https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3689-9970
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ABSTRACT
Background
Parkinson's disease (PD) in elderly patients is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. The pathogenesis of PD is associated with dopaminergic neuron degeneration of the substantia nigra in the basal ganglia, causing classic motor symptoms. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation have been identified as possible pathways in laboratory investigations. Nutrition, a potentially versatile factor from all environmental factors affecting PD, has received intense research scrutiny.
Methods
A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases from 2000 until the present. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs), observational case–control studies, and follow-up studies were included.
Results
We retrieved fifty-two studies that met the inclusion criteria. Most selected studies investigated the effects of malnutrition and the Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) on PD incidence and progression. Other investigations contributed evidence on the critical role of microbiota, vitamins, polyphenols, dairy products, coffee, and alcohol intake.
Conclusions
There are still many concerns regarding the association between PD and nutrition, possibly due to underlying genetic and environmental factors. However, there is a body of evidence revealing that correcting malnutrition, gut microbiota, and following the MeDiet reduced the onset of PD and reduced clinical progression. Other factors, such as polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and coffee intake, can have a potential protective effect. Conversely, milk and its accessory products can increase PD risk. Nutritional intervention is essential for neurologists to improve clinical outcomes and reduce the disease progression of PD.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Vittorio Emanuele Bianchi
Dr. Vittorio Emanuel Bianchi, MD, graduated at the University of Bologna in 1976, specialist in Internal Medicine in 1981, and Sports Medicine in 1985. Researcher in internal medicine until 1990 and then at the University of Parma from 2001 until 2004, he has conducted clinical studies on nutrition, metabolism and diabetes. Now he is director of the center of Nutrition, Endocrinology, and metabolism in the Republic of San Marino. Last studies have been conducted on the effect of nutrition and androgens on the neurodegenerative diseases.
Laura Rizzi
Dr. Laura Rizzi, Researcher at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca. (RtdA, 2019). She graduated in 2008 in Biology and in 2013 she obtained a Ph.D. in Biomedical Techology. She has been performing preclinical research with a postdoc position in the Laboratory of Pharmacology. From the academic year 2009/2010 she is Tutor of Pharmacology at the Medical School of the University of Milano-Bicocca. Current research interests are the study of the mechanisms involved in the endocrine and extraendocrine activities of the growth hormone secretagogues in a model of cachexia and obesity and protective action in a model of ARDS. Other research lines focus on gender medicine and nutraceutics, in particular the role of nutrition in the pathogenesis and evolution of neurodegenerative disease. She is a member of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) and Italian Society of Nutraceutic (SINut). She won an award with best poster for “Le basi farmacologiche dei nutraceutici”.
Fahad Somaa
Fahad Somaa PhD. 2008 – 2010 Bachelor of Medical Science, University of Sydney 2011–2012 Master of Brain and Mind Science, at University of Sydney (Brain and mind science institute). 2012 – 2016 PhD in Neuroscience at Florey Neuroscience institute (University of Melbourne). My PhD thesis studies were undertaken at the Florey Neuroscience Institute, under focuses on improving cell therapy for brain injuries after Stroke & Parkinson disease. We identify new and important roles for the meningeal cells, and SDF1/CXCR4 signaling, in ventral midbrain development as well as neural repair following cell transplantation into the Parkinsonian brain. 2019 – 2020 Assistant professor at King Abdulaziz University, Department of rehabilitation. 2018 – 2019 Medical director of Al-Shakreen Polyclinic. Managed 41employees, including doctors, nurses, and customer services. 2016 – 2018 Post-doc position at Children's national hospital in Washington DC at center of Neuroscience Medical Center (affiliated with George Washington University). I am currently working as an ASSISTANT PROFESSOR at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. I am also a member of the Ethical Committee of Scientific Research at King Abdulaziz University.