Overview Parkinson's and Vitamin D

Parkinson's Disease summary in Vitamin D Life

• Vitamin D associated with Parkinson’s Disease in 55 studies, more studies needed- March 2022
• Parkinson's category has 112 studies
• Parkinson’s Disease and Vitamin D – review of 52 studies – May 2022
• Parkinson patients: 60 % taking Vitamin D – Dec 2019
• Low Vitamin D increases Parkinson's by 3X– July 2010 "only" a 30 year test, need more study
• Parkinson's disease prevented by Vitamin D, but small doses do not treat it - Aug 2023
• 10 clinical trials for PD with vitamin D intervention as of June 2023
• Parkinson’s Disease Summer School – alternative therapies included 60-80 ng of Vitamin D – Sept 2019
• Associated with PD are: Meta-analyses (12 ), Cognition (22 studies), Multiple Sclerosis (17 studies), VIRUS (4 studies), Omega-3 (3 studies), Vitamin D Receptor (11 studies)
• Note by the Founder of Vitamin D Life: I have twice recommended lots of Vitamin D to treat PD. Both got much better, but one had his doctor him cut back to just 2,000 IU. All of his recovery got reversed. With lots of vitamin D he could sing and bike, but now he can barely talk or walk

See also on Vitamin D Life

• Parkinson's disease and vitamin D – review finds promising indications – April 2014
• Parkinson’s Disease relationship to Vitamin D
• Comparison of Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease – Sept 2013
• Review of Parkinson's disease and vitamin D recommends use of active form – Aug 2012
• 20 percent less chance of Parkinson’s disease if work outdoors some – Thesis Feb 2013
• Parkinson's disease increased in Israel by 50 percent in 7 years – June 2011
• Reasons for vitamin D deficiency during past several decades
• Role of vitamin D in Parkinson's disease - March 2012 technical
• Comparison of Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease – Sept 2013
• Overview Fractures and Falls and Vitamin D - note, more likely to fall if low vitamin D, as is the case with PD
• Omega-3 prevents Parkinson’s Disease – Review of RCT July 2019
• Many Neurological Diseases fought by Vitamin D - Dec 2022
• Parkinson’s disease and the bones - Feb 2011 Literature review - PDF file, which has the following image

Virtually all PD patients have digestive issues (probably need gut-friendly Vitamin D) - Oct 2023

When digestive symptoms signal Parkinson’s disease MD Edge]

• "The fact that nearly all patients with Parkinson’s disease experience digestive problems and have neuropathological lesions in intrinsic and extrinsic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract suggests that Parkinson’s disease also has a gastrointestinal component."

Overview Gut and vitamin D contains gut-friendly info:

Those with PD have 7X higher/lower amounts of certain gut bacteria - Jan 2023

Parkinson's Disease May Start in the Gut and Spread to the Brain Trial Site News

• "For example, the bacterial species (Bifidobacterium dentium), which is known to cause anaerobic infections such as brain abscesses, were found to be elevated seven-fold in those with Parkinson's and a 7.5-fold reduction in the bacteria such as Roseburia intestinalis which is known to be inhabitant of healthy colons (constipation is a recognized symptom of Parkinson's) was also detected."

Study = Metagenomics of Parkinson’s disease implicates the gut microbiome in multiple disease mechanisms - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34667-x FREE PDF

See also: Parkinson's Disease and gut microbiome - several studies

Note: Vitamin D massively changes the composition of gut bacteria

• Vitamin D levels change Gut Microbiota – 25 study review Sept 2021
• Gut microbiome massively changed by weekly vitamin D – July 2015

Candidate nutraceuticals to fight PD (Oct 2022)

Vitamin D (>50 ng)
1 or more Vitamin D Receptor activators (to get more D to the brain) such as Turmeric, Curcumin, Resveratrol
Vitamin B12
Omega-3 (and decrease Omega-6)
Glutathione anti-oxidant
CoQ10
   perhaps inhaled Vitamin D to get more D to the brain (works in rodents)

