Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease, which affects 120,000 people in the UK, results from damage to cells in the brain that normally produce a neurotransmitter (a messenger chemical) called dopamine. This chemical is responsible for controlling muscle tension and movement and a lack of it can lead to the shaking and involuntary movements typically experienced by sufferers of Parkinson's disease.

The disease occurs mainly, but not exclusively, in elderly people. It often starts as a slight tremor in one limb and, in the early stages, this is most apparent when the person is sitting or standing still. As the disease progresses the symptoms get worse and the hands or head may shake continuously. Walking, eating and speech may become difficult and the person may take on a permanently stooped posture and a fixed expression.

NHR last reported on this degenerative disease back in December 2001, when we brought you news of effective natural supplements that can help manage symptoms. Since then, ground-breaking new research has shown that one supplement in particular, a substance produced naturally in the body called coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), can actually slow down the deterioration in mental and physical function that doctors assume to be an inevitable part of Parkinson's disease. There is no drug treatment currently available that can match this incredible effect.

The use of pesticides is now thought to be linked to the disease
The causes of Parkinson's disease remain unclear but may include the ineffective breakdown of toxic substances by the liver (J Appl Nutr 1999; 51(1): 3-13).

This is thought to lead to the production of damaging free radicals (highly reactive chemicals) in the brain, which destroy the dopamine-producing nerve cells in a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. Some of the toxins suspected of causing Parkinson's are pesticides such as lindane and dieldrin, whose use since 1989 is now widely banned (J Toxicol Environ Health 2000; 59: 229-34).

Dopamine itself cannot be given to replace what the brain fails to produce, since it is unable to get into the brain through the 'blood-brain barrier'. The most widely used drug, Sinemet, gets round this problem by combining two chemicals called levodopa

(L-dopa) and carbodopa
L-dopa is the 'middle step' in the normal conversion of the amino acid tyrosine into dopamine in the brain. Carbodopa is a drug that aims to ensure L-dopa is converted to dopamine in the brain and not in other body tissues. But it doesn't always work well and nausea, dizziness, palpitations and internal bleeding may result from L-dopa being converted to dopamine before it reaches the brain.

Coenzyme Q10 can make a real difference in the management of Parkinson's disease
The new study on CoQ10, carried out by researchers at the University of California San Diego Medical School in the US, involved 80 people in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, who were being treated at several different clinics. They were given 300, 600 or 1200mg of CoQ10 a day, or a placebo.

After 16 months, the researchers found that the group receiving the highest dose of CoQ10 had an incredible 44 per cent less physical and mental decline than the control group (Arch Neurol 2002; 59(10): 1541-50).

The greatest difference was in the patients' ability to carry out the activities of daily living, such as getting dressed and feeding themselves. The higher doses of CoQ10 used were well tolerated and caused no serious side effects.

The researchers believe that CoQ10 works by improving the function of the mitochondria, the tiny 'powerhouses' that produce energy inside the cells of your body, including those in your brain. Some years earlier, the same research team found that CoQ10 levels were much lower than normal in the mitochondria of Parkinson's disease patients (Ann Neurol 1997; 42(2): 261-4).

The energy output of the mitochondria appears to be critical for dopamine production. Other recent research has shown that CoQ10 also protects cells of the basal ganglia, the part of the brain where dopamine is produced, from being damaged by free radicals (Ann NY Acad Sci 2003; 991: 120-31).

A seven-year-long study has shown that large amounts of vitamin C (up to 3000mg a day) and vitamin E (up to 3,200IU a day) can also slow the progression of Parkinson's disease in its early stages. Patients taking this vitamin therapy were able to avoid starting drug treatment for up to three years longer than a control group (Ann Neurol 1992; 32(S): 128-132).

It now seems likely that taking high doses of vitamins C and E together with CoQ10 could be a very effective natural treatment in the early stages of the Parkinson's disease.

Significant improvements in symptoms seen in patients taking NADH
The Birkmayer Institute for Parkinson's Disease Therapy in Vienna has had equally remarkable results with another natural substance involved in the production of energy within the cells. It is called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide - or NADH for short - and is also known as coenzyme 1.

Of the 885 Parkinson's disease patients treated with NADH at the Institute over several years, a staggering 80 per cent showed moderate to excellent improvements in their level of disability (Acta Neurol Scand 1993; 87(S146): 32-35).

Everyone will have their own requirement for NADH, usually between 5mg and 20mg a day. Too much can cause insomnia and restlessness, so start with the lowest amount and increase gradually until you find your optimal level.

Another important brain chemical that is lacking in people with the disease is glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant that protects the brain cells from free radical damage. In a landmark study at the University of Sassari, in Italy, Parkinson's disease patients received intravenous injections of glutathione twice daily for a month. Every single one of the patients improved significantly, with an average 42 per cent reduction in their level of disability (Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psych 1996; 20(7): 1159-70).

Glutathione can't be taken as a dietary supplement because it is broken down by the digestive process, but the supplement N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) can boost the body's own production of glutathione. Take 400 to 1200mg of NAC a day.

Although in many cases these natural supplements can outperform drugs in slowing the progression of the disease, it is still important to talk with your GP before deciding to take any of them, especially if you are already taking medication. The high doses of these supplements that are necessary for treating Parkinson's disease are best taken under the supervision of a doctor or nutritional therapist who is experienced in their use.