Symptoms:
Weakness of the muscles, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), enlargement of certain muscle groups (calves, trapezius, etc.) to compensate for loss of major muscle groups. The muscles gradually shrivel and weaken. The muscles in the trunk are especially affected. All muscles eventually become involved.

Cause:
Muscular dystrophy (MD) produces a weakening and wasting of muscle tissue which is not noticed (because of replacement of muscle tissue with fat and fibrous scar tissue) until there is substantial damage.

Animals given a vitamin E deficient diet develop muscular dystrophy. It is believed that MD could be wiped out if vitamin E was given to all expectant mothers and bottle-fed babies. Mother's milk has six times as much vitamin E as cow's milk, and almost twice as much selenium.

There may a hereditary factor, but diet is still the crucial issue.


Treatment:
• Vitamin E and selenium should be given orally, intramuscularly, and intravenously at the very outset of the disorder, in order to arrest it. Vitamin E: intramuscularly at 80 mg per day; orally, at 800-1,200 daily. Selenium: orally, intravenously, and, intramuscularly at 50-1,000 mcg per day, based on weight.

• Essential fatty acids are needed (5 gm daily). Also choline or soy lecithin, at 10-20 gm per day.

• Avoid food allergens and excessive fats; no more than 20% of daily calories should be in fat.

• Avoid exercise for one month during initial treatment period, to avoid undue injury to already weakened muscles.