This is the subject of my current research, much of which focuses on combatting oxidative stress.
This review is a useful starting place, but it does not identify the silver bullet that will stop or definitively slow down PD. I believe that there are numerous reasons for this.
The active agents in dietary supplements (as in food) often have a low bioavailability. This is the case for polyphenols which are excellent antioxidants found in fruit, nuts and vegs. Consequently, no single food supplement, even those rich in polyphenols, delivers enough active agent to produce a measurable effect. What could help is a diet rich in all the different polyphenols such that their cumulative effect combats the oxidative stress of foods and metabolites that release reactive oxygen species. If you then want to add supplements, look for those where the bioavailability has been improved compared to the raw food extract.
Another aspect is that once the redox balance is established, it will take a long time for cells to recover their full function. Although, in vitro experiments may prove antioxidant potency, most human trials are not long enough to enable the full impact of the renewed redox balance to be felt. Trials lasting less than 6 months may not be significant.
Another excellent post! My husband is taking most of these supplements and hope for the best.
After our (his) post up appointment on Tuesday, he will stop his meds and back on GJ. For more than 6 weeks (prior and after procedure) he stopped B1 IM injections. About 2-3 weeks ago he started B1-Allithiamine (capsule) to avoid trips to the doctor or pharmacist for his injections as he was still weak. Allithiamine has helped him a lot! Today he also started B1 injections. Pharmacist told him he doesn't have to stop Allithiamine, as he sees no problem having both. I am not sure if that is true. Any insight?
Hi Despe, good to hear from you and that Ray continues to improve.
I'm no longer actively pursuing the Grapefruit juice research as such. I'm convinced that what I have uncovered is valid and I continue to use it. We now have to get clinical researchers to do a trial. This will be difficult partly because there's no $$ to be made and not much glory in the scientific discovery, since my work posted on Researchgate, even though not peer reviewed, will predate any future work, but I'm still trying to find a clinician to collaborate with.
I have now moved on to diet and food supplements, initially convinced of its utility by the work of Dr Laurie Mischely. I have written to her twice to get clarification on interpretation of some points, but unfortunately have received no reply.
My interpretation is that some foods and their metabolites cause oxidative stress (oxidizing and damaging cell membranes, DNA and mitochondria) leading to inflammation, whereas other foods have the opposite effect and are antioxidants that neutralise this effect (the chemical term is "reducing agents"), and some are also anti-inflammatory.
The first thing to do is to rduce the quantity of oxidants consumed in the diet to as near zero as possible. Dr Mischely's paper clearly identifies these (canned fruit and veg, dairy products, red meat, sodas, etc.). But we have to go further since the levodopa taken by PD patients produces metabilites in the brain that are also oxidants and therefore contribute to the problem.
To counter this, the diet must have excess redox balance, I.e more antioxidants than oxidants. Once again Dr Mischley's paper clearly identifies which to choose, fresh fruit and veg, salads, nuts, olive oil, fish, herbs and spices, red wine, whole seeds, eggs etc.
However, pure numbers in the redox equation are not enough. It turns out that many antioxidants in plants are so tightly bound to plant structures (seeds, fruit and leaf skins and fibres), that they are very poorly absorbed in the intestines. The problem is we don't yet know which plants actually deliver the best quantities and under what conditions. Some fruits may be rich in antioxidants whereas the juices made from them may not contain so much. Of course the label does not tell you this. This is why the best solution is a very varied diet of these whole foods to make sure some gets through.
This is where supplements can help. The simple fact that some supplements are ground to a fine powder helps with their bioavailability. Others may be extracted with alcohol or absorbed into oils for the same reason. The bioavailability of the active agents in supplements is therefore a considerable asset and should be taken into account when choosing supplements.
Albert, the diet you are referring to is the Mediterranean diet which I grew up with. Although I respect Dr. Mischley, there are a couple to food items I don't agree with her--red meat and dairy. Read meat in moderation is needed for muscles, especially in older patients, and dairy in the form of yogurt or kefir are needed for gut health. I never consumed the typical American diet whereas my husband and Dr. Mischley consumed it, as she confessed, for many years as children and young adults (at least my husband was until he met me and we got married :)). I don't believe that PD in my husband's case was/is the result of poor diet, but rather STRESS. We don't eat any different than we have been for the last four decades, but as you point out supplements will definitely compliment a healthy diet. My mentality: EVRYTHING IN MODERATION!
I am sorry you haven't heard from Dr. Mischley. Is there something I can help with?
Art posted on AMLA supplement, another excellent ANTIOXIDANT. I emailed her with links that Art provided and ask her to give us her opinion.
I read Art's article on Amla with great interest. I've ordered some Amla from India.
Concerning Dr Mischley's survey, I have worked on multi-parameter regression models which map to data like the one she reports on. They're not perfect and are sensitive to the mathematical model being relevant to the data and to the data being reliable, which is the weak part of Dr Mischley's survey. Industry uses them to find relations between optimal measureable properties and the optimal composition of materials for example. By randomly varying the composition and measuring the parameter you want to optimise, the method converges on the composition that will give the best results without ever actually having tested it and without having to understand the science behind it. This technique does however tell you which elements contribute actively to the result and which do not providing they are included in the analysis. In this case, dairy and to a lesser extent, red meat contribute significantly (in the statistical sense) to PD symptoms. They may be necessary for other biological functions as you point out, but they are still bad for PD. It's a trade off that suggests that they should only be consumed in moderation.
