Effect of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene and/or coconut oil on anthropometric variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A pilot study

Sandra Carrera-Juliá; José M Estrela; Mario Zacarés; Mari Ángeles Navarro; María Jesús Vega-Bello; José Enrique de la Rubia Ortí; Mari Luz Moreno; Eraci Drehmer

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1232184

Effect of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene and/or coconut oil on anthropometric variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A pilot study

Front Nutr. 2023 Sep 22:10:1232184. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1232184. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sandra Carrera-Juliá¹, José M Estrela², Mario Zacarés³, Mari Ángeles Navarro³, María Jesús Vega-Bello⁴, José Enrique de la Rubia Ortí⁵, Mari Luz Moreno⁴, Eraci Drehmer⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
² Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
³ Department of Basic and Transversal Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
⁵ Department of Nursery, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
⁶ Department of Health and Functional Assessment, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.

Abstract

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motor neurons and alters patients' body composition. Supplementation with the antioxidants nicotinamide riboside (NR) and pterostilbene (PTER) can combat associated oxidative stress. Additionally, coconut oil is an alternative energy substrate that can address mitochondrial dysfunction. The aim of the present study is to assess the impact of a Mediterranean Diet supplemented with NR and PTER and/or with coconut oil on the anthropometric variables of patients with ALS. A prospective, mixed, randomized, analytical and experimental pilot study in humans was performed through a clinical trial (registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under number NCT03489200) with pre- and post-intervention assessments. The sample was made up of 40 subjects categorized into four study groups (Control, Antioxidants, Coconut oil, and Antioxidants + Coconut oil). Pre- and post-intervention anthropometric assessments were carried out to determine the following data: weight, percentage of fat and muscle mass, skinfolds, body perimeters, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waste-to-Hip Index (WHI) and Waist-Height Ratio (WHR). Compared to the Control group, GAx significantly increased muscle mass percentage and decreased fat mass percentage, triceps, iliac crest, and abdominal skinfolds. GCoco significantly increased muscle mass percentage and decreased fat mass percentage, subscapular skinfolds, and abdominal skinfolds. GAx + coco significantly increased muscle mass percentage and decreased abdominal skinfolds. Therefore, our results suggest that the Mediterranean Diet supplemented with NR and PTER and the Mediterranean Diet supplemented with coconut oil (ketogenic diet) are the two nutritional interventions that have reported the greatest benefits, at anthropometric level.

Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; anthropometry; coconut oil; nicotinamide riboside; nutrition; pterostilbene.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03489200

Grants and funding

This research study was funded by the Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir (grant number 2017–216-001) and by the University of Valencia (grant number OTR2017-18255INVES). The antioxidant compounds (NR and PTER) tested in the study were provided by Elysium Health. Inc. New York (United States). The supply of coconut oil was supplied through a collaboration between the Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir and the Fundación José Navarro, Fomento Alimentación Inteligente, Valencia (Spain).