No effect of resveratrol in patients with mitochondrial myopathy: A cross-over randomized controlled trial

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Nicoline Løkken
  • Tahmina Khawajazada
  • Jesper Helbo Storgaard
  • Daniel Raaschou-Pedersen
  • Maja Elling Christensen
  • Tessa Munkeboe Hornsyld
  • Thomas Krag
  • Mette C. Ørngreen
  • Vissing, John

Mitochondrial myopathies (MM) are caused by mutations that typically affect genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Main symptoms are exercise intolerance and fatigue. Currently, there is no specific treatment for MM. Resveratrol (RSV) is a nutritional supplement that in preclinical studies has been shown to stimulate mitochondrial function. We hypothesized that RSV could improve exercise capacity in patients with MM. The study design was randomized, double-blind, cross-over and placebo-controlled. Eleven patients with genetically verified MM were randomized to receive either 1000 mg/day RSV or placebo (P) for 8 weeks followed by a 4-week washout and then the opposite treatment. Primary outcomes were changes in heart rate (HR) during submaximal cycling exercise and peak oxygen utilization (VO2max) during maximal exercise. Secondary outcomes included reduction in perceived exertion, changes in lactate concentrations, self-rated function (SF-36) and fatigue scores (FSS), activities of electron transport chain complexes I and IV in mononuclear cells and mitochondrial biomarkers in muscle tissue among others. There were no significant differences in primary and secondary outcomes between treatments. Mean HR changes were −0.3 ± 4.3 (RSV) vs 1.8 ± 5.0 bpm (P), P =.241. Mean VO2max changes were 0.7 ± 1.4 (RSV) vs −0.2 ± 2.3 mL/min/kg (P), P =.203. The study provides evidence that 1000 mg RSV daily is ineffective in improving exercise capacity in adults with MM. These findings indicate that previous in vitro studies suggesting a therapeutic potential for RSV in MM, do not translate into clinically meaningful effects in vivo.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
Volume44
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)1186-1198
ISSN0141-8955
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 SSIEM.

    Research areas

  • exercise capacity, mitochondrial metabolism, mitochondrial myopathy, RCT, resveratrol

ID: 270626058