The metabolic dysfunction theory as I understand it, states that the energy production factories inside the cells, i.e. the mitochondria, are for some reason not producing sufficient energy supply for the cells to survive, thus they die off.
For instance, the dramatic decrease of dopaminergic neurons or 'brain cells' in PWP.
If that's the case, then would absorbing regular doses of electrolytes help to kick-start our brain cells' energy production ?
I would be interested in your thoughts and experiences regarding the perceived benefits of electrolyte drinks, or for that case, ketone esters.
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Dehydration and related potassium deficiencies seem to be factors in PD from the research papers. We've been working on ways to increase hydration for my husband - SCFAs and more alkaline mineral rich foods, especially smoothies. So far he is up 10 pounds, and gradually gaining weight from his post Covid low, and tremors seem to be gradually decreasing. Cod liver oil and omega3 foods also seem to help. I don't know anything about keytone esters and he isn't drinking any manufactured electrolyte drinks, just eating more traditionally hydrating foods, like watermelon and cucumber. It is too early to claim success, but he seems to be trending towards gradual improvement.
We are rethinking watermelon because it is a diuretic, and my husband is already dehydrated. His diet is still a work in progress, but we're currently looking at a combination of the PRAL DIET (1/3 acid foods and 2/3 alkaline (which includes higher potassium and magnesium rich foods - which tend to be more hydrating) and lower lectins (he has leaky gut). Not eliminating lectin foods (Dr. Gundry style), just preparing them more traditionally to reduce lectins (Blue Zone style), bluezones.com/2020/03/the-t....
It is difficult to determine whether PD is a result of mitochondria (metabolic) deficiencies or whether these metabolic issues are caused by PD. Some research suggests the former.
In any event. Two key areas are:
1. Insulin resistance. PD increases insulin resistance which prevents glucose from being an efficient energy substrate for the neurone. For example it has been shown that in heart cells Glucose when combined with Insulin is 28% efficient per molecule of oxygen consumed. However, without insulin this drops off to only 10%.
2. The Electron Transport Chain (ETC) which generates ATP (the metabolic currency of energy) is compromised. The ETC comprises of subunits complex I to IV, and complex 1 is considered to be faulty.
Possible mitigation strategies.
a) Use Ketones as an alternative or additive fuel source. Ketones use a different transport mechanism to glucose, so the use of this fuel by the cell is not impacted by insulin resistance.
Note: How to increase ketones effectively is a complete topic in itself. However, with Ketone Esters it is now possible to get high levels of Ketone in the blood without fasting, or going on a whole fat diet. Buyer beware though - because there's lots of false marketing and it is worth pointing out that only two companies make genuine Ketone esters (KetoneAid and DeltaG) and they are expensive. A cheap alternative is to using MCT oils, specifically C8 (caprylic acid). C8 will only have a moderate impact compared to Ketone Esters but nevertheless it has been shown that 3 tablespoons a day of this will provide around 8% of the brains energy needs, reducing the dependency on glucose by around 5%).
In addition Ketones help support the ETC and the production of ATP, so it is thought that they might mitigate some of the impact of the faulty Complex 1 and also reduce the consequent oxidative stress.
b) I've also heard that the co-enzyme 10 and riboflavin also help in mitigate issues with Complex 1 - but I haven't researched this fully yet - so am loath to comment more.
For details about Ketones. I highly recommend the following sources:
Youtube videos and science papers by Professor Cunnane.
The work and papers of Professor Richard Veech and Kieran Clarke.
The book 'Ketones - the fourth fuel - from Warburg, Krebs to Veech'
On this last point - Warburgs won the nobel prize, he mentored Krebs, who also won the nobel prize. Krebs mentored Prof Veech, who developed the first Ketone Esters (along with Keiran Clarke)
Interestingly, potassium is also low in diabetes, according to the research papers. And the best diet for diabetes? The most effective diets I have read about in the research papers are not low carb, but high carb, alkaline mineral rich, macrobiotic diets.
Macrobiotic diets for diabetes - nutritionfacts.org/blog/doe... , "Why are macrobiotic diets apparently so effective at reducing blood sugar levels in diabetics within just a few weeks’ time? The diet is centered around whole grains—brown rice, barley, and millet—so might the high fiber intake improve the gut microbiome, the friendly flora in our colon, which then leads to a reduction in insulin resistance? Or, perhaps it’s because the diet is also rich in vegetables, so that corrects some kind of low-grade acidosis from the high levels of animal protein in their regular (non-macrobiotic) diets. Regardless of the reason, researchers found a significant difference after just 21 days. "
Useful, oh yes indeed ! I’ve battled with glucose since early years, now I’m paying the price. Thus my keen interest in ketone esters which I will now explore more in depth. Many thanks.
First, it important to state that Ketones are naturally produced by the body as an alternative fuel when we are in a state of hunger. Orginally, we were hunter/gatherers and our natural state was to be hungry much of the time. So we were metabolically flexible - using ketones when we were hungry and switching to glycolysis and glycogen in times of plenty.
Insulin resistance is a relatively modern metabolic condition - bought about by eating too regularly highly glycemic foods and the Ketone pathway is rarely engaged.
Ketone esters are a type of ketone supplement. They bind BHB (which is the most important ketone body called Beta-hydroxybutrate) with an alcohol molecule rather than a salt (known as a Ketone Salt).
