Parkinson's disease represents the second most common neurogenerative disorder to affect elderly adults, behind Alzheimer's disease. Parkinson's disease affects males to a greater extent than females, and is characterized by impaired movement, physical tremors and rigid muscles, and may involve psychiatric symptoms such as depression and hallucinations. Fish oil has shown some promising protective effects in Parkinson's patients and may help prevent the disease in older adults. Ask your doctor if you should take fish oil, especially if you are taking other medicines or supplements.
Oxidative Stress
Recent research has shown a direct link between oxidative stress -- the cellular damage caused by free radicals -- and Parkinson's disease onset. A 2010 study conducted by French researchers and published in the journal "Neurochemical Research" studied the oxidative stress markers in 24 patients with Parkinson's disease and found them to be significantly higher than those of the control subjects.
Neuroprotectic D1
Recent research has uncovered a relationship between the docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, in fish oil, and neuroprotectin D1, a molecule generated by a cell in response to oxidative stress. According to a 2010 study conducted by Spanish researchers and published in the journal "Molecular Neurobiology," neuroprotectin D1 appears capable of restoring the integrity of the nerve cells that have come under fire from oxidative stress. The discovery of neuroprotectin D1 provides an encouraging link between fish oil and Parkinson's.
Depression
Fish oil has also shown promise in treating the depression that often accompanies Parkinson's disease. A 2008 study conducted by Brazilian researchers studied 29 patients with Parkinson's and depression; the patients were supplemented with fish oil over 12 weeks. At the end of the trial, those patients who took fish oil, with and without medication for depression, demonstrated marked improvement in their depressive symptoms.
Sources
The best sources of fish oil occur in cold water, oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, sardines, trout, halibut, cod and haddock. If you are not a fish lover, the next best option is to choose a supplement either in liquid or capsule form. Look for supplements that are certified organic and free of mercury. Speak to your doctor about other options for fish oil supplementation if you have Parkinson's disease, or if you are at risk of developing the condition.
References
- Gene Reviews: Parkinson Disease Overview; Nathan D Pankratz, Ph.D., et al.; July 2009
- Neurochemical Research: The Role of Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease; A. Baillet, et al.; June 2010
- Molecular Neurobiology: Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids Modulate Initiation and Progression of Neurodegenerative Disease; R. Palacios-Pelaez, et al.; June 2010
- Journal of Affective Disorders: Depression in Parkinson's Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of Omega-3 Fatty-Acid Supplementation; T.M. da Silva, et al.; December 2008
- University of Connecticut: Omega-3 Learning for Health & Medicine: Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The Basics
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