January 31, 2007

Parkinson's Disease: A Nut and Seed Deficiency?

If you don't eat enough of certain foods early in life, it may cause problems many years later.

The stage for Parkinson's Disease, a progressive nervous system disorder, maybe set earlier in life by a deficiency of antioxidant Vitamin E.

That is a theory explored by Lawrence Golbe, M.D., a neurologist at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

In a study of 106 Parkinson's patients, he found that women with the disease were less likely as young adults to have eaten peanuts and peanut butter, high in Vitamin E. Men patients had skimped on salads with dressings earlier in life. The oil in salad dressing is rich in Vitamin E.

Another study showed that people free of Parkinson's said as young adults they ate more seeds, nuts and salad oils, rich in Vitamin E.

Thus, researchers speculate that too little Vitamin E foods earlier in life might somehow leave the brain vulnerable to the onset of Parkinson's years later.

There's even preliminary evidence that massive doses of Vitamin E (800 to 3,000 units daily) may slow progression of the disease.

More extensive tests of Vitamin E theraphy for Parkinson's are ongoing.

[Source: Food Your Miracle Medicine by Jean Carper]

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