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Nutrient Effects on Motor Neurons and the Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Nutrients
January 1, 1970
Polina S Goncharova et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to analyze the role of Vitamin A as a nutrient affecting the risk of developing ALS and the progression rate of motor neuron degeneration.

Results Summary

The review indicated that Vitamin A was among the least significant protectors against ALS development, ranking lower than vitamins B12, E, C, and others. Its role was less understood or disputed compared to other nutrients.

Population

ALS patients and animal models of ALS.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (18)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
vitamin B12
decrease
ALS development
-
-
most significant protector
#1
vitamin E
decrease
ALS development
-
-
most significant protector
#2
vitamin C
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#3
vitamin B1
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#4
vitamin B9
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#5
vitamin D
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#6
vitamin B2
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#7
vitamin B6
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#8
vitamin A
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#9
vitamin B7
decrease
ALS development
-
-
protector
#10
foods with a high content of cholesterol
increase
ALS development
-
-
plays a big part
#11
foods with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids
increase
ALS development
-
-
plays a big part
#12
foods with a high content of urates
increase
ALS development
-
-
plays a big part
#13
foods with a high content of purines
increase
ALS development
-
-
plays a big part
#14
vitamins
decrease
progression rate of motor neuron degeneration
ALS patients
-
can reduce
#15
ketogenic diet
decrease
progression rate of motor neuron degeneration
ALS patients
-
can reduce
#16
vitamins
decrease
disease progression
ALS patients
-
slow the rate
#17
ketogenic diet
decrease
disease progression
ALS patients
-
slow the rate
#18
Abstract

UNLABELLED: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease with the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the motor cortex and lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and the brain stem. The etiology and pathogenesis of ALS are being actively studied, but there is still no single concept. The study of ALS risk factors can help to understand the mechanism of this disease development and, possibly, slow down the rate of its progression in patients and also reduce the risk of its development in people with a predisposition toward familial ALS. The interest of researchers and clinicians in the protective role of nutrients in the development of ALS has been increasing in recent years. However, the role of some of them is not well-understood or disputed. The objective of this review is to analyze studies on the role of nutrients as environmental factors affecting the risk of developing ALS and the rate of motor neuron degeneration progression. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Springer, Clinical keys, Google Scholar, and E-Library databases for publications using keywords and their combinations. We analyzed all the available studies published in 2010-2020. DISCUSSION: We analyzed 39 studies, including randomized clinical trials, clinical cases, and meta-analyses, involving ALS patients and studies on animal models of ALS. This review demonstrated that the following vitamins are the most significant protectors of ALS development: vitamin B12, vitamin E > vitamin C > vitamin B1, vitamin B9 > vitamin D > vitamin B2, vitamin B6 > vitamin A, and vitamin B7. In addition, this review indicates that the role of foods with a high content of cholesterol, polyunsaturated fatty acids, urates, and purines plays a big part in ALS development. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of vitamins and a ketogenic diet in disease-modifying ALS therapy can reduce the progression rate of motor neuron degeneration and slow the rate of disease progression, but the approach to nutrient selection must be personalized. The roles of vitamins C, D, and B7 as ALS protectors need further study.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisAnimalsDietDisease Models, AnimalDisease ProgressionHumansMotor NeuronsNutrientsNutritional Physiological PhenomenaRisk Factors
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy30/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations21
Citations/Year5.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.93
NIH Percentile73.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score0.84
Normalized Score0.47
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