Parkinson's in a nutshell: No vitamin B6, no dopamine.

PARKINSON'S IN A NUTSHELL: 

NO VITAMIN B6, NO DOPAMINE. 

The more homocysteine, the worse the Parkinson's?

An elevated level of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood is neurotoxic and has been reported as a very important risk factor for developing Parkinson's, as well as cardiovascular disease and dementia in the general population (McCully 1969, Boushey 1995, Seshadri 2002). Homocysteine increases oxidative stress, compromises mitochondrial function, and ultimately leads to neuronal apoptosis or death. In addition, a strong link has been found between homocysteine and DNA damage and excitotoxicity. All of them with an essential role in neurodegeneration (Mattson 2002, Zoccolella 2006. Martignoni 2007).

A level above 20 micromoles/L, increases the risk of developing Parkinson's up to 8.64 times (Saadat 2018). The title of his study is very clear: "Serum Homocysteine Level in Parkinson's Disease and Its Association with Duration, Cardinal Manifestation, and Severity of Disease." It's worth reading again...

Parkinson's patients have high homocysteine and those taking levodopa even higher (Mattson 2003, Obeid 2007). Some authors claim that a high level is largely responsible for the current progression of the disease (Yasui 2000, Muller 2001). This seems so, so important to me, that I think it's worth reading several times...

It also crosses and damages the blood-brain barrier, which is responsible for protecting the brain (Beard 2011, Kanath 2006, Tyagi 2008). A supplement of vitamin B9 or folic acid (alone or with vitamins B6 and B12) has been shown to reduce the level of homocysteine (Reutens 2002, Siniscalchi 2005, Postuma 2006) and damage to the aforementioned protective barrier (Kalani 2014).

A diet rich in vitamin B9 prevents Parkinson's by 49% (Religa 2006).

Neurologists such as Alhskog, Marjama-Lyons, Siniscalchi, González Maldonado, etc. recommend the use of B9 or the three B vitamins (B6, B9 and B12).

Already in 1998, Malinow published the very interesting results of his study Fortification of cereals with 499 and 665 mg of folic acid,
increased vitamin B9 in the blood by 64.8% and 105.7%, respectively. And homocysteine decreased by 11.0% and 14.0% (Malinow 1998).

The use of folic acid is very well tolerated. Pregnant women are prescribed 400 mcg/day to prevent malformations in the fetus. Ahlskog recommends to its Parkinson patients 2 mg B9, 25 mg B6 and 2000 mcg (2 mg) B12 to control the levels of the dangerous homocysteine.

If Parkinson's could be seen as a parasitic plant that feeds on host roots, homocysteine would be one of the main, if not the most important, root. And its "antidote" is something simple, cheap and safe (Nallamothu 2000): vitamin B9 or folic acid, folate... alone or together with vitamins B6 and B12.

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I would like to recall the work of two scientists. 

The first one, the American pathologist Kilmer McCully, who was a pioneer in the investigation of the damage produced by high levels of homocysteine, especially to the cardiovascular system (1969) and who left us a surprising phrase: 

"Homocysteine is associated with more than a hundred diseases".

The second, to the Spanish neurologist Rafael González Maldonado, author of the book "Heterodox treatments in Parkinson's disease" (2004, 2013). He showed us already in those early dates the decisive importance of folic acid and homocysteine in Parkinson's disease. His book was key for my father and me. It has not yet been translated into English and other languages, despite being one of the most important books I know for patients and their families. One of the paradoxes of the Parkinson's world. 

Controlling homocysteine with vitamin B9 is still a pending subject in the Parkinson's world. I think it would change the disease as we know it today. Another one of those paradoxes that is so difficult to explain. 

WARNING: Despite the safety of folic acid or vitamin B9, it is always advisable to consult a neurologist in each case.