A conversation with MCS researcher, Martin Pall, PhD

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, August-Sept, 2005 by Linda Powers

Most of the nutritional supplements we are using are already being sold to people with these illnesses, so individually they are of limited effectiveness. If any one of them was a magic bullet, we would know about it. The goal is to come up with a series of over a dozen such compounds expected to act synergistically with each other to lower the biochemistry and physiology that maintains these illnesses.

We have used a large number of antioxidants (over a dozen of these alone), several minerals and some odd compounds, such as the amino acid betaine.

Among the specific goals is to try to improve energy metabolism and lower the activity of the NMDA receptors in the brain and other parts of the body, as well as to lower the synthesis of and effects of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite.

Describe the human clinical research you'd like to do, and explain why placebo-controlled trials are important.

What is known as a double-blind, placebo controlled trial is considered to be the "gold standard" of trials and such an approach is needed to convince people of possible effectiveness. The idea is that if an individual in the trial does not know whether he/she is receiving the active material or a placebo, that comparing a substantial number of individuals in each of the two groups will allow one to determine whether the treatment is effective and to quantify how effective it may be. We may end up with two types of tablets, a gel cap and an inhalant and if this is the final approach, we will need four different placebos, one for each.

How much funding is needed for this research?

Dr. Ziem estimates that it will take about $50,000 for the trial. I will be donating my time to it. This is for a trial containing a group of 30 for treatment and 30 for the placebo.

If the funding did come through, how would participants in the trials be chosen?

Dr. Ziem has a large backlog of patients. If that is insufficient, we can contact support groups near her (she is located in rural Maryland). She will have to examine potential participants to determine if they fit the appropriate case definition.

Each participant will have a small blood sample taken before starting the trial and two times after the initiation of the trial so that I can measure some biochemical parameters that may be a measure of treatment response. Response to the trial will also be measured through the use of a previously validated questionnaire. After the placebo-controlled part of the trial is completed, the placebo group will be offered the opportunity to try the active supplements, so everyone will have the opportunity to see how well the therapy works in their case.

Can interested individuals donate to your research?

They can make a tax deductible contribution through the WSU foundation by including a note with a check indicating it is to support the Martin Pall research fund, sent to:

Carol Sayles-Rydbom

Assistant Director of Development

College of Sciences

Morrill Hall 144B

P.O. Box 643520

Pullman, Washington 99164-3520 USA