STRESS is known to cause inflammation, so anything that can reduce it is good. I recently had a very stressful day when a plane I was due to take for a 90 minute flight was 7 hours late. Of course they didn't announce 7 hours immediately, but 2, then 3, then 5 etc, each time with a change of gate. I also had a connecting train reservation for the rest of the journey that I missed and had to try to rebook in real time. Even though I remained calm, and kept to my diet and meds, the following day my PD symptoms exploded. It took me 4 days to recover. So I agree, STRESS is a big component of PD even if we don't know the mechanism.
Regarding Dr Mischely, you can mention my name and see if it prods her to reply!
I did use an extract form of amla myself, because what I can gather from the studies I have read so far on it, most are using an extract version and since I am trying to replicate certain known aspects of amla extract supplementation, that seemed the prudent thing to do as I have no basis for comparison for the raw powder version.
I already mentioned that I am taking amla to help control blood pressure, but because of its multiple modes of action and very good safety profile I am also using it for another health issue in combination with a few other supplements that seem likely to be synergistic with amla. So far the results of the combination has impressed me very significantly! A bit more time on this combination will be more clarifying for me and even my doctor was impressed and suggested I continue with this combination rather than experimenting with biologics or potent immune suppressants, at least as long as the regimen is working. My thinking is that this same combination may be useful in other disease states given the combination of positive effects afforded by this regimen. I just need a bit more time to make sure it will continue working like this before I discuss it more on this forum.
The secret of my success is plenty of failures and a disease that keeps me relentlessly focused and in constant search of remedies and new supplements because this disease is both horribly ugly and devastating!
I'm just waiting to make sure this combination of supplements continue to work and then I will report them here in case anyone is interested in them for other purposes. I have tried many many combinations in the past that seemed to work initially, but then quickly stopped working or working as well, so right now I am cautiously optimistic!
After reading, and further researching your post on AMLA, both my husband and I take the powder in hot water 2 x daily, me for PD , him for BP. Maybe after 2 weeks he noticed some lower first BP readings. He added CELERY SEED...now he is experiencing a lot more systolic readings in the high 120's...they previously were in the 130's -high 140's. The combo seems to work..
Albert, thanks. I will surely mention your name to her. Today, I received an email from her staff acknowledging my question about B-complex supplement, in particular B-6 which I sent right after our consult. We never have time to discuss all the questions we have. Consequently, I email all my unanswered questions, and she replies very briefly.
During our a couple of days ago telemedicine consultation, I talked to her about AMLA since I had emailed her with Art's links on AMLA. She mentioned to me that she had received it, that she will look into it and let me know. I will pass on whatever she recommends.
You can imagine us traveling allover the world for 54 years, from country to country, from airport to airport, from hotel to hotel, missing flights, crowds, unknown environments, search for housing in foreign countries, pressure due to time limits, personal problems, family problems, Iraq, Afghanistan. . . death of immediate family members, and the list goes on and on. THAT IS STRESS!
Can't support allithiamine as it is subject to collection in adipose tissue, thus can create overdose effects in the long term, so your experiment is just that, an experiment, good luck if it helps you but woe to anyone encouraged to experiment without some sort of backup plan to get out of it safely if it backfires.
Moderation seems to be in order for substance that are lipophilic ("fat loving") and collect without limit, versus water soluble formulations which at least can flush from the system when the system has absorbed its functional limit.
As well, the counsel about balance, moderation are reasonable, even though the example of Dr. C's B1 is counter to moderation, but of course we have his reported experience in a somewhat systematic fashion over time to trust to... which typically we do not have to engender trust, so he is granted the exception. Again we must note he is disciplined, and his thiamine HCL formulation immediately flushes more than the system can use back outside into waste products and gone, thus preventing any sort of toxic systemic accumulation.
Those who mention stress as a problem and decreasing it are of course right, as are those who mention that a "goldilocks" balance between oxidants and anti-oxidants in their functional operations are also correct. Complicated mess and so the watchword should be "beware," and have a back-out plan.
Bioavailability is a result of the complex interaction between the drug (or supplement) and the individual's ability to absorb and utilize the drug or supplement. It can vary a great deal.
One of the best herbal supplements i know is Ashwaghanda. It has great neuroprotective properties. See the video of a Harvard neuro science professor alzheimersweekly.com/2014/0...
We have a way to reestablish ones Redox Balance and we’re seeing a reduction in oxidative stress because if it!! Being made by all living mitochondria, all we’re doing is giving back the body something it makes yet lacks with age. It was tested in-vitro in 2009 to show an increase in your OWN antioxidant production upwards of 500%. Cell function is returning much faster than you would think. I have seen some amazing healing these last 7 yrs.
There was a World Redox Congress isanh.net/ in Paris, France in June 20-21, 2019.
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Consequently, I email all my unanswered questions, and she replies very briefly. 
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