4th November 2016 - New research

ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS AND THE RISK OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Oxidative stress is proposed to be one of the potential mechanisms leading to deterioration in Parkinson's Disease. However, previous studies investigating the association between antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamins C, E and A (carotenoids), and the risk of Parkinson's Disease have produced inconsistent results.

Over 1000 people with Parkinson's Disease were assessed concerning the effect of antioxidant vitamins on Parkinson's Disease. Dietary intakes of vitamin E and vitamin A (carotenoids) were not associated with the risk of Parkinson's Disease.

However, dietary vitamin C intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson's Disease, down to 80%, but this was not long term. For vitamins E and C, intake from foods and supplements combined were also unrelated to Parkinson's Disease risk.

In Parkinson's Disease L-dopa is not formed properly. Superoxide anion can be formed when L-dopa is not formed properly. Superoxide anion is broken down by the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, which require Vitamin C and Vitamin E. In previous studies the greatest effect of antioxidants was with the use of Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which were shown to slow down the progression of Parkinson's Disease.

Reference : Movement Disorders [2016] Oct 27 [Epub ahead of print] (K.C.Hughes, X.Gao, I.Y.Kim, E.B.Rimm, M.Wang, M.G.Weisskopf, M.A.Schwarzschild, A.Ascherio) Complete abstract   For more news go to Parkinson's Disease News

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