Parkinson’s Disease Summer School – therapies included 60-80 ng of Vitamin D – Sept 2019

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The Top Things I Learned in Parkinson’s Summer School

$5,000 for 1 week conference/summer school
Laurie K. Mischley, a naturopathic doctor, assembled approximately 60 people with Parkinson’s for a conference at Bastyr University’s Seattle campus in August. The six-day “summer school” included lectures, exercise classes, and nutrition advice designed to improve each patient’s experience with Parkinson’s and possibly slow progression

Part of a project “Complementary & Alternative Medicine Care in Parkinson's Disease (CAM Care in PD)

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3. Disease progression may be slowed with some supplements
Mischley recommends the following to potentially slow disease progression:

Glutathione: intranasal is better than capsules, but much more expensive;
CoQ10: has mitochondrial/cellular protection properties;
Turmeric/curcumin: curcumin exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and may be neuroprotective;
DHA: has anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Absorption of nutrients and medications is important
Just taking medications and vitamins is not enough. The body must properly absorb them. Even though I was taking a lot of supplements (B, D, omega-3 fatty acids), my lab results showed that I was deficient in these substances, which may indicate that my body is not properly absorbing them. I have always felt that the carbidopa/levodopa (C/L) I was taking did not really help my symptoms. Perhaps my body was not absorbing that medication properly, either.

A suggested way to optimize C/L absorption is to take nonbuffered vitamin C, such as Emergen-C, with medication. CDP-choline and a digestive enzyme supplement were also recommended to possibly improve nutrient and medication absorption.

5. People with Parkinson’s typically show common nutrient deficiencies
Through her research, Mischley has found that there is some commonality in out-of-range lab test results among people with Parkinson’s:

vitamin D* (Mischley recommends maintaining a level between 60 and 80 ng/ml, which is higher than the common reference range of 20-50 ng/ml.)
homocysteine*
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein*
EPA/DHA (omega-3 fatty acids)*
arachidonic acid* (The ratio of EPA omega-3s must be in line with this value.)
HbA1c*
uric acid
serum B12*
* I was out of range in these areas

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Overview Parkinson's and Vitamin D in VitaminDWiki contains the following summary__

• 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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