HD Lighthouse Editors Comment: This site is for proactive folks. We on the rocky shore of what is known and not known about HD. You will have to figure out a lot of things for your self if you choose not to wait for the conclusion of phase 3 trials. Don't expect your doctor to be familiar with the information on this site. He may suspect your sanity for suggesting that fish oil, creatine or bile acid will treat HD. Be gentle with him and hope that he will be in the first generation of doctors to treat HD. --Jerry

Posted to HDLighthouse: 26-Nov-2001 HDL Update: TUDCA - Ursodiol Treats HD

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) protects against motor and cognitive deficits and reduces striatal degeneration in rat model. Ursodeoxycholic Acid. The generic name is ursodiol. Trade names are Actigall®, Urso® and Ursofalk®.

HD, 3NPA model, animals treated with TUDCA were indistinguishable from controls (normal, healthy animals). Experiments are now under way at the University of MN using transgenic model animals. The results are promising.

TUDCA is a more soluble form of UDCA, a naturally occurring bile acid, that was use in the animal experiments. In preliminary experiments TUDCA was equally effective in protecting cells. It is likely that UDCA will eventually be approved for the treatment of HD in human beings.

UDCA is available by prescription for the treatment of gallstones . The generic name for UDCA is ursodiol . Gallstones are sometimes a problem with rapid weight loss diets. A typical dose may be 10 mg/kg/day. This is one-fifth of the dose used to treat the HD mice. A starting point for the treatment for HD might be 50 mg/kg/day (A 150 lb person may take 3 grams a day from 10 300mg ursodiol caps). URSO 250 may require less dose. One study used 1200 mg/d of ursodeoxycholic acid without reported side effect, obesity-online.com/AnnIntMed.htm. Ursodiol seems to be very safe and it is used during pregenancy. For other consideration while taking ursodiol see the PDR .

Ursodiol Purchase on line
Ursodiol is expensive, about $US600/mo for HD treatment, www.mhrx.com/drugs/showdrug.asp?dn_Id=881. If you find a better source I will post it here.

Other Updates
Bile Acid Treats HD
Research Progress

Response to this article:
(To send your response: Email HDL, link at page bottom)

26-Nov-01 FHTU Reports
Due to a misunderstanding with my doctor, I did not order enough Ursodiol to do the experiemnt. I will have to get more and start over. I can say that taking 2,400mg per day for a week did nothing for me and had no negative side effects. I will inform you when I am able to perform a more meaningful experiment.

14-Nov-01 First Human to try Ursodiol (FHTU) to Treat HD.
I have ordered the pills, which my HMO payed for without question (I am not out of the HD closet.). I should start tomorrow. I will certainly tell you what happens.

Source: By Jerry HDL Keeper 04-Nov-01, updated 26-Nov-01