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A Detoxification Intervention for Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Author

Listed:
  • Kathleen Kerr

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada)

  • Gayle Morse

    (Department of Psychology, The Sage Colleges, Troy, NY 12180, USA
    Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12144, USA)

  • Donald Graves

    (Department of Psychology, The Sage Colleges, Troy, NY 12180, USA)

  • Fei Zuo

    (Applied Health Research Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1B1, Canada)

  • Alain Lipowicz

    (Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto, ON M5G 2C9, Canada)

  • David O. Carpenter

    (Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12144, USA)

Abstract

Approximately 30% of the 700,000 US veterans of the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War developed multiple persistent symptoms called Gulf War illness. While the etiology is uncertain, several toxic exposures including pesticides and chemical warfare agents have shown associations. There is no effective medical treatment. An intervention to enhance detoxification developed by Hubbard has improved quality of life and/or reduced body burdens in other cohorts. We evaluated its feasibility and efficacy in ill Gulf War (GW) veterans in a randomized, waitlist-controlled, pilot study at a community-based rehabilitation facility in the United States. Eligible participants ( n = 32) were randomly assigned to the intervention ( n = 22) or a four-week waitlist control ( n = 10). The daily 4–6 week intervention consisted of exercise, sauna-induced sweating, crystalline nicotinic acid and other supplements. Primary outcomes included recruitment, retention and safety; and efficacy was measured via Veteran’s Short Form-36 (SF-36) quality of life, McGill pain, multidimensional fatigue inventory questionnaires and neuropsychological batteries. Scoring of outcomes was blinded. All 32 completed the trial and 21 completed 3-month follow-up. Mean SF-36 physical component summary score after the intervention was 6.9 (95% CI; −0.3, 14.2) points higher compared to waitlist control and 11 of 16 quality of life, pain and fatigue measures improved, with no serious adverse events. Most improvements were retained after 3 months. The Hubbard regimen was feasible, safe and might offer relief for symptoms of GW illness.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathleen Kerr & Gayle Morse & Donald Graves & Fei Zuo & Alain Lipowicz & David O. Carpenter, 2019. "A Detoxification Intervention for Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-27, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:21:p:4143-:d:280920
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthew Lorber & Herman Gibb & Lester Grant & Joseph Pinto & Joachim Pleil & David Cleverly, 2007. "Assessment of Inhalation Exposures and Potential Health Risks to the General Population that Resulted from the Collapse of the World Trade Center Towers," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 1203-1221, October.
    2. Ken Sexton, 2012. "Cumulative Risk Assessment: An Overview of Methodological Approaches for Evaluating Combined Health Effects from Exposure to Multiple Environmental Stressors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Haley, R.W. & Maddrey, A.M. & Gershenfeld, H.K., 2002. "Severely reduced functional status in veterans fitting a case definition of Gulf war syndrome," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(1), pages 46-47.
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