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Essential Fatty Acids & Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological condition that causes involuntary tremors, rigidness and the inability to control your muscles. Parkinson's disease can also prevent someone from speaking clearly, or at all. The cause of Parkinson's is a decrease in dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is part of the mechanisms that control muscle function. Essential fatty acids can indirectly boost dopamine levels and prevent or help manage Parkinson's.

  1. Benefits

    • Essential fatty acids increase the body's production of dopamine by enhancing the levels of norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter.

    EFAs and Parkinson's

    • A 6-year study conducted by the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Neurology at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, monitored 51 patients' intake of essential fatty acids and discovered that those with the highest levels of EFAs had the lowest incidences of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and dementia.

    Types

    • Essential fatty acids include omega-3s and omega-6s. A study by The Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, in Washington, D.C., determined that a lower ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s than is common in the Western diet reduces the risk of heart disease. The optimal ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s is 3 to 1.

    Sources

    • Fish oil or fatty fish consumption is the best source of omega-3s; flaxseed oil, olive oil and walnuts are also sources. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in polyunsaturated oils and many animal products.

    Evening Primrose Oil

    • According to the website AyruvedicCure.com, at least 1,500 mg of evening primrose oil taken daily can reduce the tremors associated with Parkinson's disease. Evening primrose oil is available at any health food store.

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