Inosine Treatment Found to Elevate Urate Levels to Slow Parkinson’s

By Janice Wood Associate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 29, 2013

A two-year clinical trial conducted by a consortium led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard School of Public Health, and the University of Rochester has found that the nutritional supplement inosine successfully raised levels of the antioxidant urate without producing serious side effects.

Several previous studies have suggested that urate elevation may reduce the risk of Parkinsons disease or slow its progression, according to researchers.

This study provided clear evidence that, in people with early Parkinson disease, inosine treatment can safely elevate urate levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid for months or years, says Michael Schwarzschild, MD, PhD, principal investigator and a neurologist.

We know that urate has neuroprotective properties in animal models, and an unusual convergence of human studies suggested its possible use as a disease-modifying strategy in Parkinsons; so the positive results of this trial are very encouraging.

Characterized by tremors, rigidity, difficulty walking and other symptoms, Parkinson disease is caused by the destruction of brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. While current treatments can partially relieve symptoms, no therapy has been shown to alleviate the underlying loss of brain cells or the progression of the disorder, the researchers noted.

Studies by Schwarzschilds team and others have found that healthy people with naturally occurring blood levels of urate within the high normal range appear to have a reduced risk of developing Parkinsons and that the disease may progress more slowly in those with higher urate levels.

Primarily supported by a $5.6 million grant from the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research and conducted at 17 sites across the U.S., SURE-PD (Safety of URate Elevation in Parkinsons Disease) enrolled 75 recently diagnosed Parkinson disease patients with relatively low blood levels of urate (less than 6 mg/dL).

The patients were randomly assigned to one of three study groups. One received an inosine dosage designed to achieve mild elevation of blood urate (6 to 7 mg/dL); one received a dose designed to achieve moderate elevation (7 to 8 mg/dL); and a placebo group. Of the 75 participants only one did not complete the trial. Subjects took 500mg tablets of inosine ingested orally twice or three times a day.

Inosine is naturally converted by the body into urate as part of normal metabolism, the researchers explain. Taking urate directly, orally would be broken down in the digestive system.

Originally posted here:
Inosine Treatment Found to Elevate Urate Levels to Slow Parkinson’s