A study by Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan has uncovered a fascinating link between gut microbiota and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The researchers discovered a reduction in gut bacteria genes responsible for synthesizing essential B vitamins, B2 and B7. They also found a connection between the lack of these genes and low levels of substances that help maintain the intestinal barrier, which normally prevents toxins from entering the bloodstream and causing inflammation seen in PD.
Published in the study, their findings suggest that treating these vitamin deficiencies could be a new approach to managing PD.
PD is marked by symptoms that disrupt daily life and mobility, including shaking, slow movements, stiffness, and balance problems. While its prevalence varies, it affects about 1-2% of people aged 55 and older.
The microorganisms in our gut, collectively known as gut microbiota, play crucial roles in various physiological processes.
Under ideal conditions, gut microbiota produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and polyamines, which help maintain the intestinal barrier and prevent toxins from entering the bloodstream. If these toxins reach the brain, they can cause inflammation and disrupt neurotransmission, affecting mental health.
To explore the gut-PD connection, researchers Hiroshi Nishiwaki and Jun Ueyama analyzed stool samples from PD patients in Japan, the U.S., Germany, China, and Taiwan using shotgun sequencing. This advanced technique allows for a comprehensive understanding of the microbial community and genetic makeup.
The researchers noted a decrease in bacterial genes for synthesizing riboflavin (vitamin B2) and biotin (vitamin B7) in PD patients. These vitamins, which have anti-inflammatory properties, may counteract the neuroinflammation seen in PD.
B vitamins are crucial for metabolic processes that influence the production and function of SCFAs and polyamines, which maintain the intestinal barrier. An analysis of fecal metabolites showed a decrease in these substances in PD patients.
This deficiency could explain PD progression. “Deficiencies in polyamines and SCFAs could lead to a thinner intestinal mucus layer and increased permeability, both observed in PD,” Nishiwaki explained. This higher permeability exposes nerves to toxins, contributing to abnormal aggregation of alpha-synuclein, activating immune cells in the brain, and causing long-term inflammation.
Nishiwaki added, “Supplementing with riboflavin and biotin holds promise as a potential therapy for alleviating PD symptoms and slowing its progression.”
This study highlights the importance of understanding the intricate relationship between gut microbiota, metabolic pathways, and neurodegeneration. In the future, treatments could be tailored to each patient’s unique microbiome profile, potentially delaying the onset of PD symptoms by altering bacterial levels in the microbiome.
Supplements to Help Support Brain and Gut Health
BodyBio Vitamin B+
B vitamins play a crucial role in many of our body’s essential functions in addition to helping prevent Parkinson’s. BodyBio Vitamin B+ offers a carefully balanced blend of key B vitamins, providing the potency and absorbable form you need for optimal health. Many B vitamins are synthetic or in a form that the body cannot use and may cause negative side effects.
BodyBio Vitamin B+ is a unique combination of absorbable essential B vitamins that work synergistically, including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Methyl B12, Folinic acid, and B7.
- No synthetic Folic Acid or Choline
- Promotes immune and nervous system health
- Supports energy levels
Accelerated Cogniblast® Nootropic
Accelerated Cogniblast® is a cutting-edge, natural brain enhancement product designed to boost mental focus, energy, and memory. It’s packed with “smart” nutrients that protect your brain from memory loss and degeneration.
As one of the first supplements to combine traditional herbs with advanced nutraceuticals, Cogniblast delivers a powerful formula that you can actually feel working.
Benefits of Accelerated Cogniblast® may include:
- Enhanced cognition
- Improved focus
- Better mood
- Increased ATP production and cellular energy
- Enhanced memory and learning
- Faster learning speed
- Increased lifespan
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved motivation
- Prevention of Alzheimer’s and dementia
- Neutralization of damaging free radicals
- Decreased inflammation
- Support for liver, lungs, kidneys, and other organs
- Improved circulation
- Stress reduction
- Increased energy
Key Ingredients in Accelerated Cogniblast®:
- Magnesium BHB: This natural ketone boosts the brain’s ability to use fats for energy, increasing cellular energy (ATP) production by up to 10 times.
- Centrophenoxine: Known as meclofenoxate or Lucidril, this nootropic enhances choline action, improves memory and learning, supports anti-aging and neuroprotection, and boosts mood and motivation.
- Enhances Choline Action: Centrophenoxine boosts acetylcholine production, crucial for cognitive functions.
- Memory and Learning: It aids in memory formation, storage, and retrieval, and enhances learning speed and synaptic plasticity.
