Open-label pilot study using hydroxytyrosol as dietary supplements in patients with mitochondrial diseases

Mitochondrial Diseases (MDs) refers to a heterogeneous group of inherited metabolic disorders resulting in defective cellular energy production due to abnormal oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) caused by pathogenic mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA variants. As mitochondria are pivotal for cell bioenergetics, MDs could potentially affect multisystem, leaving a devastating and life-threatening impact. The treatment of MDs present significant challenges due to the complexity of the disease and the wide heterogeneity of its molecular defects. Thus, the need for innovative and more comprehensive therapeutic approaches is evident.

This longitudinal, open-label study was a pilot trial involving 9 paediatric MD patients, aiming to gain a better understanding on the impact of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on the clinical outcomes of MD patients and to assess the feasibility and logistics of using HT as a dietary supplement for MD patients. Subjects received HT daily as dietary supplements for 12 months. Following this period, patients were then randomly assigned to either discontinue HT or continue receiving HT as their dietary supplements for an additional 6 months. Outcome measures that were assessed included the International Paediatric Mitochondrial Disease Scores, biochemical parameters, and quality of life assessments.

Among the outcome measures assessed, HT supplementation demonstrated the most considerable impact on improving the health-related quality of life according to the PedsQL scoring system and potential effects on a subgroup of MD patients with Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode (MELAS).

This study demonstrated that HT supplementation resulted in improvement in health-related quality of life in MD patients, while the subgroup of MELAS patients showed additional potential beneficial effect from HT use. As a pilot trial, this study importantly highlighted HT's tolerability in MD patients, which would facilitate trials of larger scale to be performed in the future.

This study highlights the use of HT as a health supplement and its potential therapeutic effects in paediatric patients diagnosed with MDs, especially in MELAS patients. The results lay the foundation for future large-scale clinical trials. Consequently, further clinical intervention studies and investigations into HT's potential therapeutic mechanisms at the molecular and intercellular levels are strongly encouraged.