The Role of Intermittent Fasting in Parkinson's Disease

[Farooqji]

PD is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder with hallmark pathologic features including alpha-synuclein accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Targeting mitochondrial activity and oxidative stress may promote beneficial effects on PD. IF may positively impact the pathological mitochondrial changes seen in PD. It has minimal side effects and is less restrictive than other commonly used dietary interventions. Without disease-modifying treatment, we must continue to explore novel therapeutic approaches that target clinically relevant pathology. Lastly, IF may be an adjunctive treatment to counter pathophysiologic disease mechanisms and enhance therapeutic response.

frontiersin.org/articles/10...

[JBOVERT]

Yes to IF is what I say since returning from a long long overdue trip to the states I have been following the protocolof IF. I have been cool and calm and I have lost weight Its all good...and actually it s great for your mind and your body..., I recommend it to anyone thats likes to change for free

[kaypeeoh]

Well ****. I've never been good at moderation. Hence I've gone on fasts that lasted for 3 months and a few that lasted much longer. The moderate approach never much appealed. I'll have to try a modified fast: No breakfast, lunch at noon and dinner at 6PM. That'll give me a daily fast of 18 hours.

[Art_lover45 in reply to kaypeeoh]

If you want to try intermittent fasting try Dr. Michael Moseley whose fasting regime is a revelation. Lose weight, feel well and never be hungry again. It is just plain common sense by a doctor who crossed the States interviewing bedridden people who had gone too far. The secret is that you have two days on and two days off. Or three days off and two days on. The regime allows you to fast at a total of 800 calories for two days a week - not even necessarily consecutive days and the rest of the week eat what you like. It just adjusts the mind set and you never go back. My conspicuous other and I both lost a bit over a stone - enough for us and we have kept it off. Give it a go you won't regret it - promise!!!

[kaypeeoh in reply to Art_lover45]

The name is familiar. I think he was on PBS. That's the public channel in the U.S.

[Alekyz]

Hi. I tried intermitente fasting only to conclude that I have a big relation between my symptoms and food. If I skip a meal the pain in my arm increases and if I continue longer without eating it gets worst to the point where I can hardly bend it. If at that point I eat something (carbs work best) I recover my mobility in about 5 min. I find it very strange. Has any one experienced something similar? My symptoms currently are just this pain in the inner elbow and foot dystonia. So right now I am able to manage the pain by keeping some food around al the time. I am 48, take sinemet 3x a day, have been on exenatide since January and do plenty of exercise (yoga, pilates, stair climbing and crossfight). All my other symptoms have mainly disappeared and I am optimistic with the evolution so far. Lets see how it goes from here.

[kaypeeoh in reply to Alekyz]

For me eating or not doesn't seem to affect medication.

The purpose in fasting is to use up glycogen stored in liver and blood. When it's gone the body must burn fat for energy. I ran a 50 mile race while fasting. Late in the race I got cramps in my legs, back, shoulder and neck. If I slowed to a walk they stopped but if I tried to run they came back. I was the last finisher.

Before the race I had set up a tent, planning to sleep in it and drive home the next morning. But during the night it got quite cold and that triggered cramping muscles everywhere. I crawled to my truck, sat in the passenger seat and turned the heat on full-force. By dawn I was able to drive but had to keep the heater on full for the three-hour drive home.

There is a lot of medline articles on mitochondrial dysfunction and PD. They suggest the root problem in PD is mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria produce ATP, the energy needed by the body.