Finding effective treatments for muscular dystrophy has been difficult because almost all forms of this disorder are associated with strong underlying genetic defects. However, recent research has shown that antioxidants could play an effective role in the treatment of these conditions.

Although there are many different types of muscular dystrophy they all involve the degeneration and weakening of muscle tissue and most are associated with well defined genetic variants. The degree to which genes influence the age of onset, severity and course of the disease depends on the type of muscular dystrophy that affects the individual.
Because of the strong genetic influences that characterize muscular dystrophy it is only recently that researchers have begun to look at non-drug strategies to treat this group of diseases. At the moment antioxidants are attracting the most attention in this regard.

Antioxidants, free radicals and oxidative stress           
An antioxidant is a substance that, by being oxidised itself, protects other chemicals and substances from oxidation. They play a vital role in limiting the damaging effects of the oxidative processes and free radical damage that have been implicated in the development of most degenerative disorders and the ageing process.

Muscular dystrophy and oxidative stress
Recent research has provided conclusive evidence that, at least in the types of muscular dystrophies studied to date, free radical damage and oxidative stress play a very important role in the progression of these diseases.

In several different studies, humans with myotonic dystrophy and mice with a muscular dystrophy gene were found to be suffering from free radical overload and oxidative stress.

In another series of studies the food given to dystrophic mice was supplemented for several weeks with different antioxidants, including the green tea antioxidant, epigallocatechin gallate. The studies showed that both the muscle power of the treated mice was significantly improved and the necrosis (death) of the muscle tissue was dramatically reduced in those mice taking the green tea extract.

The results of these studies have prompted their authors to recommend that antioxidants should now be looked at as possible therapies for muscular dystrophy.

General guidelines for antioxidant use
In any condition in which oxidative stress plays a prominent role – and we now know that people with muscular dystrophy are under continuous oxidative stress – it is important to supplement the antioxidants produced by the body with a dietary source of these compounds.

Spices the best source of antioxidants 
The best way to obtain antioxidants in optimal amounts is to eat an extensive selection of antioxidant-rich foods. As a general rule, strongly colored or strongly flavored plant foods contain the greatest quantity and range of antioxidant compounds.

However, it is culinary herbs and spices that have the highest antioxidant concentrations of all food groups and they are the best source of these vital compounds – some may contain up to 25 different antioxidant compounds. A scientific survey published in 2006 found that of the leading antioxidant foods in the USA (that included all fruit and vegetables) 25% were spices. Moreover clove, oregano, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon were the top five foods on that list!

Treatment of muscular dystrophy with antioxidants
Where does this research leave sufferers of muscular dystrophy? Do they wait for clinical trials to be carried out or can they start doing something about the free radical damage that has now been shown to be an integral part of their disease?

A commonsense approach is needed in respect of both the expectations generated by this research and the way the treatment is administered.
We now know for certain that oxidative stress is an important factor in the progression of muscular dystrophy. We also know that there aren't any clinical trials to show whether specific antioxidants will have the same beneficial effect in humans as they do in mice. It is also important to note that it is not a good idea to take large doses of any one antioxidant be it vitamin C, E, ß-carotene or any other antioxidant as, beyond a certain threshold, any beneficial substance can become harmful.

Taking into account the research that has been done to date it is safe to assume that those suffering from muscular dystrophy may benefit by increasing their intake of antioxidants. They can do this by adding more antioxidant rich foods to their diet and/or taking a well balanced antioxidant supplement. These are non-specific measures that can be taken by anyone who has a condition in which oxidative stress plays an important role.
Until clinical trials have identified specific antioxidants that have good therapeutic and safety profiles it is advisable that those with muscular dystrophy take a wide range of food-sourced antioxidants rather than high doses of one or two antioxidants.

A spice-based supplement that includes the most antioxidant-rich spices provides a rich source of these antioxidants.

References:

1.    Oxidative stress in myotonic dystrophy type 1.
Free Radical Research. 2005 Jul;39(7):771-6.
Toscano A, Messina S, Campo GM, et al

2.    Free radicals, lipid peroxides and antioxidants in blood of
patients with myotonic dystrophy.
Journal of Neurology. 1995 Feb;242(3):119-22.
Ihara Y, Mori A, Hayabara T, Namba R, et al

3.    Green tea extract and its major polyphenol (-)
epigallocatechin gallate improve muscle function in a mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
American Journal of  Physiology Cell Physiology. 2006 Feb;290(2):C616-25.
Dorchies OM, Wagner S, Vuadens O, Waldhauser K, et al

4.    Lipid peroxidation inhibition blunts nuclear factor-kappaB
activation, reduces skeletal muscle degeneration, and enhances muscle function in mdx mice.
American Journal of Pathology. 2006 Mar;168(3):918-26.
Messina S, Altavilla D, Aguennouz M, et al.

5.    Green tea extract decreases muscle necrosis in mdx mice
and protects against reactive oxygen species.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2002 Apr;75(4):749-53.
Buetler TM, Renard M, Offord EA, Schneider H, Ruegg UT.

6.    Content of redox-active compounds (ie, antioxidants) in
foods consumed in the United States
American Journal of  Clinical Nutrition. 2006 Jul;84(1):95-135
Bente L Halvorsen, Monica H Carlsen, Katherine M Phillips et al

7.   The role of free radicals in the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy.
Journal of Applied Physiology. 2007 Apr;102(4):1677-86. Epub 2006 Nov 9.
  Tidball JG, Wehling-Henricks M.