Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that causes damage to nerve cells in the brain, causing a decrease in the “feeling” hormone dopamine. Low dopamine levels cause atypical brain activity that can lead to motor disorders. Every year, about 13 out of 100,000 people in the United States work on the disease. Although it may be due to genetics, head trauma, or other environmental factors, Parkinson’s disease affects not only those who have been diagnosed, but also their loved ones.
If you or someone you know is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, there are ways to help control your symptoms. This includes changing your diet and taking medications prescribed by your doctor. There are even supplements that can help provide you with the extra nutrients your body lacks that can affect your illness.according to Dr. Lisa R. Young, RDNAuthor of Full at the end, slim at the endWhen Potion Teller Plan And members of EatThis, that’s not it! Medical Expert Committee, The best supplements you can take to help Parkinson’s disease are those that contain vitamin B12..
“I’m a fan of the food-first approach, but taking vitamin B12 supplements can slow down cognitive decline,” explains Dr. Young. “People with early-onset Parkinson’s disease tend to have lower levels of vitamin B12, which can reduce cognitive function.”
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Importance of Vitamin B12
Dr. Young suggests that B12 (also known as cobalamin) helps keep nerve cells healthy. If you take a food-first approach, B12 is primarily found in animal foods. For example, it includes lean meat, chicken, fish, dairy products, eggs, as well as nutritional yeast. However, if you want to make sure you get the right amount of B12, you can take supplements.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended daily dose of vitamin B12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms. Mayo Clinic further states that B12 vitamins play essential roles in erythropoiesis, cell metabolism, neural function, and DNA production, linking dementia and hypocognitive function with this vitamin deficiency.
What science says
Studies published in International Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Society Patients with low vitamin B12 in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease suggest that they experienced faster exercise and cognitive decline. This suggests that vitamin supplements may help slow the progression of these symptoms.
In this study, researchers measured vitamin B12 and other B12-related factors in 680 participants with early untreated Parkinson’s disease. After that, I followed up with 456 samples. The results showed that 13% of these participants had low borderline B12 levels and 7% had high homocysteine, an amino acid whose levels are inversely proportional to vitamin deficiency. Elevated homocysteine may increase the risk of dementia, heart disease, and stroke without treatment.
Therefore, this study showed that low levels of B12 are common in early-stage patients with Parkinson’s disease. Low B12 predicted a greater deterioration in mobility, and elevated homocysteine predicted a greater decline in cognitive function.
Therefore, if you need a vitamin boost, B12 supplements may help. As always, talk to your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.
Kayla Garitano
Kayla Garritano is Eat This, Not That! I’m a staff writer. She graduated from Hofstra University with a major in journalism and two minors in marketing and creative writing.read more