Vitamin D Life - 12 Meta-analysis of Parkinson's studies

See also on web

• Clinical Trials of Parkinson's with Vitamin D INTERVENTION 10 trials as of June 2023
• Vitamin D Status and Parkinson’s Disease - June 2022 - https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12060790 FREE PDF
• An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis on the role of vitamins in Parkinson’s disease - Aug 2022 $40
  • Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin E all appear to help, 85 references https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-022-02055-3
• Parkinson's disease: the nutrition perspective - Oct 2021 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665121003645 FREE PDF
• The Emerging Role of Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor of Parkinson’s Disease = June 2022 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-9205-5_12 20-page chapter
• A Review of the Relationship Between Vitamin D and Parkinson's Disease Symptoms - May 2020 https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00454 FREE PDF
• Association Between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - Nov 2018 https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2018.00909 FREE PDF
• Person with PD has videos of his use of THC, CBD, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Coimbra' Protocol to decrease PD
• Aug 2011 mitochondria - Dr. Pressman - video
• March 2011 Dr. Holick- video
• March 2011 Dr. Cannell of the Vitamin D Council - video
• Vitamin D Council on Parkinson's Disease Includes description of 4,000 IU daily of vitamin D treating PD in one person
• Vitamin D Council Overview of Parkinson's Disease by Dr. Grant, 66 references 2010?
• Parkinson's disease and osteoporosis Age Aging, Nov 2012
• Nutriion and PD - includes Vitamin D 2013 21 minute Video by Dr. Donald Ingram
• Keeping Parkinson’s Disease a Secret New York Times July 2012 Nothing on vitamin D - but interesting
• The Prevalence of Stroke in Parkinson's Disease Is High Feb 2014 3-4X higher
• Might be possible for a computer to listen to the voice on phone and diagnose Parkinson's Jan 2013
  The voice cord muscles have similar degradation with PD as do many other muscles.
  The group has gotten >10,000 voice recordings to try to find voice patterns associated with PD
• Parkinson's disease Wikipedia
  PD is more common in the elderly and prevalence rises from 1% in those over 60 years of age to 4% of the population over 80
• Red Headed people are 90% more likely to get PD
  Red Heads sunburn more, so they stay away from the sun more
  Red Heads are more sensitive to pain, an indication of low vitamin D
• Signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease Wikipedia, excellent; Includes Slowed cognitive speed (Bradyphrenia).
• Hypomimia Wikipedia, a medical sign, is a reduced degree of facial expression.
  CLICK HERE for web search of "parkinson's disease" "poker face" >600,000 items Feb 2013