Ketone esters are very easily metabolised by the body and deliver more Ketones than Ketone Salts - and without potential side effects of the salts on the body. The downside is that they are very expensive. When they were first developed production cost was around $3000 per litre!! Now the production cost, with volume, is much reduced - about $200 per litre - but it means that they are still expensive. A small bottle with 50ml will cost around $30.
There's lots of false advertising with companies claiming to be 'esters' when they are not. Only two companies produce it as far as I am aware. KetoneAid has a product called KE4. The UK company is DeltaG.
The DeltaG site has several science papers and is where Ketone Esters were first developed.
The development of Ketone Esters were financed by the US Defence department in the UK in the lab of Richard Veech and Kieran Clark.
The defence department financed it because Ketones are a highly efficient fuel and benefit the endurance and cognitive faculties of soldiers in the field of operations. As a result Ketones Esters are also now widely used in endurance sports, particularly cycling and long-distance triathlons. They spare glucose resources for athletes and also help with recovery. Many cyclists with the Tour De France use them - including Mark Cavendish, who just got the record for winning the most stages.
Just a follow on to my last message in case it may be of interest and provides some possible other mitigation strategies and further explanation.
Food is broken down into glucose, which is then turned in pyruvate by glycolysis. The pyruvate is then converted into Acetyl-coA by an enzyme complex called PDH (Pyruvate Dehydrogenase)
Acetyl-coA is what is fed into the Kreb cycle and then the ETC. It is the vital component in delivering energy, linking glycolysis with the Krebs cycle.
Insulin resistance impacts the ability of PDH to produce as much Acetyl-coA.
Ketones bypass the PDH and produce Acetyl-coA directly. However, another possibility is to find ways to upregulate the PDH. 3 supplements or chemicals may help.
1. Thiamine (B1) - this is essential for PDH activity. It may be one of the reasons why many with PD take it as a supplement
2. Lipoic Acid - this is a cofactor of PDH and there's some evidence to say it may enhance PDH activity due to insulin resistance
3. Salts of DCA (Decholoracetate) have been studied as potential drugs because they inhibit the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase which in turn inactivates PDH.
Hope this all makes sense. It is difficult not to be a little technical if one is to explain it at all!
Are you selling electrolytes? Because that's the only possibility that makes any sense behind your narrowly crafted and restricted hypothetical syllogism.
MarionP, electrolytes are sold in the large sports stores here in Paris (France). I can give you the address if you wish. You're right, I'm totally ignorant about PD in general and about electrolytes in particulier. However, thanks to the kind and considerate people on this blog, I've learned a lot about Ketone esters and some alternative approaches to boosting my fatigued mitochondria. I appreciate you sharing your reaction with me, I wish you a good day.
I do not know why or how they work but sports drinks with electrolytes are on my grocery list and I drink them in small amounts cold on ice many times each and every day . The absorption and transport of electrolytes to the brain must be sublingual as well as through the the hydration because the feeling of a fog lifting is almost instantaneous. Try it for your self, many differant kinds ,sugar free etc and some have more electros and some taste very good. if you watch you will find them on sale in larger quantity cases and one bottle can last a day, except for mango , it is consumed rather quickly and takes more bottles .
I added this to another post when a person noted they were falling but will add here too since the discussion is focused on electrolytes. But it looks like you know more than I do.
Hi, my husband has PD. He had trouble with falling and something he said about how he was feeling made me think of electrolytes. I gave him some potassium (Dr Berg's brand - powder easy to get enough) that I happen to have on hand. Then I read that PD peeps have a deficiency in potassium. I make sure he takes some every other day and include avocados with dinner. He hasn't had a problem with falling since then - worth a try-
oh testing for potassium - google it - there's a much truer test than usual one the doctors prescribe. We didn't test him though, just use the powder potassium and avocados.
Hope this helps because it'd be an easy fix for a serious problem (falling)
MilkyWayHome, your input is precious, I will investigate the relationship between potassium and electrolytes, if any, and come back to you on that one. All the best for your husband.
Perhaps I should also note that 2 yrs after my "guesstimate" concerning my husband's potassium deficiency, a friend of a friend (an international dancer all her life) started fainting/blacking out and was having major,major memory problems. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and I was told she had a SEVERE potassium deficiency. It was from this info that I learned of better tests for potassium (vs reg doctor's test prescriptions) plus a few other postings.... after potassium treatment, she became much better - still in assisted living... I plan to follow up shortly to see how she's doing.
MilkyWayHome, who knows, perhaps your guesstimate also applies to me ? Life is full of surprises, some good, some not so good. Therefore I just upped my daily Potassium Citrate supplement from 400mg to 2 x 400mg, we'll see.
MilyWayHome, as promised, here's what I now understand a little bit better about electrolytes:
What are electrolytes ?
Electrolytes are specialised minerals, like sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate, and magnesium which are essential to the body’s proper functioning.
Potassium – helps regulate blood pressure, Magnesium - lets many enzymes function, Sodium and Chloride - helps restore the body's fluid balance after prolonged sweating, illness or if someone has taken diuretic medications
We may also recall that Magnesium and Potassium supplements are an integral part of the High Dose Thiamine (B1) therapy, a strategy which is often addressed within this forum.
Transporters such as glucose allow your body's cells to effectively absorb electrolytes, and as a result, bring fluid in as well via osmosis.
Thus the main purpose of an electrolyte drink is to help you rehydrate and replenish essential mineral deficiencies that may be either a sign-post characteristic of a chronic diseases like Parkinson’s, or the short-term result of prolonged vigorous-intensity physical efforts, athletes for instance.
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