Could Synthetically-formulated Triglyceride Oil Provide Fresh Hope for Huntington’s Disease?

According to the results of an early study, triheptanoin – synthetically-formulated triglyceride oil could offer fresh hope for those suffering from Huntington’s disease. It is an inherited disorder that leads nerve cells breaking down within the brain. This break down is most pronounced in areas of the brain that control movements, behavior, emotions, and memory. Studies have shown in the past that if a parent suffers from Huntington’s, there is a 50% chance that the child will develop it too. The study appears in the January edition of the medical journal Neurology, which is published by the American Academy of Neurology.

The symptoms of Huntington’s disease begin to appear around the age bracket of 30 years to 50 years. According to the author of the study, Fanny Mochel, MD, PhD, the study indicates that the synthetically-formulated triglyceride oil could hold the ability to improve the metabolic profile of the brain at the outset of the disease.

Mochel also added that the results of this study should be taken with caution considering that both participants and researchers were aware of whether they were getting the synthetically-formulated triglyceride oil or not. After studying the patients during month-long therapy, researchers noticed improved motor skills and movement among those suffering from the disease.

The energy profiles of the patients were analyzed using MRI brain scans before, at the time, and following the visual stimulation of the brain in nine patients who were diagnosed as being at the early stages of the disease. 13 people without the disease were also a part of the analysis. The same test was carried out a month later, and in those that did not have Huntington’s disease, it was observed that stimulation wasn’t required to increase the metabolism of the brain, and it then went back to the normal level. However, in patients suffering from Huntington’s disease, no change in metabolism was observed. In the second section of the study, only those diagnosed with Huntington’s disease were administered triheptanoin. After a month of this, the brain metabolism was observed to be normal. Researchers said that if the findings of these studies are confirmed, it could provide a ray of hope for those suffering from Huntington’s disease.