(NaturalNews) The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has initiated a large-scale clinical trial to study whether a drug based on the organic acid creatine can be used to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease on patients in the disease's early stages.
Creatine is an acid naturally produced by the body for regulating cell energy. Because some evidence suggests it may have antioxidant properties, creatine is also marketed as a nutritional supplement. According to Avicena Group, Inc. -- the biotechnology company supplying the creatine and placebo for the NINDS study -- the drug being tested is significantly different from over-the-counter creatine supplements.
"There is a critical distinction between the pharmaceutical-grade creatine formulation that is being used in this Parkinson's disease trial and the creatine that may be sold over-the-counter in retail stores. It is unwise for Parkinson's patients to conclude that the common form of creatine has any clinical benefits," cautioned lead researcher Karl Kieburtz.
The NINDS study is double-blind and placebo-controlled, meaning that half of the 1,720 participants will be given the creatine drug and half will be given a placebo, but neither the patients nor the researchers will know until the end who is in which group. The progression of the disease will be determined over the course of five to seven years by means of tests that measure ability to walk and carry out other daily activities, cognitive function, and general quality of life.
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disorder involving the death of brain cells that produce the movement-regulating neurotransmitter dopamine. Symptoms of Parkinson's include tremors, stiffness, slow movement and problems with balance. According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, approximately 1.5 million people are affected by Parkinson's disease in the United States alone, with 60,000 new cases diagnosed yearly.
"This study is an important step toward developing a therapy that could change the course of this devastating disease," said NIH Director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni. "The goal is to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's for a longer period of time than as possible with existing therapies."
According to conventional medicine, there is no known cure for Parkinson's disease, and no treatment proven to slow the disease's progression. Alternative medicine treatments, however, offer several different options for preventing and treating Parkinson's.
###
Related Articles
• Creatine gains in popularity as safety questions abound; the FDA can't
wait to regulate or outlaw the substance
 |
Additional Resources:
creatine
Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease
|
Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com
 Email this article to a friend
 Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us
Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/021965.html
Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.
|
 |
 |
Receive our Natural Health Newsletter for FREE
 Subscribe now (it's free!) to win. We randomly choose a subscriber each month to send $100 in eco-home products or a RealGoods.com gift certificate (our choice). Plus, you'll receive FREE news, articles and action alerts from NaturalNews.com editors and join over 800,000 monthly readers who report extraordinary health improvements after becoming a subscriber!
- Receive breaking news alerts on natural health solutions, renewable energy, the environment, global warming and more.
- Receive a free instant download of our $29 Secret Sources guide that reveals top sources for little-known health and diet solutions.
|
|
 |
 |
Recommended Special Report:
 Seven Words that can Change the World
by Joseph R. Simonetta
Read this special report now...
"Seven Words That Can Change the World reveals the astonishing, simple truths that have the power to forever transform our world for the better while freeing our minds from the enslavement of limiting beliefs. This is not a text for the simple-minded; it is a guiding philosophy for the mindful, intelligent few who are wise enough to seek out -- and recognize -- the higher simplicities of truly purposeful living." - Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of NaturalNews.com
|
More on NaturalNews.com:
• Streaming Health Ranger Videos
• CounterThink Cartoons
• FREE Special Reports
• Podcasts
|
 |
|
 |
 |
NEW 6-CD audio set reveals amazing new protocol for reversing cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and more. Click to learn more. |
 |
Own the first 8 Health Ranger Report audio programs on 6 CDs. Covers weight loss, ADHD, vaccinations, processed meats, bone health and more. Click to learn more. |
Featured Videos
Short clip on Aspartame
A short clip on aspartame from the documentary All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...
Exclusive video on Aspartame
The dangers of aspartame! Exclusive interview footage from Cori Brackett of Sweet Remedy.
Click here to view now...
Exclusive Footage from All Jacked Up!
See interview footage featuring the Health Ranger in the upcoming junk food film, All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...
Drug Ad Parody
See the Health Ranger's satire parody of Merck's cholesterol drug ad.
Click here to view now... |
|
Read recommendations on supplement companies, health food manufacturers and personal care product makers that you can trust. Our 100% independent review list tells you who to trust and who to avoid in the natural health industry. Click to read. |
|
Printable Version
