The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Resveratrol for the treatment of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome.
MELAS is a fatal disorder caused by a mutation of DNA mitochondria that can lead to reduced exercise capacity and eventual muscle failure. Symptoms include fatigue, recurrent headaches and seizures.
Orphan drug status can be given when the disease strikes less than 200,000 people per year (in the US).
With the orphan drug status resveratrol can be "fast tracked" to the market as a drug. Of course they won't be using natural resveratrol but will be synthesizing it in a lab so it can be patented and then no one else can sell it for 7 years.
At this point it is unclear how long it will take before the resveratrol drug will be ready for final approval.
Resveratrol, in it's natural form, has been shown to both rejuvenate mitochondria and increase their numbers resulting in more energy on the cellular level. This is not only a benefit to people with MELAS, but to anyone, including athletes, that would like more endurance.
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