Upregulating ABCD2/3

[monkeybus]

I have posted about this kind of stuff before. There are a few drugs (and supplememnts) that have been shown to upregulate ABCD2/3 and, indeed, to lower VLCFA levels.

Of course, lowering in the right places is the holy grail.

I mentioned Valproic Acid to my neurologist a few years back. He prescribed it without thinking too hard.

400 mg per day.

I took it, didn't get better, gave up.

I started again earlier this year, same dose, then I started to Google the scientific studies.

academic.oup.com/hmg/articl...

This is a long report, dealing primarily with mice, but it does mention a limited human trial.

"Five patients with X-ALD were enrolled after assessing normal liver transaminase activities. Four of the patients were affected with demyelinating cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy at ages between 7 and 18 years old. The fifth patient was affected with pure AMN and Addison's disease. Laboratory testing, including a basic chemistry profile, complete blood count with platelets, transaminases, carnitine profile, amylase, lipase and trough VPA levels, was performed at baseline and every 4 weeks following initiation. Dosing of VPA (Depakine), calculated at 40 mg/kg/day, was typical of that used in epilepsy patients (15–50 mg/kg/day). Patients reported no side effects related to VPA administration and compliance with the treatment was checked by monitoring the serum concentrations of VPA"

Here is the result:

"A 6-month pilot trial of VPA in X-ALD patients resulted in reversion of the oxidative damage of proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Thus, we propose VPA as a promising novel therapeutic approach that warrants further clinical investigation in X-ALD."

I'll buy that

40mg/kg/day.

At my 60kg, that equates to 2400mg per day.

My neurologist wouldn't go that high, but he upped my dose to 1200mg. So, I am half-way there.

[quilling]

Thanks for sharing. I often wonder about MS drugs and if they have been studied for AMN.

[wilburlois15]

Interesting. It seems to indicate that the effects are somewhat complimentary to the effects of Lorenzo's oil. However, this was 2010... any idea why this hasn't been pursued further?

[monkeybus in reply to wilburlois15]

Seems nothing gets persued further with our delightful disease. Likely not a big money spinner like MS drugs are.

I am giving it a shot. Has to be worth a try.

[deengo in reply to monkeybus]

Good luck. I hope you get some good results.