- Anti-Aging: Centrophenoxine acts as a powerful antioxidant, repairing cellular damage and reducing lipofuscin buildup, associated with aging and cognitive decline.
- Mood and Motivation: It has anti-anxiety effects and can improve mood and motivation.
- DMAE: Found naturally in the body and in fatty fish, DMAE enhances mood, memory, and brain function. It increases acetylcholine production and may prevent beta-amyloid buildup, linked to memory loss.
- Ginkgo Biloba: Known as a “brain herb,” it improves cognitive function through potent antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, and terpenoids that enhance blood flow and oxygen uptake in the brain.
- Bacopa Monnieri: Used in Ayurvedic medicine, Bacopa enhances memory, reduces inflammation, and has sedative effects. It supports brain performance, strengthens the mind, and helps manage stress.
- Ashwagandha: A staple in Ayurveda for over 3,000 years, it reduces stress and anxiety, improves brain and nervous system functions, and boosts cardiovascular health and the immune system.
- American Ginseng: Improves mental function, memory, and alertness without being a stimulant. It enhances endurance, metabolism, and the immune system.
- Reishi Mushroom: With a history of over 4,000 years, Reishi balances the immune system and supports mental and emotional health.
- Lion’s Mane: A modern brain tonic that promotes brain health and plasticity, increases Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) levels, and improves memory and concentration.
- Cordyceps Sinensis: Strengthens both body and mind, enhancing vitality, endurance, and mental energy.
- Cordyceps Militaris: Supports vitality and endurance by enhancing oxygen availability in the blood, improving learning and memory.
- Royal Hojari Frankincense: Improves learning and memory by increasing synaptic connections in the brain and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
- Menthol Crystals (Peppermint): Stimulates the hippocampus for mental clarity and memory, and triggers alertness.
- Lemon Balm: Regulates GABA, promoting communication between nerves and the brain, helping manage stress.
- Rhodiola: Protects the brain, promotes well-being, supports cellular health, and helps manage stress.
- TeaCrine: An alternative to caffeine, TeaCrine enhances energy, motivation, focus, and mood without the negative side effects of stimulants.
- Benfotiamine: A synthetic version of vitamin B1 that easily passes through the blood-brain barrier, crucial for preventing dementia and supporting brain health.
With these powerful ingredients, Cogniblast offers comprehensive support for your brain, helping you stay sharp, focused, and energized.
Acceleradine® Iodine
Iodine deficiency is a major cause of depression, brain decline, and brain fog. Iodine helps detoxify your brain from toxins like fluoride, bromide, chloride, and heavy metals, preventing cognitive decline. Plus, it boosts your metabolism and supports thyroid health, giving you the physical and mental energy you need to tackle daily challenges.
Research shows that poor thyroid function is linked to higher rates of cognitive decline, depression, and mental illness. Iodine also has impressive antimicrobial properties, fighting off fungi, parasites, viruses, bacteria, and more, which helps keep your brain functioning at its best. Furthermore, iodine significantly increases ATP levels, giving you an 18-fold boost in cellular energy. This spike in energy enhances metabolism, calorie burn, brain function, physical performance, wound healing, fat burning, and the natural destruction of diseased cells (healthy apoptosis).
Accelerated Methylene Blue™
If you are worried about Parkinson’s or cognitive issues, methylene blue might be your answer. Here’s what it can do for you:
Antioxidant Power: Methylene blue fights oxidative stress, which is linked to aging, brain issues, and chronic diseases.
Neuroprotective Effects: It shows promise in treating neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by acting as an electron carrier, improving cellular oxygen use, and reducing oxidative damage.
Mitochondrial Boost: Methylene blue enhances cellular energy production, reduces mitochondrial dysfunction, and boosts ATP levels. Its solubility means it easily permeates cell membranes, including those in the brain.
Antimicrobial Action: It effectively targets bacteria, viruses, and fungi that may contribute to brain fog.
Cognitive Enhancement: Some studies suggest it can improve memory and cognitive function.
Mood Improvement: Research indicates it may have antidepressant properties by increasing serotonin levels.
Increased Nitric Oxide: This promotes better blood flow by relaxing blood vessels.
Brain Injury Support: Its neuroprotective properties can help manage brain injuries by aiding mitochondrial function and reducing inflammation.
Personal Approach to Preventing Parkinson's Disease through Diet
Supplements are only SUPPLEMENTS to your diet; preventing cognitive decline needs to include a specific dietary approach.
