| Blueberries tend to be between 0.1 and 0.2 percent anthocyanoside. ref 14 Using 0.15 % as an average computes to 720 mg in one pound of blueberries. Thus, fresh or frozen blueberries in an amount between one-half pound and one pound should be adequate for anthocyanoside intake. It is next recommended a PCO intake of 300 to 500 mg. total per day. The body disposes of excess flavonoids rather quickly, so the consumption of the above nutrients should be spread out reasonably evenly throughout one's waking hours. As an intuitive starting point for lack of anything better, it would seem appropriate to initially start with an intake of closer to 1 gram per day of combined anthocyanosides and PCOs and then after a week or two tapering down to 500 grams per day. During an exacerbation for which symptom relief is desired, the intake would go back up to 1 gram per day with an emphasis on the anthocyanosides. Anthocyanosides are also found in blackberries, cherries and other fruits. However, I have no information on the specific anthocyanosidic content of these fruits. In general, though, it would seem that a person would prefer the variety from mixing his intake of these three. Instead of fresh or frozen blueberries, one might want to take bilberry extract. Bilberry is simply European blueberry. The choice between fresh/frozen fruit versus an extract is probably mostly a matter of personal preference. I found in a local health food store a PCO/Anthocyanoside source called Grape Complete(TM), manufactured by C****** L***. Each capsule contains 50 mg of PCOs and 100 mg of anthocyanosides. 60 capsules came in a bottle for $23.00. Thus, 7 capsules a day would give us our 1 gram daily total target. With this product the fresh or frozen berries would not be needed. The monthly cost for this would be about $84.00. Even with vitamin C supplements added (see discussion below) the cost is less than one hundred dollars per month during the intensive portion and would probably be closer to fifty or sixty dollars a month during normal situations. I do not know the relative quality of this or any other brand; therefore I cannot make any meaningful product recommendations. I would like to see two different groups of tests be performed to determine the general effectiveness of flavonoids in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The first group of tests would be with those who have rapidly advancing MS. This would be a small group, perhaps six to twelve in number. The test would last three to six months. Three MRI scans of all participating members would be taken. The first would be at the outset of the test, the second after one month so that a reference would be provided after the anthocyanosides would have had opportunity to stabilize the development of new lesions, and then the third at the end of the test period. At the conclusion of tests the second and third scans would be compared to see how effective the anthocyanosides were in dealing with the disease. A second group of tests would be made with patients having the more traditional remission-relapse form of the disease. This group would need to be much larger, probably at least fifty if not more. This is because two-thirds of patients having recent exacerbations will show subsequent improvement, albeit ultimately only temporary, even without treatment. Hence, for anthocyanoside to be considered effective in this group the size of the group must be large enough that statistical fluctuations will not color the results. With a group of fifty patients, we would expect there to be only sixteen or so who did not improve even without taking any kind of treatment. If, in a group of fifty patients there were improvements in all but five or six patients, this would be considered significant. If the group size were much less than fifty, it would be difficult to assess the significance of the results. In evaluating the results of the tests one should bear in mind that the flavonoids have a possible dual role, that of reducing the number and frequency of exacerbations and also that of alleviating some of the symptoms during an exacerbation. Those making evaluations need to keep this perspective in view. Vitamin C seems to work cooperatively with anthocyanosides, ref 15 p. 367 Therefore, I would also recommend that a 100 mg vitamin C tablet be taken three times a day, simultaneously with the other nutrients. Depending on the results of these tests, future test plans can be established. The advantages of the proposed treatment in this article are 1) they are consistent with the concepts behind the latest theories of MS 2) they are relatively inexpensive and readily available 3) they are potentially good for a person's health in general, independent of their effectiveness with MS (unlike many of the immuno-suppression and antiinflammatory approaches used historically and currently). Please note that these recommendations are merely suggestions for clinical tests administered by qualified researchers. They are not intended for self-treatment by an individual apart from the direction and supervision of his personal physician. Note added 3/21/97: Over the past nine months anecdotal results of people trying some of these ideas have accumulated. A representative sample is posted at http://www.innercite.com/~tstout/ms/anec.shtml. Ref 1 M Lai, et al, "A preliminary study into the sensitivity of disease activity detection by serial weekly magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry. (1996) 60 n. 3: 339-341. Ref 2 A. M. Robert et al. "Action of anthocyanosides of Vaccinium Myrtillis on the Permeability of the Blood Brain Barrier." Journal of Medicine. (1977) 8 n. 5: 321-332. Ref 3 Z. Detre et al. "Studies on Vascular Permeability in Hypertension: Action of Anthocyanosides." Clin. Physiol. Biochem. (1986) N.4: 143-149 Ref 4 L. Robert, et al, "Action Des Oligomeres Procyanidoliques Sur La Permeabilite De La Paroi Vasculaire. Etude Par Morphologie Qunatitative." Path Biol, (1990), 38, no.6: 608-616. Ref 5 A. Maeda et al. "Matrix Metalloproteinases in the normal Human Central Nervous System, Microglial Nodules, and Multiple Sclerosis Lesions." Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, (1996), 55 n. 3: 300-309 Ref 6 Jean Claude Monboisse, et al. "Non-Enzymatic Degradation of Acid-Soluble Calf-Skin Collagen by Superoxide Ion: Protective Effect of Flavonoids". Biocemical Pharmacology, (1983), 32 n. 1: 53-58. Ref 7 Elliot Middleton, Jr., "The Flavonoids", Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. (August 1984), 5: 335-338 Ref 8 J.M. Tixier, et al. "Evidence By In Vivo and In Vitro Studies That Binding of Pycnogenols to Elastin Affects its Rate of Degradation by Elastases. Biochemical Pharmacology (1984), 33, N. 24: 3933-3939 Ref 9 K. Gijbels et al. "Reversal of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitius with a Hydroxamate Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteases." The Journal of Clinical Investigation, (1994), 94: 2177-2182. Ref 10 W.A. Sibley and the Therapeutic Claims Committee of the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies, Therapeutic Claims in Multiple Sclerosis, 3rd Edition. 1992. Ref 11 J.M. Feher et al. "Chorioretinal Myopic Degeneration: Treatment with Anthacyanosides." Bolletino di Oculistica. (1990), 69 n. 5: 909-922 |
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