A pill for Gulf War Syndrome?
UCSD researcher finds that coenzyme Q10 may help hard-to-diagnose illnesses
By Jeanette Steele7:26 p.m.Dec. 3, 2014
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Dr. Beatrice Golomb, a professor and researcher with the university?s medical school, recently published a study that showed some success against the syndrome with a high-quality brand of coenzyme Q10.
?It?s not a cure,? said Golomb, who became interested in Gulf War Syndrome during the late 1990s while working as a scholar at RAND Corp. ?But by boosting cell energy and antioxidation, it does mitigate symptoms.?
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But Golomb said the answer may be found in mitochondria, sometimes called the powerhouses of the body?s cells. They generate the energy that cells need to function.
The UC San Diego researcher believes the root of the problem is troops? exposure to particular chemicals in the gulf region.
One source could have been pesticides that the U.S. military used around camps there, said Golomb, who serves on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs research advisory committee on Gulf War illnesses.
Another possibility is the pills given to troops to protect them from a nerve agent held by then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
These chemicals can damage mitochondria.
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Golomb said people who work in heavy industry or agriculture can be exposed to similar kinds of chemicals.
?It has lessons that are very relevant to a lot of civilian health conditions,? the UCSD researcher said...
