Update on new initiatives related to Nutrition and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Today, Duchenne Parent Project NL announced the funding of 10 new research programs on Nutrition in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Eight research projects were approved by the Scientific Advisory Board. Another 2 research projects were approved through the Fast Track procedure.

‘’There is a compelling need for enhanced guidelines and standards of care considering nutrition for DMD boys and young men” states Elizabeth Vroom, Director of Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands and chair of World Duchenne Organization. “New Care Considerations for DMD were published earlier this year in the Lancet Neurology, but guidelines on nutrition are still very limited and don’t address the special issues we see in DMD. In order to change this, more research is needed.”

Mirjam Franken, project manager of Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands, DMD mother with a MSc in Human Nutrition, elaborates: “There are so many questions regarding DMD and nutrition, which we cannot answer today, so we have to raise awareness, enhance collaborations and stimulate research on these topics.”

As one of several activities regarding Nutrition and DMD organised by Duchenne Parent Project NL, a special Call for Grant applications was announced earlier this year. In total, Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands committed approximately 700.000 euros so far to Nutrition and DMD, and more projects are in the pipeline.

The organisation hosted an international workshop in Zaandam on March 16-18 2018, with a published report that can be found here. Ingrid Verhaart (researcher and scientific writer for Duchenne Parent Project) was awarded an Elsevier WMS Membership award for her presentation named ‘The Importance of Nutrition In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy’ at the World Muscle Society Conference in Mendoza, Argentina last month.

Below, you can find a list of new projects.

• Dominic Wells, Royal College London, UK. Dietary manipulation for the amelioration of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
• Maaike van Putten, LUMC Leiden, Netherlands. Preclinical evaluation of branched chain amino acids to support protein metabolism in the early phase of muscular dystrophy: a consortium approach.
• Olivier Dorchies, University of Geneva, Switzerland. Preclinical evaluation of branched chain amino acids to support protein metabolism in the early phase of muscular dystrophy: a consortium approach.
• Annemarie De Luca, University of Bari, Italy. A consortium approach for a de-risking preclinical assessment of efficacy of dietary supplements in muscular dystrophy: L-citrulline to support protein metabolism in the early necrotic phase of the disease.
• Martha Fiorotto, Baylor College of Medicine, USA. A consortium approach for a de-risking preclinical assessment of efficacy of dietary supplements in muscular dystrophy: L-citrulline to support protein metabolism in the early necrotic phase of the disease.
• Gordon Lynch, University of Melbourne, Australia. Evaluating a sulforaphane-based nutraceutical to alleviate gastrointestinal dysfunction in DMD.
• Zoe Davidson, Monash University, Australië. A weighty problem: tackling obesity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
• Martha Fiorotto, Baylor College of Medicine, USA. Protein requirements to support growing dystrophic muscle.
• Fast Track: Andrea Farini, University of Milan, Italy. Characterization of intestinal inflammation and microbiota richness in mdx mice as keys to modulate the pathogenesis of DMD.
• Fast Track: Fabio Iannotti, Institute Biomolecolar Chemistry, Pozzuoli, Italy. Unravelling new pathways and innovative perspectives: a pilot study on gut microbiota-endocannabinoids interaction in Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.

Download here a detailed description of the approved projects of November 2018.