In the New Millennium treatments for mitochondrial diseases are not very effective. Some effects of these diseases can be treated such as cardiac arrhythmia, seizure disorders, renal bicarbonate loss and hypoglycaemia. When lactic acid accumulation seems to be a major problem an experimental drug Dichloroacete DCA, will lower the lactic acid. Although conclusive evidence of efficacy is not yet available, most doctors working with mitochondrial diseases treat their patients with cofactors and vitamins, which are thought to help impaired metabolic pathways. These treatments include combinations of Coenzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, Niacin, Thiamine, Biotin and Riboflavin.
Special diets can be helpful.
Some patient s benefit by high fat diets with restriction of simple carbohydrates. Fructose restriction may help. Other patients need high carbohydrate intake with particular supplementation of complex carbohydrates such as uncooked cornstarch. There is no convincing evidence to date of any clear benefit of drug therapies in most archetypal mitochondrial disorders or those neurodegenerative conditions with evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, and therefore attention has turned to the development of genetic therapies and the possibility of Neuro protection. New horizons and hopes may lie with genetic strategies.