Vitamin investigation to see if C can help children

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Vitamin investigation to see if C can help children

By Oliveri

http://parramatta.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/vitamin-

investigation-to-see-if-c-can-help-children/1078427.html

A Children's Hospital, Westmead researcher is trying to find out if

vitamin C can cure a disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

This disease affects about 8000 Australians and is the most common

of inherited nerve diseases.

Dr Burns, a National Health and Medical Research Council

research fellow, is conducting a world-first clinical trial on 80

patients aged 2-16.

It primarily affects the hands and feet and renders patients

incapable of doing day-to-day tasks like buttoning shirts, opening

jars and even writing.

The feet of those who have Charcot-Marie-Tooth resemble the

condition " club foot " .

Their feet become higher arched with age and they often become

unbalanced and unstable.

" It's because of extreme muscle weakness and damaged nerves that the

hands and feet don't work, " Dr Burns said.

" They have a diminished quality of life from the age of four and it

becomes worse as they age. "

Not recognisable at birth, the disease usually becomes known once a

child reaches the age of five.

Studies done in France on mice with Charcot-Marie-Tooth showed that

those given vitamin C became stronger, had improved balance and

endurance and their nerve functions were fixed.

" They were essentially cured and now we are hoping we get the same

results on humans, " Dr Burns said.

Dr Burns was recently awarded a Young Tall Poppy Science Award for

his achievements and skill in communicating his work.

He will soon travel to schools across the state to make students

keen on science and to entice more of them into taking up careers in

science after they leave school.

Dr Burns has conducted a series of agility tests on the children

that will be compared with their test results at the end of the 12-

month trial, which will determine whether the study was a success.

" We are trying to cure them and this is the first step in the right

direction, " he said.

Dr Burns hopes to expand the trial to help all Australians who have

the condition.