A controlled trial of combination of methionine and antioxidants in ALS patients

Abstract

We assessed a combination of methionine, vitamin E and selenium, as Alsemet(R) in a double blind, placebo controlled trial in 28 out patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. After 12 months, 50% of patients in the placebo group were still alive as compared to 81.3% in the Alsemet(R) group (p<0.05). The rate of deterioration, limb and bulbar-function scores (p<0.05) and muscle-testing score (p<0.025) were significantly lower in the Alsemet(R) group than in the placebo group at the end of a sixth month treatment. We noted a significant increase in GSH-Px activity (p<0.05), as well as an increase in the amount of Vit E (p<0.05) in the Alsemet(R) group in comparison to the placebo group during the clinical trial.