Lorenzo's oil may prevent symptoms of ALD

A study of 89 boys with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a neurodegenerative disorder, suggests a possible preventative use of "Lorenzo's oil," an olive and rapeseed oil extract which is combined with a low-fat diet. The boys in the study started taking the oil before symptoms of ALD began, and only 11% of the boys developed symptoms, compared with the usual 35% who would without treatment. The authors of the study recommend that the Lorenzo's oil and diet treatment become standard treatment for young boys with the disease who have not yet shown symptoms. The research was published in the July 2005 Archives of Neurology.