteine levels.
Axona, Souvenaid and Cerefolin
NAC: Axona was launched in 2009 and proposes to target metabolic deficiencies associated with AD. It is a medium-chain triglyceride product composed of glycerin and caprylic acid, which is metabolized to the ketone body βhydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the liver. BHB crosses the blood–brain barrier and provides neurons with an alternative energy source to glucose which is not being properly utilized in brains of AD patients. In 2007, Axona’s company presented findings from a trial of 152 patients with moderate AD. Results showed those taking Axona had significant improvement in AD’s progression.
Souvenaid, another medical food, combines a variety of substrates including uridine monophosphate, phospholipid, choline and omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants. The brains of Alzheimer’s patients show evidence of synaptic failure because of deficiency in synapses. Souvenaid’s constituents may be involved in generation of new synaptic connections such as dendritic spine growth. A clinical trial of Souvenaid was conducted on patients with early AD, their memory and verbal association were tested. Results showed the total scores from the Souvenaid group were significantly higher than the control group.
CerefolinNAC ingredients consist of methylcobalamine (vitamin B12), L-methyl folate and N -acetylcysteine. It is approved by the FDA for treatment or prevention of metabolic and genetic nutritional impairments associated with memory loss that can lead to AD. CerefolinNAC’s therapeutic approach is addressing homocysteine and oxidative stress as shown by a report on several case studies of its oral supplementation. N acetylcysteine increases the body’s production of the antioxidant glutathione. According to the package insert, a single dose of L-methylfolate 5 mg is three-times more effective in decreasing plasma homocysteine compared with folic acid 5 mg.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is a herbal product and has been studied extensively, with regard to its effects on behavior and cognitive health parameters. It is of particular interest because of its bioactive chemicals namely flavonoids, bioflavonoids and terpenes. Due to these phytochemicals, ginkgo biloba has shown antioxidant and neurotransmitter effects, relevant to aging and age-related disorders. In some countries it is currently prescribed for slowing the progress of neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. A review has suggested that there is a small, but significant, effect of 3 to 6 months of ginkgo biloba treatment with 120 to 140 mg/day on objective measures of cognitive function in AD.
Medical Food Cocktail
A study of formulation of a medical food cocktail provides evidence that a combination diet of dietary supplements, individually known to be beneficial, can synergistically work and improve cognitive functioning in transgenic mouse models of AD. It also predicted to show benefits in AD progression in humans. Two of the primary components of the medical food cocktail were curcumin and EGCG. To increase their bioavailability, piperine (component of black pepper) was included as well. Other than these, α-Lipoic Acid, N-Acetylcysteine, B-vitamin’s (B1, B6, B12 and Folate) and Vitamin C and E were also added in the cocktail. The results showed cognitive recovery, as well as reduction of Aβ.
