Brain-boosting B vitamins could be Parkinson’s cure

If you want to maintain your brain health, there are certain vitamins you should prioritize above all else… like omega-3s, probiotics and (perhaps most importantly) the B-vitamins.

In fact, the “B” in B-vitamins might as well stand for brain health, because without enough of these essential nutrients your brain is in serious trouble. Thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), folate, vitamin B12 — all of these vitamins play a specific role in the health of your nervous system.

Vitamin B12, for example, helps maintain your body’s myelin sheath, the protective coverings that shield your nerves from harm and allow them to communicate. B9, B6 and B12 all work together to help your body get rid of excess homocysteine, an amino acid that can be toxic to your nervous system and even lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

And then there’s vitamin B3 (also known as niacin)…

This B vitamin is involved in pretty much every aspect of brain cell function, including protecting your brain cells from oxidative stress and repairing your DNA.

That may explain why B3 has been shown to help repair brain damage caused by a stroke and to reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk. It may also be why B3 could potentially fight another serious neurological disorder… Parkinson’s disease.

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B3 and Parkinson’s

The latest study from researchers at the University of Leicester shows that B3 may help prevent and possibly even improve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease …

University of Leicester researchers studied the effects of vitamin B3 on fruit flies with a disorder that mimics Parkinson’s disease. They found that fruit flies that got extra B3 had fewer faulty mitochondria than fruit flies that didn’t. Malfunctioning mitochondria (the powerhouses of cells) are one of the suspected causes of Parkinson’s — particularly the hereditary form of the disease that tends to strike people early in life.

Researchers also found that B3 prevented neuron loss in fruit flies. And neuron loss is something that triggers the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in people.

But B3 isn’t the only B vitamin linked to Parkinson’s. B12 and B6 may also be linked to the disease. Eating more foods with B6, for example, reduces your risk of developing the disease. B12 levels tend to be lower in people with Parkinson’s than in the general population. And one doctor is putting B1 to the test on patients in Italy…

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B1 and Parkinson’s

An Italian doctor believes a deficiency of B1 (thiamine) is to blame for many autoimmune diseases, including Parkinson’s and has put his theory to the test.

According to Dr. Antonio Constantini, “Thiamine is fundamental to our body in order to burn sugar; it acts as a spark in the engine, as lubricant and carburetor. It plays a vital role for our organism.”

His statement makes much sense if you consider the inflammatory effects sugar has on the immune system.  The sweet ingredient is a recipe for health disaster.

In a small 2013 study, injections of high doses of thiamin were effective in reversing symptoms in Parkinson’s patients. Using a protocol based on eliminating B1 deficiency, Dr. Constantino has followed 250 patients since 2011 and has seen very positive results, and in some cases, “extraordinary” results.

Optimizing B vitamins for brain health

Whether you’re looking to prevent Parkinson’s disease or improve your overall brain health, you must give your body the B vitamins necessary to maintain a healthy nervous system.

But the first thing you should do is make sure you’re not unknowingly robbing your body of B vitamins. The following factors could make you deficient:

  • Weight loss diets, including fasts
  • A high daily intake of sugar
  • Refined and processed foods
  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol
  • Saccharine
  • Stress
  • Medications, such as antibiotics, diuretics, chemotherapy, birth control and hormone therapy

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When it comes to B3, make sure to get at least 14 mg per day if you’re a woman and 16 mg per day if you’re a man. People with specific health problems may want to take more but should talk to a trusted health professional first. If you get too much B3, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and rashes.

Excess B1 is flushed from the body, and adult men and women only require about 1 mg a day.

Luckily, if you get your vitamins from food it’s practically impossible to get too much. So, it’s a good idea to boost your intake of these B3 and B1 food sources:

  • Grass-fed milk
  • Eggs
  • Brown rice
  • Fish
  • Legumes
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Mushrooms
  • Grass-fed beef
  • Sesame seeds
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Almonds
  • Beets

Of course, you may want to get all your B vitamins in one convenient little package. In that case, you should take a B vitamin complex supplement.

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Sources:
  1. Obeid, et al. “Mechanisms of homocysteine neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases with special reference to dementia.” FEBS Letters. May 2006; 580(13): 2994-3005.
  2. O. Kennedy. “B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy—A Review.” Nutrients. Jan. 2016.
  3. “Vitamin B3 shows early promise in treatment of stroke.” ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  4. Susann Lehmann, et al. “Enhancing NADsalvage metabolism is neuroprotective in a PINK1 model of Parkinson’s disease.” Biology Open, 2016.
  5. Shen. “Associations between B Vitamins and Parkinson’s Disease.” Nutrients. Sep. 2015; 7(9): 7197–7208.
  6. “Niacin.” Whole Health Chicago. http://wholehealthchicago.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  7. “Niacin.” MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  8. “Vitamin B3 (Niacin)” University of Maryland Medical Center. http://umm.edu. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  9. http://www.ultimaedizione.eu/costantini-the-secret-lies-in-a-massive-dosage-of-thiamine-parkinson-suffers-a-terrible-strik/
  10. Costantini, A., Pala, M. I., Compagnoni, L., & Colangeli, M. (2013). High-dose thiamine as initial treatment for Parkinson’s disease. BMJ Case Reports, 2013, bcr2013009289. http://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2013-009289
Jenny Smiechowski

By Jenny Smiechowski

Jenny Smiechowski is a Chicago-based freelance writer who specializes in health, nutrition and the environment. Her work has appeared in online and print publications like Chicagoland Gardening magazine, Organic Lifestyle Magazine, BetterLife Magazine, TheFix.com, Hybridcars.com and Seedstock.com.

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