Title:Parkinson’s Disease: Is there a Role for Dietary and Herbal Supplements?
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Author(s): Olakunle J. Onaolapo, Ademola O. Odeniyi and Adejoke Y. Onaolapo*
Affiliation:
- Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, Neurobiology Subdivision, Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State,Nigeria
Keywords:
Antioxidant, nutrition, disease-modifying, neurodegeneration, herbal, food.
Abstract: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterised by degeneration of the neurons of the nigrostriatal
dopaminergic pathway of the brain. The pharmacological cornerstone of PD management is
mainly the use of dopamine precursors, dopamine receptor agonists, and agents that inhibit the biochemical
degradation of dopamine. While these drugs initially provide relief to the symptoms and
improve the quality of life of the patients, progression of the underlying pathological processes,
such as oxidative stress and neuroinflammation (which have been strongly associated with PD and
other neurodegenerative disorders), eventually reduce their benefits, making further benefits achievable,
only at high doses due to which the magnitude and frequency of side-effects are amplified. Also,
while it is becoming obvious that mainstream pharmacological agents may not always provide
the much-needed answer, the question remains what succour can nature provide through dietary
supplements, nutraceuticals and herbal remedies? This narrative review examines current literature
for evidence of the possible roles (if any) of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements and herbal remedies
in the prevention or management of PD by examining how these compounds could modulate
key factors and pathways that are crucial to the pathogenesis and/or progression of PD. The likely
limitations of this approach and its possible future roles in PD prevention and management are also
considered.
