Glutathione fights Parkinson's Disease - May 2024

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From Perplexity AI - May 2024

14 references
Glutathione, a naturally occurring antioxidant, has been extensively studied for its potential benefits in treating Parkinson's Disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. The research on glutathione's effectiveness in PD treatment presents a complex picture, with studies indicating both potential benefits and limitations.

Role of Glutathione in Parkinson's Disease

Glutathione plays a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, which is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of PD. In PD patients, glutathione levels are notably lower in the brain, particularly in the substantia nigra, the region most affected by the disease 7. This deficiency is linked to increased oxidative stress and neuronal damage 8.

Clinical Studies and Trials

Several clinical trials have explored the efficacy of glutathione in PD treatment, particularly focusing on its ability to alleviate symptoms and possibly slow disease progression:

• Intranasal Glutathione: Intranasal administration has been a focus due to its potential to increase glutathione levels directly in the brain. Studies have shown that intranasal glutathione can be safe and increase glutathione levels in the brain34. However, the clinical benefits observed have been modest. For instance, a Phase IIb study indicated that while there was a mild improvement in PD symptoms as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the placebo group also showed improvement, making the results inconclusive4.
• Intravenous Glutathione: Early studies on intravenous glutathione suggested improvements in motor symptoms of PD patients, but these studies were limited by small sample sizes and lack of control groups 7. Larger, randomized controlled trials are necessary to validate these findings.
• Oral and Other Forms: Oral supplementation of glutathione has not been very effective due to poor absorption and bioavailability3. Other forms like sublingual or intravenous administration have been explored, but these methods also face challenges such as invasiveness and practicality for regular use 9.

Research Findings and Limitations

Research indicates that glutathione supplementation might have some neuroprotective effects in PD, potentially due to its antioxidative properties56. However, the evidence is not robust enough to conclusively determine its efficacy in reducing PD symptoms or slowing disease progression. The variability in study results, particularly the significant placebo effects observed in some trials, suggests that more rigorous and larger-scale studies are needed 4 5.

Conclusion

While glutathione has shown promise in preliminary studies, particularly in its potential to mitigate oxidative stress associated with PD, the clinical benefits in terms of symptom relief and disease modification remain to be conclusively demonstrated. Ongoing research and future trials will be crucial in determining the role of glutathione in PD treatment, considering its safety profile and the critical need for more effective therapies in managing Parkinson's Disease 4 5 7.

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VitaminDWiki - Overview Parkinson's and Vitamin D contains :

• Vitamin D associated with Parkinson’s Disease in 55 studies, more studies needed- March 2022
• Parkinson's category has 117 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 (24 studies), Multiple Sclerosis (18 studies), VIRUS (4 studies), Omega-3 (3 studies), Vitamin D Receptor (11 studies)
• Note by the Founder of VitaminDWiki: 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

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VitaminDWiki - Glutathione and Vitamin D synergism - many studies