Nutritional Supplements for Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects the nerve cells that produce dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for sending signals to the body to control movement. The exact cause of Parkinson's is unknown; approximately 50,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with the disease each year. Nutritional supplements are being researched and used as an alternative therapy to conventional treatment to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms.
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Symptoms
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Tremors, motor and/or motion impairment, postural instability, depression, anxiety and dementia (memory loss) are common symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Each individual diagnosed with Parkinson's disease symptoms will vary and are helped through conventional and alternative treatments.
Vitamin E
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Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin used as an antioxidant. According to a study released in The Lancet Neurology, "seven studies showed diets which contained a moderate amount of vitamin E reduced the risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 19 percent." If you have high blood pressure or take a blood thinner, consult a health care professional prior to beginning a vitamin E regimen.
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Vitamin C
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Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin used as an antioxidant and to improve the immunity system. A study published by the Department of Research, Centro Ramón y Cajal in PubMed reported "vitamin C can help with symptoms of Parkinson's disease by preventing damage to brain cells from levodopa, a medication prescribed for Parkinson's disease."
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
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CoQ10 is a common nutritional supplement used and is found naturally in the body. It is important for cell production and has been in several recent studies on improving Parkinson's disease symptoms. Researchers suggest CoQ10 plays a role in mitochondria (energy cells) and showed lower progression with high doses showed slower disease progression. Further research is still ongoing on the appropriate dosage.
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinuclotide (NADH)
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NADH is available in a dietary supplement and is produced naturally in the body. NADH is classified as a coenzyme and used for general health purposes. In a study released in PubMed by Birkmayer-Institut für Parkinsontherapie, "when used for Parkinson's disease, approximately 80 percent of patients a study showed beneficial improvement when NADH was administered by intravenous infusion."
Additional Supplements
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Other suggested supplements include gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), alpha-lipoic acid, calcium, magnesium, soy lecithin, selenium and vitamin B-complex.
Precautions
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Although nutritional supplements have been around for thousands of years, no clinical data or evaluations have been performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the effectiveness of using supplements for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Prior to starting alternative treatments, consult a health care professional to talk about all potential benefits and risks.
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