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In the news: Flavonoids & Parkinson’s; Impact of Intermittent Fasting

Dietary Flavonoids for Parkinson’s Patients

More than 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) yearly and case rates are rising, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. PD targets the part of the brain controlling movement.

The brain doesn’t make enough of the neuro-transmitter dopamine, which leads to tremors, stiffness, balance problems and difficulty in walking. In later stages of the disease, PD dementia becomes common.

Although not considered a fatal disease, the complications of PD can lead to an increased risk of death. As PD worsens, falls are common, and swallowing can become difficult. Confusion, frailty, and depression also contribute to increased risk of dying.

Now, a newly published study(1) conducted by Penn State and Harvard researchers ties consuming higher amounts of flavonoids to a lower chance of death in those with PD during the 34-year study period. Flavonoids are antioxidants thought to dampen chronic neuro-inflammation.

Previously, Penn State researchers found that in people without PD, eating a flavonoid-rich diet was associated with a lower risk of developing the disease later. Intrigued, the same group decided to study whether flavonoid intake was also tied to a better survival rate in PD patients.

The Study and its Findings

Mining data from participants in two large studies, the researchers evaluated the diets of nearly 600 women and about 650 men who had recently been diagnosed with PD. Total flavonoid intake was analyzed, and they looked at the effects of individual flavonoids too.

After controlling for lifestyle and dietary factors that might affect the outcome of the study, the investigators found that the highest consumers of flavonoids (eating about 673 mg daily) had a substantial 70% greater chance of survival compared to the lowest consumers (eating about 134 mg/day).

Turning to individual types of flavonoids, the analysis showed that eating two types of flavonoids (and the consumption of berries and red wine) were particularly associated with lower risk of mortality.

The highest consumers of anthocyanins (abundant in berries and red wine) had a 66% greater survival rate, while the highest intake of flavan-3-ols (found in apples, pears, tea, and wine) was associated with a 69% greater survival rate.

The study raises the possibility that eating more servings of flavonoid-rich foods weekly may support life expectancy in those with PD.

Intermittent Fasting Works

Different weight loss approaches work for different people. Whether it’s counting calories or upping physical activity combined with a healthy diet, the important thing is that it helps shed and maintain weight. But for those embracing intermittent fasting as a way to keep weight down, a new study confirms that this strategy brings substantial health benefits.

A large review(2) of 130 clinical trials showed that intermittent fasting was a good strategy for shedding weight with improvements in body weight, body fat, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance.

For more info on this weight loss strategy, see: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/time-to-try-intermittent-fasting).

References

1. Zhang X, et al. Intake of flavonoids and flavonoid-rich foods, and mortality risk among individuals with Parkinson disease: A prospective cohort study. Neurol. Epub January 26, 2022.
2. Patikorn C, et al. Intermittent Fasting and Obesity-Related Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses of Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA Netw Open. 4(12):e2139558, Dec. 17, 2021.