"Too skinny" . . Protein - Good or Bad?

[hardtop03]

I have read that PD patients should eat a low protein diet to help w/ the dopamine levels in the body. Is this the same for 'protein supplements'? How about 'Whey' protein?

I'm looking to add some weight, I've lost 12 pounds of muscle.

[wordworks2001]

Protein enzymes can adversely effect the absorption of the l-dopa. I am not sure if the source of the protein matters. I know some people are affected by this phenomenon more than others.

[liljulez]

A few years ago i was hospitalised and lost one and a half stone it has taken me 5 years to put that plus another half stone ........alot of carbs later my muscle tone is back!! it s not easy and a whole lotta little meals a day...good lluck !

[soup]

It might pay you to get some advice about your nutrition from an expert. (One who understands about protein and L-Dopa.) The general advice about protein with Parkinson's is to concentrate your protein in one main meal separated from your l-Dopa meds. It doesn't matter what the source of proteinis and for me, protein shakes would be too easy to slip down whenever I fancy. Protein, whatever the source, competes with the L-Dopa absobtion sites in your gut if it is there at the same time as you meds.

Eating protein doesn't lead to muscle building if not part of an exercise programme. The body just strips off the nitrogen and uses what's left as carbohydrates. Take some time to build a food diary and try to calculate how many calories you are eating daily. If your meds or treatments have not controlled you Parkinson's movement symptoms like tremor and dystonia, you may be burning more calories than you realise.

Good luck,

Sue

[PatV]

I lost muscle in my butt after my hernia operation. Took months of exercise to get any back at all. Since my wearing off necessitated taking sinimet 5x daily I had to eat 5 meals or snacks. I feel like a juggler getting enough fiber and calories. My pants fit, but I want my butt back!

[judam9]

annie, i take carbidopa-levodopa without miramex. and so far as been doing pretty good.

i've been given other drugs for PD. and all of them has caused a lot of falling. but not this particular dosage which i take three times a day. with food.

i saw my GP last tuesday after a blood test the week before. and he said my protein is perfect. but have lost 40 lbs. in the past year. down to 101 lbs. i haven't found the protein to build any muscles. just lose them. i had quite a bit of muscle as for 40 years i was a woodcaryer [sculptor in hard woods. ] which gave me a lot of muscle. i have been tested for strokes , but nothing is showing -up. is protein not good to take for trying to keep muscle growth. ? there is so much i just don't understand.

[Dennis]

I too have experienced much of what you have written on. I have gone from 180 to 117 and with EnSure and other things I can't gain weight and am so weak. When people see me who have not seen me in a while say "You look frail." ~~Dennis