• Interventions that Improve Body and Brain Bioenergetics for Parkinson's Disease Risk Reduction and Therapy. Jan 2014
  diet and lifestyle changes that increase insulin sensitivity. Calorie restriction, exercise, nothing about vitamin D; PDF $27
• PREVALENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE huge variation around the world
• GENETIC CAUSES OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE lots of detail on specific genes, no mention of vitamin D
• A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies 17 new Parkinson's disease risk loci Sept 2017
  Much of the data was from 23andME database, Nothing about Vitamin D. Behind a $5 paywall
• Unrecognized vitamin D3 deficiency is common in Parkinson disease Oct 2013
  deficient in 17.6% of patients with PD compared with 9.3% of controls. Does not assume vitamin D deficiency causes PD
• MRI Brain Scans Detect People with Early Parkinson’s June 2014
  85% chance of correctly detecting early-stage PD. No mention of vitamin D, no mention of prevention
  Has both false positives and false negatives. Only about 20 people tested so far
• The woman who can smell Parkinson's disease BBC News Oct 2015
  Confirmed by 100% correctly identifying "musky odour" of T shirts: 7 with PD, 5 without PD
  She first noticed the odour of her husband before he was diagnosed with PD
• Pot for Parkinson's? The Scientific Evidence Is Compelling Nov 2015
  CBD, which is legal and sold on Amazon, is great for treating PD
  Random Controlled Trial with good results suspected CBD had "anxiolytic," "antidepressant," "anti-psychotic," and "sedative" properties.
• Update Dec 2016 US Drug Enforcement Agency has classifiedCBD as bad as Cocaine, heroin etc
  Note: I am unaware of any cases of CBD addiction
  Link has a 219 pages of studies showing the benefits of CBD
• Gut Microbiota Regulate Motor Deficits and Neuroinflammation in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease
  Cell Dec 2016 "Human gut microbiota from PD patients induce enhanced motor dysfunction in mice"
  Vitamin D not mentioned, but previous studies have shown that Vitamin D influences gut bacteria
  Mercola report on the study points out the gut problems of people 10 years before getting PD
   Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
• Use of Paraquat in the US has increase by 10X in the past decade NYT Dec 2016
  Paraquat is associated with Parkinson's Disease. It is not permitted to be used in China, Europe, etc.
  NYT includes a link to NIH report about Paraquat and PD in 2011 and a link to a Meta-analysis of 2X increase in PD with pesticides/solvents
  US EPA still permits it to be used in 2019
• Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level may be associated with olfactory dysfunction in de novo Parkinson's disease Aug 2018
  doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2018.08.003.
• Bell Peppers to Help Ward Off Parkinson’s Gregor Video Dec 2018 nicotine, not Vitamin D
  "...tobacco is a nightshade plant, so it’s in the same family as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. And guess what? They all contain nicotine as well"

Clinical Trial Effects of Vitamin D in Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Clinical Trial NCT01119131; Start Date: July 2010; Study Ongoing as of July 2015

The proposed study is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled intervention trial to measure the effects of vitamin D at (10,000 IU/day) versus placebo on balance and falls in Parkinson's disease. We will measure static, dynamic, and ambulatory balance, as well as strength, falls, and cognition before and after 16 weeks of therapy. Dynamic posturography will be used to measure static and ambulatory balance, a device called iMOBILITY will measure a timed up and go, and strength will be measured with the Biodex machine checking knee flexion and extension. Multiple quality-of-life and cognitive tests will also be performed.
Comment by Vitamin D Life - unfortunately only 16 weeks and no loading dose.
It is unlikely that very many of the participants will get a high enough vitamin D level to make any difference in 4 months.

Vitamin D Deficiency-Induced Vertebral Fractures May Cause Stooped Posture in Parkinson Disease - 2011

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation:
April 2011 - Volume 90 - Issue 4 - pp 281-286
Sato, Yoshihiro MD; Iwamoto, Jun MD; Honda, Yoshiaki MD

Results: During the 5-yr study period, stooped posture developed in 34 patients; the rest of the 58 patients did not show stooped posture. At baseline, mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels were 10.9 ng/ml and 73.1 pg/ml, respectively, in the stooped group and 18.6 ng/ml and 56.4 pg/ml, respectively, in the nonstooped group. Bone mineral density in the stooped group was significantly lower than in the nonstooped group. Dietary intake of vitamin D in the stooped group was significantly lower than in the nonstooped group.
During the study period, 19 (22%) patients in the nonstooped group developed new vertebral fracture, compared with 23 (100%) patients in the stooped group.
The mean ± SD percentage changes in bone mineral density were ?6.5 ± 0.6 in the stooped group and ?3.8 ± 0.8 in the nonstooped group.
Mean serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D after 5 yrs were 7.0 ng/ml in the stooped group and 14.1 ng/ml in the nonstooped group.

Conclusions: Stooped posture in Parkinson disease may be caused by vertebral fractures resulting from vitamin D deficiency with compensatory hyperparathyroidism.
Vitamin D supplementation may reduce stooped posture in patients with Parkinson disease.
Image from the web

Age-Adjusted death from Parkinson's

22% increase in prevalence of Parkinson's(age-adjusted) 1990 - 2016
"Age-standardized prevalence rates of Parkinson's disease by country varied greater than five times, with the highest rates generally in high-income North America and lowest rates in sub-Saharan Africa

High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D status in patients with early Parkinson disease.

