Discovered by Dr. James Parkinson in 1817, Parkinson's disease occurs when cells in your brain that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter, become damaged, according to MedlinePlus. As a result, the level of dopamine decreases significantly, causing problems with communication between your brain and muscles. Treatments for Parkinson's disease work on increasing levels of dopamine in the brain, such as the medication levadopa, which your body converts to dopamine. But with Parkinson's disease, you also have nutritional concerns and may benefit from dietary changes.
Issues
As muscle function deteriorates with Parkinson's disease, you may have problems eating and getting the proper nutrition. For example, you may have difficulty swallowing, notes MedlinePlus. Gastrointestinal symptoms may occur, such as constipation. Having Parkinson's disease, also increases your risk of osteoporosis, a condition that affects your bone density, adds Karol Traviss, MSc, R.D., of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
Diet and Nutrition
Traviss recommends that if you have Parkinson's disease, you should eat a variety of foods and not skip any of your meals. For example, include vegetables, dairy products, meats, grains, fruits and beans in your diet. Eating foods high in fiber can ease constipation. For your bone health, include calcium-rich foods in your diet. Since your medications may cause nausea, you may consider drinking ginger ale or having a small snack, such as crackers, when taking medications. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that eating a low-protein diet can help your body use the medication combination of levodopa and carbidopa better.
Dietary Supplements
You may consider adding dietary supplements to help with Parkinson's disease, though you should only do so under the supervision of your doctor. One supplement, coenzyme Q10, slowed disease progression in patients who took 1,200 mg of the supplement a day for 16 months, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Certain vitamins may help, such as vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin C and vitamin B-6, though talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.
Warnings
While some dietary changes can help with your symptoms, some may complicate your treatment. For example, if you take levadopa alone, vitamin B-6 supplements may cause premature conversion of the drug to dopamine, resulting in less dopamine in your brain, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Taking some supplements alone may result in worsening of symptoms. The supplement 5-HTP that converts to serotonin, may worsen your muscle rigidity if you take the supplement alone. Fava beans, which naturally contain some levadopa, may result in an overdose if you take too much, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consult a dietitian if you plan on making dietary changes for Parkinson's disease.
Considerations
If you choose nutritional therapy as a supplement to your traditional Parkinson's disease treatment, you may consider other lifestyle changes that support the dietary changes. For example, the University of Michigan Health System recommends sunlight exposure and weight-bearing exercise in addition to vitamin D supplements or calcium-rich foods for osteoporosis. Exercise with the help of a professional trained to work with Parkinson's disease patients may help with muscle strength. Because the dietary needs for Parkinson's disease depend on the patient, talk to a dietitian about creating a nutritional therapy plan for you.
References
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Parkinson's Disease
- Parkinson's Disease Foundation: Nutrition and Parkinson's Disease: What Matters Most?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Parkinson's Disease
- University of Michigan Health System: Proper Nutrition for People with Parkinson's Disease
- University of Michigan Health System: Parkinson's Disease
