Promising Perspective to Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Treatment: Nutraceuticals and Phytochemicals

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is in the top three list of all dystrophies with an approximate 1:8000 incidence. It is not a life-threatening disease; however, the progression of the disease extends over being wheelchair bound. Despite some drug trials continuing, including DUX4 inhibition, TGF-ß inhibition and resokine which promote healthier muscle, there is not an applicable treatment option for FSHD today. Still, there is a need for new agents to heal, stop or at least slow down muscle wasting. Current FSHD studies involving nutraceuticals as vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, zinc, selenium, and phytochemicals as curcumin or genistein, daidzein flavonoids provide promising treatment strategies. In this review, we present the clinical and molecular nature of FSHD and focus on nutraceuticals and phytochemicals that may alleviate FSHD. In the light of the association of impaired pathophysiological FSHD pathways with nutraceuticals and phytochemicals according to the literature, we present both studied and novel approaches that can contribute to FSHD treatment.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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