PMID: 21403017 2011  Download PDF from Vitamin D Life

Remember Vitamin D to forget Parkinson’s disease July 2012

review of 30 year study in Finland lowest levels of vitamin D were three times more likely to develop Parkinson’s, compared with the group with the highest levels of vitamin D.

What is Parkinson's (From MJ Fox)

Epidemiology and etiology of Parkinson’s disease - 2011(which does not mention vitamin D)

 Download PDF from Vitamin D Life.

Emerging role of Nutrition in PD - vitamin D and Omega-3 are mentioned - 2014

 Download PDF from Vitamin D Life.

Risk of Dementia reduced 50% by just using Brain Plasticity Software for just 13 hours - Nov 2017

Posit Science - 10 year experiment, full free text online
Speed of processing training results in lower risk of dementia

PD rehabilitation better with Virtual Reality - Review April 2021

Systemic Literature Review of the Use of Virtual Reality for Rehabilitation in Parkinson Disease
 Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life

Excess Manganese increases the Risk of Parkinson's Symptoms (first described in 1837)

• Excess Manganese in well water
• Manganese is used for bleaching at pulp paper plants
  • Increased risk of Parkinson's Symptoms if work at a pulp paper plant that uses Mn
  • A friend of the founder of Vitamin D Life worked in a pulp paper plant and got PD
• Manganese and Parkinson's: Mechanism may explain link March 2019
• Manganese and Parkinson’s Disease: A Critical Review and New Findings - Aug 2010
  • doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901748 FREE PDF
• Manganese-Induced Parkinsonism and Parkinson’s Disease: Shared and Distinguishable Features - July 2015
  • 10.3390/ijerph120707519 FREE PDF - Note: Parkinsonism is bilateral vs PD affects each side of the body differently
• Parkinson-like Symptoms Worsen with Long-Term Exposure to Manganese Parkinson's Foundation - 2016
  • "manganese levels can lead to progressive parkinsonism, a disease that mirrors symptoms of Parkinson’s but is a separate disease
• Manganese in manganism, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Batten disease: A narrative review - 2017
  • DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.217949, "...The collective evidence to date suggests that environmental exposure to excessive amounts of manganese (Mn) can cause a neurodegenerative condition known as manganism. It is now also relatively clear that Mn is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and at least some prion diseases. The potential involvement of Mn in a panel of other neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Batten disease "
• Metals and Parkinson’s Disease: Mechanisms and Biochemical Processes. Curr. Med. Chem. 2018, 25, 2198–2214.
• Toxic-Induced Parkinsonism. In Movement Disorders Curricula; Springer: Vienna, Austria, 2017
• Manganism is a neurological disorder that may occur in response to high inhalation exposures in occupational settings and which is characterized by mood changes and an extrapyramidal syndrome resembling Parkinson disease. 2015 chapter in a book
  • Clumsiness of movement 82%,Exaggeration of reflexes in lower limbs 74%, Hyperemotionalism 71%, Speech disorders 70%, Masque manganique 65%, Spasmodic laughter 47% Difficulty in certain movements 45%, Spasmodic tears 32%, Adiodokinesis 30%

Trichloroethylene increases the risk of PD by 5X - Nov 2023

MDEdge

• "Research done by Dr. Carlie Tanner and Dr. Sam Goldman about a decade ago showed that in twins who were exposed to this through their work (it’s widely used as a degreasing agent) or hobbies (it’s used in printing and painting, by varnish workers, or by anyone that needs it as a solvent) had a 500% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Importantly, in that study, they showed that there was a lag time of 10-40 years between exposure to that chemical and the diagnosis of the disease."
• A good friend of the founder of Vitamin D Life worked as an engineer in a pulp paper plant that used

