Diet is at the foundation of the HDL Triad to fight HD These diet recommendations come from an engineer that has lost a wife to HD. I have a long term interest in biochemistry as it applies to sports performance. Over the last fifteen year I have read many of the thousands of scientific studies about HD. Engineers like to look at evidence and to make the best possible rational decisions to fix real problems.

Absolute evidence is evidence that yields to mathematical proof. Often absolute evidence is not available and beyond practical reach. This is the case for HD. However a great deal of scientific evidence is available upon which to make practical decisions about HD diets.

Making practical decisions for HD diets requires relating scientific studies to what foods and supplements are most likely to benefit or harm a person with the mutant HD gene. This is something that can be done now for immediate benefit. The alternative is to wait for more desirable clinical trials. Everyone will not relate or interpret the available evidence as I have. Some will correctly argue that the cited studies are too small or not done with humans. The assumption made here is that the best available evidence will apply to humans, even if the evidence comes from a small study or from a study made using lab animals.

The HDL Triad to fight HD is diet, exercise and spirituality. What goes in our bodies affects our bodies. Diet affects our health. Diet affects our ability to exercise and our performance as vital and spiritual beings. Diet is the first step in the management of HD.

IT15s
If you are here you are probably sick and tired of hearing the words "Huntington's disease". Here I will refer HD folks more accurately as IT15s. This is from the genetic description of HD as being the expanded transcript on chromosome 4 known as Interesting Transcript Fifteen. I want to free us from the medicine of the 1800's and Dr. Huntington's ability to describe his medicated patients in horrific terms.

Recommendation 1.
Most significant is that IT15s have reduced brain blood flow. Reduced blood flow is detected long before the onset of symptoms. In a small study of IT15s, measuring brain blood flow was able to predict onset.(ref)

Stroke research has shown that many so called sub clinical mini-strokes occur long before clinical strokes. There is evidence of mini-strokes in surprisingly young folks. Because of the background reduced blood flow it is possible that IT15's are susceptible to mini-strokes that might precede or even cause HD onset.

In general the diets known to preserve blood flow are low in saturated fats, high in neuroprotective fats and well balanced with veggies and fruits.

The first recommendation for a HD diet is any diet that is shown to reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack. Check out the American Heart Association's and the National Stroke Association's web sites.

Recommendation 2.
IT15s have a heightened immune system. I believe HD to be an autoimmune disorder caused by the mutant gene. HD is an autoimmune disorder with neurological and other consequences. Dr. David Horrobin, the first to develop an effective HD treatment, has suggested that HD may be arthritis (inflammation) of the brain.

The second recommendation for a HD diet is any diet that is shown to reduce the severity of autoimmune diseases. Interestingly lupus.org Cautions not make fish oil the mainstay of your diet. NationalMSsociety.org points out the importance of taking vitamin E with fish oil.

Studies show IT15s benefit from EPA, a component of fish oil. HD mice treated with EPA from conception do not develop HD symptoms. EPA and DHA are both neuroprotective and available from fish oil. IT15's should take enough fish oil to get 2 grams of EPA a day with vitamin E. See EPA Sources.

Recommendation 3.
The third recommendation for a HD diet is any safe diet factor shown to increase sports performance. Creatine enhances sports performance.

Creatine is safe. Mice treated with the the equivalent by weight of 5 grams of creatine a day for a 150 lb IT15 live about 20% longer than mice not so treated. Creatine helps supply energy. Creatine is also an antioxidant. IT15s should take 5 grams of creatine a day. See Creatine Form and Dose. To read about diet and running see kicksports.

Recommendation 4.
The best view we have of the health of our cells is our skin. Beautiful skin is a sign of good general health. There is no Bad Skin Society of America (BSSA) for guidance but there is a doctor that makes a good living helping Hollywood with healthy skin. I buy his theory that sub-clinical inflammation relates to aging skin. I see a connection to HD. A diet that promotes beautiful skin is likely to promote healthy cells throughout the body. See: Dr. Perricone.

Conclusions
The fate of an IT15 is not predetermined by genetics. Of diet, exercise and spirituality diet is the most important because it affects exercise and spirituality. The earlier HD is 'caught' by the HDL triad, the better. Ideally HD would be caught early in the womb by the mother taking EPA. Then the child could be like the HD mice that never develop symptoms.

It is a challenge for anyone to modify their diet. The idea is to have a few basic principles and to try to fit them in with your lifestyle. Keep your blood flowing by avoiding saturated fats. Get the necessary neuroprotective fats to protect cells. Eat lots of veggies and fruits. Take a multivitamin. Avoid foods and supplements that may enhance the immune system. Take creatine.

For my parting shots ... avoid milk.(ref) I know it is only one study. It was done by exceptionally well qualified researchers. For now the best evidence is that milk accelerates HD onset. Maybe it is the saturated fats or the casein proteins used to make furniture glue. No one knows and another study is unlikely. The effect of calpain on cell damage is worsened by casein, found in cow's milk, and lessened by soy, found in soy milk. Don't eat too much. Gaining too much weight will accelerate HD. HD mice on a slightly calorie restricted diet do much beter.(ref)

It is my hope that someday all IT15s will have the benefits of a good diet.

Source: Jerry Lampson HDL 22-Feb-2002

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