Effect of nutritional supplementation with milk whey proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 68; no. 2; pp. 263 - 268
• Main Authors: Silva, Luciano Bruno de Carvalho, Mourão, Lucia Figueiredo, Silva, Ariovaldo Armando, Lima, Núbia Maria Freire Vieira, Almeida, Sara Regina, Franca, Jr, Marcondes C, Nucci, Anamarli, Amaya-Farfán, Jaime
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - diet therapy; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - enzymology; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Creatine Kinase - blood; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Milk Proteins - administration & dosage; NEUROSCIENCES; Prospective Studies; PSYCHIATRY; Starch - administration & dosage; Weight Gain; Whey Proteins; antropometria; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; estado nutricional; anthropometry; nutrition status; esclerose lateral amiotrófica
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2010000200021

We evaluated the efficacy of oral supplementation with milk whey proteins and modified starch (70%WPI:30%MS), on nutritional and functional parameters of patients with ALS. A prospective randomized double-blind study was performed with 16 ALS patients, divided in two groups, the treatment group received (70%WPI:30%MS) and the control group received (maltodextrin). They underwent prospective nutritional and functional assessment for 4 months. Patients in the treatment group presented weight gain, increased body mass index (BMI), increased arm muscle area and circumference, higher albumin, white blood cell and total lymphocyte counts, and reduced creatine-kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. In the control group, biochemical parameters did not change, but weight and BMI declined. Our results indicate that the agglomerate 70%WPI:30%MS may be useful in the nutritional therapy of patients with ALS.