Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Radical -xh acid – or anhydride – acid halide or salt thereof...
Patent
1997-02-28
2000-11-21
Fay, Zohreh
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Radical -xh acid, or anhydride, acid halide or salt thereof...
514573, 514912, A61K 3120, A61K 31557
Patent
active
061504114
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This is a 371 of PCT/GB96/01256 filed May 4, 1996 of the invention.
BACKGROUND
Dyslexia is a major problem of human development. It is a disorder manifest by difficulty in learning to read despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence and socio-cultural opportunities, and arises from fundamental cognitive disabilities.
Dyslexia is four to five times commoner in boys than girls, commoner in children with atopic eczema and asthma than those without, and also commoner in offenders than the law abiding. It is associated with a loss of normal brain asymmetry which is demonstrable using modern brain scanning methods and also on functional tests. It is recognised to be a disorder with an organic basis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the pathways of metabolism of LA and ALA;
FIG. 2 is a graph showing dark adaptation in dyslexics compared with non-dyslexic controls; and
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effect of fish oil supplementation on dark adaption in dyslexics.
Docosahexaenoic (DHA) is a major constituent of the retina, of nerve tissue and of the brain, and studies have now been done to look for abnormalities in dyslexic individuals in the intake of nutrients known to be important in brain function, particularly DHA. The first study looked at 33 dyslexic children and 48 controls and was directed to maternal diet during pregnancy. Mothers were given a comprehensive questionnaire, directed particularly at the levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the diet and the ratio of ALA to linoleic acid (LA). (ALA is converted to DHA within the body and that conversion can be inhibited by a high intake of LA). The pathways of metabolism of LA and ALA are shown in FIG. 1. The study showed that the mothers of dyslexic children were significantly more likely to have consumed a diet with a low ALA:LA ratio during pregnancy.
A second study focused specifically on the intakes of foods, in particular fish and meats, which contain DHA itself. This study demonstrated that mothers of dyslexic children consumed diets lower in DHA.
It was therefore decided to investigate whether DHA supplementation might be beneficial in dyslexic individuals. A test capable of quickly demonstrating an effect was needed, and as DHA is known to be particularly important in the function of the retinal rods, required for vision in the dark, it was decided to test for reduced retinal DHA levels in dyslexia, as indicated by dark adaptation. Ten adults with dyslexia (4 females and 6 males) and ten control subjects (6 females and four males) were recruited. They were all young adults with age range of 18-26 years. Dark adaptation was tested using a standard instrument, the Friedman Visual Field Analyser, set for the dark adaptation function. One eye was occluded, bright light was shone in the other eye to bleach the retina and the room was darkened. Measurements of dark adaptation were made at one minute intervals by assessing the intensity of very brief flashes of light which could just be detected. Measurements were continued until no further adaptation was observed.
Because dark adaptation can be influenced by a number of known nutrients, including vitamins A and C, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, thiamin and zinc, all subjects were asked to keep a careful 7 day record of food eaten and the results analysed by the diet analysis program, COMPEAT 4. No differences between the control and dyslexia groups in any of these nutrients were detected.
The results for the two groups are presented in FIG. 2 which shows the means and standard deviations. The dyslexics at every time point show poorer dark adaptation than the controls and the differences between the two groups are statistically significant p<0.05).
Tests for influence of DHA on dark adaptation was therefore conducted. For a period of one month 5 dyslexics and 5 controls were given 4 capsules per day of a fish oil which contained 120 mg of DHA per capsule, with no vitamin A or vitamin D. Dark adaptation was then retested.
In four of the controls, DHA had no
REFERENCES:
Sakai et al, Chemical Abstracts 123:47841Y (Jul. 31, 1995).
Medline Abstract 96366943: Horrobin et al., 1995.
Biosis Abstract 97181672 (1994), Reme et al.
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