title: A therapeutic trial of pro-methylation dietary supplements in Angelman syndrome.
abstract: Angelman syndrome (AS) is due to deficient ubiquitin protein ligase 3a, the gene for which (UBE3A) maps to chromosome 15q11-q13 and is imprinted such that only the maternally inherited gene is expressed. The paternally inherited UBE3A gene is silenced, a process mediated by an antisense transcript. We conducted a trial using methylation-promoting dietary supplements (betaine, metafolin, creatine, and vitamin B(12) ) in an attempt to reduce antisense transcript production, increase UBE3A expression, and ameliorate the symptoms of AS. Neuropsychological evaluations, biochemical testing, and assessment of DNA methylation were performed at the beginning and at the end of 1 year of supplementation. The primary outcome measures were changes in the level of developmental function (cognitive, motor, and language) as measured using standardized instruments. The secondary outcomes measures were changes in biochemical parameters and global DNA methylation. These data were compared to those of a control group from a previous randomized double-blind trial using folic acid and betaine. There were no statistically significant changes in the developmental performance of children treated with supplements. There were no unexpected changes in biochemical parameters and no change in site-specific DNA methylation when comparing samples from before and after treatment. There were 10 adverse events that resulted in study withdrawal of 7 participants (worsening of seizures, onset, or worsening of sleep problems, constipation, and anorexia). Supplementation with betaine, metafolin, creatine, and vitamin B(12) appears safe but ineffective in decreasing the severity of AS.
authors: NIH Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network-Angelman, Rett, & Prader-Willi Syndromes Consortium, USA. lbird@rchsd.org
authors: Lynne M
authors: LM
authors: Bird
authors: Wen-Hann
authors: WH
authors: Tan
authors: Carlos A
authors: CA
authors: Bacino
authors: Sarika U
authors: SU
authors: Peters
authors: Steven A
authors: SA
authors: Skinner
authors: Irina
authors: I
authors: Anselm
authors: Rene
authors: R
authors: Barbieri-Welge
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Bauer-Carlin
authors: Jennifer K
authors: JK
authors: Gentile
authors: Daniel G
authors: DG
authors: Glaze
authors: Lucia T
authors: LT
authors: Horowitz
authors: K Naga
authors: KN
authors: Mohan
authors: Mark P
authors: MP
authors: Nespeca
authors: Trilochan
authors: T
authors: Sahoo
authors: Dean
authors: D
authors: Sarco
authors: Susan E
authors: SE
authors: Waisbren
authors: Arthur L
authors: AL
authors: Beaudet
mesh_terms: D017204:Angelman Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D016896:Treatment Outcome