Prioritize Wild Animal Protein
How Protein Supports Mitochondrial Health
Proteins are fundamental for maintaining optimal mitochondrial function—the powerhouse of our cells. Those mitochondria are what prevent diseases like Parkinson’s. Protein enhances energy production, provides the necessary enzymes to convert nutrients into ATP. Protein supports mitochondrial biogenesis, acts as an antioxidant against oxidative stress and inflammation, and improves cellular function in the brain and body.
As important as protein is, not all protein is the same. Proteins like chicken, pork, turkey and conventionally raised beef have misfolded proteins called amyloids. These amyloids not only don’t get used to build and repair tissue in the body, but they also get deposited in the brain leading to degenerative brain diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, these proteins are high in linoleic acid which is inflammatory throughout the body including the brain.
For optimal brain health, prioritize wild animal proteins. They contain minimal amyloid proteins and linoleic acid compared to conventionally raised beef, poultry, and chicken, which can compromise cellular energy and lead to fatigue. Additionally, these meats, including bison, lamb, elk, deer, and wild fish, provide the most nutrients of any food on the planet.
Foods to Avoid
In addition to emphasizing wild animal protein, it’s crucial to avoid certain food groups that can impair mitochondrial function and energy production:
Processed Foods: These foods drastically reduce ATP production per mitochondrion and overwhelm detoxification pathways, leading to decreased energy levels, mitochondrial efficiency, and brain function.
Polyunsaturated Fats (PUFAs): Found in processed foods, fried foods, and seed oils, PUFAs like linoleic acid are inflammatory and impair ATP production. Avoid oils such as safflower, grapeseed, sunflower, and canola to protect brain health.
Sulfur-Rich Vegetables: While nutritious, vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale can overload detox pathways, slowing brain function, and accelerating brain decline.
Oxalate-Rich Foods: High oxalate foods like spinach and almonds can inhibit thyroid function, reduce ATP production, and slow cognitive function. Limiting these foods can help maintain brain health and support mitochondrial function.
Histamine-Rich Foods: Avoiding foods high in histamine, such as alcohol, fermented foods, avocado, bone broth, and bananas, will minimize inflammation in the brain, support digestive health, and enhance mitochondrial function for improved energy production.
By focusing on these dietary strategies—emphasizing protein sources, and avoiding detrimental foods—you can optimize brain health, and mitochondrial health, boost ATP production, and sustain your energy levels effectively. These steps are essential in promoting overall vitality and potentially preventing conditions like Parkinson’s disease through proactive dietary choices.
For a complete list of foods to avoid and foods to focus on, check out the Accelerated Food Guide.
Additional Tips for Preventing Parkinson's Disease
Reducing Excess Estrogen
Watch out for environmental xeno-estrogens that can disrupt mitochondrial membranes and impair their function. Excess estrogen leads to oxidative stress, which affects energy levels and mitochondrial health, increasing inflammation and disrupting energy production. Keeping estrogen levels balanced is crucial for maintaining optimal energy.
Mitigating Endotoxins
Endotoxins released by harmful gut bacteria after consuming complex carbohydrates and processed foods trigger inflammation that damages mitochondria. When mitochondria are compromised by endotoxins, ATP production declines, resulting in fatigue and health issues. Reducing endotoxin exposure supports healthy, functioning mitochondria.
Regular Exercise
Engaging in physical activity, especially high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength training, stimulates the production of new mitochondria and enhances their function. Exercise also improves circulation, boosts mood, and increases overall energy levels.
Avoiding Toxins
Limit exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, plastics, fluoridated water, chlorine, bromide, and heavy metals, which can damage mitochondria. Opt for organic foods and use natural cleaning products whenever possible to minimize toxin intake.
Stay Hydrated
Water is essential for all cellular processes, including those in mitochondria. Ensure you’re drinking enough water daily and consider replenishing electrolytes with options like Accelerated Ancient Salt, Ola Loa, and Quintessential .9 to support mitochondrial function.
Adequate sleep is crucial for allowing your body to repair and recharge. Lack of sleep disrupts energy production, leading to fatigue and poor health over time. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule and create a restful sleep environment to support optimal mitochondrial function.
Chronic stress depletes energy reserves, lowers thyroid health, and slows metabolism, all of which negatively impact mitochondrial function. Incorporate mindfulness, meditation, or relaxation techniques into your routine to help manage stress effectively.
By implementing these dietary and lifestyle adjustments, you can significantly improve your risk against Parkinson’s disease and enhance mitochondrial health and ATP production.
Sara Banta
Sara Banta is a Stanford University Graduate with a Degree in Economics and Psychology, and a certified Natural Supplement Expert & Graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Sara is the Founder of Accelerated Health Products and host of the health & wellness podcast, Accelerated Health Radio.