TCE. After retiring, he got PD. Was greatly helped by Vitamin D until his doctor forced him to take < 2,000 IU daily

PD associated with α-synuclein from colon via vagus nerve, due to more meat and less fiber - Dr. Greger Sept 2021

The Role Meat May Play in Triggering Parkinson’s Disease 5 minute video
From research by M J Fox PD foundation

"End of Alzheimers" protocol can be applied to Parkinson's too

The End of Alzheimer's and Dementia if adjust Vitamin D, B-12, Iron, Omega-3, etc.
Section: Bredesen protocol and Parkinson's

Parkinson's death rate increased 63% from 1999 - 2019

Parkinson’s death rate rising, reasons unclear MDEdge Nov 11, 2021
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000012826

Some Viral infections increase the risk of Parkinson's years later

• Can the Flu Contribute to Parkinson’s Disease? NY Times Dec 20,2021
  • "There was a sharp increase in Parkinson’s cases following the 1918 influenza pandemic. A new study strengthens a link between the two."
• Long-term Risk of Parkinson Disease Following Influenza and Other Infections JAMA Oct 25, 2021
  • 15 years later - Increased risk of PD by 90%
• SARS-CoV-2 may increase the risk of Parkinson's Disease - Dec 2021

All Vitamin D Life items associated with Parkinson's Disease

Associations to PD category:Cognitive 17;   Meta-analysis of Vitamin D 12;   Multiple Sclerosis 11;   Vitamin D Receptor 9;   Falls and Fractures 6;   Top news 5;   Genetics 4;   Virus 4 (as of Oct 2022)

US Parkinson's Disease: 90,000 new cases each year - Dec 2022

NewsMax
108 to 112 of every 100,000 age 65+
U.S. patients living with Parkinson's disease at nearly 1 million,

PD problems reduced by Vitamin B12

• he Link Between Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Parkinson's Disease YouTube Video - May 2023 8 minutes
• Higher vitamin B12 level at Parkinson's disease diagnosis is associated with lower risk of future dementia April 2022
  • Low B12 at PD diagnosis ==> 5X more likely to get dementia
• Changes of Peripheral Nerve Function and Vitamin B12 Level in People With Parkinson's Disease - Oct 2020 https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.549159 FREE PDF

Vitamin D Life – Vitamin B12 contains

Vitamin B12 is not a cofactor of Vitamin D, but it is often needed with Vitamin D
Surfing the web finds

• B12 deficiency increases with age
• B12 appears to have no toxic upper limit
• Some people get frequent B12 injections or I.V, to restore levels
  • Injection may not be needed
• Only a small portion of B12 taken orally gets into the bloodstream
  • Sublingual B12 may not have that problem
• B12 is stored in the liver – half-life of > 2 years - But. Dr. Greger says to take it weekly or daily
• B12 deficiency symptoms include poor gut - which can reduce uptake of Vitamin D
  • unless use gut-friendly forms of Vitamin D, including topical
• B12 can be supplemented via pills, sublingual, transdermal patch, injection, emulsion, and spray
  • As with Vitamin D, a massive (loading) dose can restore levels quickly
  • Nano forms of B12 are more bio-available - as with many other supplements

TaiChi - 12 weeks online, reduced PD gate and posture problems - Sept 2023

Effects of a 12-week online Tai Chi intervention on gait and postural stability in individuals with Parkinson’s disease FREE PDF

Microplastics might be a cause of Parkinson's - Nov 2023

In Vitamin D Life
Nanoplastics have just been found to be in neurons of mice, causing PD like problems
No evidence of nanplastics in humans - YET.

Poor gut bacteria ==> Parkinson's? - Jan 2024

How gut bacteria connect to Parkinson’s disease Knowable Magazine
Includes link to Metagenomics of Parkinson’s disease implicates the gut microbiome in multiple disease mechanisms - Nov 2022 FREE PDF

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