Role of Nutraceuticals in the Treatment of Degenerative Muscle Diseases

Degenerative muscle diseases are commonly known as neuromuscular disorders where degeneration and progressive weakness are observed in the muscles due to genetic disorders or mutations. Degenerative muscle diseases are caused by a variety of factors, including autoimmune disorders, genetic mutations, metabolic abnormalities, and environmental influences. Among the genetic factors, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, and spinal muscular atrophy are commonly observed, which mostly affect humans of all age groups. Autoimmune responses cause rare inflammatory diseases, polymyositis and dermatomyositis, causing muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash. There is currently no approved cure for degenerative muscle diseases. Still, treatments such as a combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, physical therapy, and other supportive approaches are commonly used to help muscle function, strength, manage complicated symptoms, and improve quality of life. However, the clinical trial of several drugs (rimeporide and alendronate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy) has been going on. Nutraceuticals, naturally present in food, are dietary supplements that are thought to provide both nutrition and medicinal benefits. Although nutraceuticals cannot correct the genetic abnormalities underlying muscular dystrophy, they can provide additional benefits like maintenance of bone health, muscle hypertrophy, protection against muscle damage, and reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress in muscle tissues. Some nutraceuticals used in neuromuscular disorders are omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C, D, and E, amino acid derivatives, etc. Nutraceuticals and their supplements can regenerate, repair, and remodel the injured tissue by increasing and improving the growth of muscle tissue. The chapter focuses on the current scenario of the different types of degenerative muscle diseases and the role of nutrients in these types of diseases.