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Functional deterioration and selenium‐vitamin E treatment in myotonic dystrophy. A placebo‐controlled study
Author(s) -
Örndahl G.,
Grimby G.,
Grimby A.,
Johansson G.,
Wilhelmsen L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1994.tb01061.x
Subject(s) - medicine , myotonic dystrophy , vitamin e , selenium , placebo , muscular dystrophy , physical therapy , antioxidant , pathology , biochemistry , alternative medicine , chemistry , materials science , metallurgy
. Objectives . The aim of the investigations was to study the effect of a combined selenium and vitamin E treatment in patients with myotonic dystrophy. Design . A double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial. Subjects . Twenty‐seven patients with myotonic dystrophy divided into an experimental ( n = 13) and a control ( n = 14) group. Interventions . The experimental group was given increasing doses for 4 months up to a maximum of 1.6 mg selenium and 800 mg vitamin E daily and the control group a corresponding number of placebo tablets. The total treatment period was 2 years. Main outcome measures . Muscle strength (knee extension, knee flexion, hand‐grip), maximal walking speed for 30 m, function in daily activities (disability), well‐being and cognitive functioning. Results . Before treatment, muscle strength showed moderately or markedly reduced values as did maximal walking speed. Disability was most markedly demonstrated in instrumental ADL‐activities. Spatial ability was reduced in the majority of patients. During the 2‐year follow‐up period, the hand‐grip strength and maximal walking speed decreased in both groups ( P < 0.01). The reduction was not significantly different according to an ‘intention‐to‐treat‐analysis’. However, there was a significantly larger decline ( P < 0.01) in the left‐hand grip strength in the control group when all the patients with complete treatment compliance were included. Conclusions . A useful set of measurements has been developed for following functional deterioration in myotonic dystrophy. No conclusive evidence of beneficial effects of selenium and vitamin E treatment has been produced.