Study finds LED therapy and antioxidant drug benefit muscle regeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Medical Xpress / FAPESP / PLOS ONE ^ | June 14, 2024 | Thais Szegö / Heloina Nathalliê Mariano da Silva et al

[ConservativeMind]

In an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, researchers tested a therapy that combines photobiomodulation using laser light or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with idebenone, an antioxidant compound investigated for application in neurodegenerative diseases.

The strategy prevented muscle degeneration and improved regenerative capacity in the muscle fibers affected by the disease.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common and most severe form of childhood muscular dystrophy and most often affects boys.

Despite scientific advances in genetic and cellular therapy, no cure for this dystrophy has been found to date.

The photobiomodulation-idebenone combination is one of the novel therapies studied by the group. "Photobiomodulation, which is widely used in dermatology and orthopedic physical therapy," Minatel explained.

Idebenone is a synthetic analog of coenzyme Q-10 with clinical applications in many central nervous system degenerative diseases. It was developed for the treatment of Alzheimer's and is available generally as an antioxidant, but clinical trials have shown that it can improve respiratory function in dystrophic patients.

For the in vitro study, dystrophic muscle cells were developed from limb muscles of 28-day-old mice and divided into four groups: untreated cells used as controls; cells treated with LED therapy; cells treated with idebenone; and cells treated with both in combination.

According to Minatel, the results showed that LED therapy and idebenone were beneficial when administered singly or combined. "The combination displayed synergistic effects on some specific parameters, but in most respects, the results were similar whether each was administered alone or in combination with the other," she said.

"The treatments modulated the autophagic process that leads to a breakdown of cellular components and improved the regenerative capacity of muscle fibers," Minatel added.

Photobiomodulation and idebenone, individually or together, do not replace the standard pharmacological treatment with glucocorticoids, she stressed.

[ConservativeMind]

This sounds like something currently used in other medical venues might be helpful for Duchenne.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Dave Wright]

A gene-editing treatment developed by Sarepta Therapeutics was recently approved by the FDA for ambulatory and non-ambulatory DMD patients. This treatment corrects a piece of the dystrophin gene, allowing muscle cells to produce a truncated dystrophin protein.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

NI Theapy....Link Author provides listings of possible therapies for Near Infared light. I suspect she has referral link income, but this is pretty common. Readers can make up their own minds or use as starting points for further research.

https://blog.organicolivia.com/why-at-home-infrared-light-therapy-is-a-cheap-easy-way-to-change-your-life/

Excerpt: "snip....And Now, the Unique Benefits of Infrared Light:

"Red and infrared wavelengths are absorbed by the photo-receptors in our cells. Once absorbed, the light energy kicks off a whole series of metabolic events. Specifically, we see an increase in mitochondrial products such as ATP (energy), NADH, and even Co2: byproducts that show a healthy, boosted metabolism. These resulting substances have an almost identical effect to anti-inflammatory compounds in that they inhibit prostaglandin synthesis (which are a main mediator of the inflammatory response) and stop the release of various inflammatory cytokines (implicated in everything from acne to cancer.)"

"When infrared light is absorbed into our photoreceptor cells, it also causes an increase in blood flow. This allows parts of the body that are low in circulation to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need in order to function more effectively. This includes increased blood flow to your liver, which in turn boosts your body’s ability to detoxify!"

I bought two lamps that emits light at about 680 nanometers intending to build a small heat light sauna. Have not built the sauna, but did get a (chicken) brooder lamp (from Home Depot) and am using one of them when working out on my standing cycle. I do see an improvement in eczema and workout seems fuller and the recovery seems better.