POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACID SUPPLEMENTATION IN PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

This study is an attempt to assess the role of dietary supplementation in the treatment and prevention of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Th e authors developed an animal model system to study this problem. Anim als given streptozotocin to induce a type I diabetic state showed elev ated glucose levels and decreased body weight. Analysis of the sciatic nerve revealed a decrease in nerve conduction velocity and Na+-K+-ATP ase activity. The activity of protein kinase C, another component of t he nerve transmission process, was also affected by the diabetic state . The dietary intervention of polyunsaturated fatty acids seemed to re vert some of these changes toward normal.