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Brain & Nervous System
Parkinson's Disease Symptoms
In this issue you have already read about the immense contribution Coenzyme A makes to your health. Now, Health Sciences Institute Panellists are pleased to bring you news about the benefits of another naturally-occurring essential enzyme, Coenzyme Q10. Latest research findings have revealed how, in high doses, it can slow the progression of Parkinson's disease by almost half.
This is promising news, as Parkinson's is a progressive neuro-degenerative disorder, which greatly affects movement and the control of movement. Typical Parkinson's Disease symptoms include trembling of the limbs, a shuffling walk and difficulty in speaking.
Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble nutrient manufactured from Vitamin E in your body. It is present in the energy-producing centres of every cell, known as the mitochondria, and serves as an antioxidant and an important facilitator of energy and oxygen transfer between blood and tissues. Previous research has shown that its function is inhibited in sufferers of Parkinson's disease.
In a study, reported in a recent issue of the Archives of Neurology, involving ten medical centres across the United States, doctors administered vitamin E, or a 300, 600 or 1,200mg daily dose of coenzyme Q10 combined with vitamin E to a group of 80 patients with early Parkinson's disease. The patients had not yet started Parkinson's Disease treatment with the first-line drug, levadopa. This drug can help alleviate symptoms of the disease but it does not slow its progression and has side-effects including gastrointestinal problems, hair loss, and abnormal heart rhythms. Over time, the treatment loses effectiveness.
Prior to and over the course of the study, the participants were evaluated for motor skills, mental function, mood and the ability to perform everyday activities. They were then rated according to test scores. Patients remained in the study until they needed medication for up to 16 months, upon which time they were re-evaluated.
Half way through the study, the patients receiving 300 or 600mg of coenzyme Q10 had better test scores than the placebo group, while the group receiving 1,200mg per day had significantly better scores, experiencing 44 per cent less decline. This pattern continued until the end of the study.
Professor of Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego, Richard Haas, said that coenzyme Q10 levels generally decline with ageing and supplementation may reduce the risk of age-related diseases, like Parkinson's. 'The normal lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 in older individuals may be a contributing factor in the progression of some diseases of ageing.'
Your body makes its own Coenzyme Q10 but additional dietary sources include beef, chicken, mackerel, nuts, sardines, soya oil and whole grain. Alternatively, you may prefer to take Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin E in supplement form.
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