The information present to date in the medical literature points to the consumption of animal fat as one of the risk factors for the disease. But in the opinion of Cláudio Fernandes Corrêa, neurosurgeon and head of the Treatment Center for Involuntary Movements of Hospital 9 de Julho (Cetrami), this information is questionable, since no study has been able to prove the harm of animal fat consumption (and its participation in the development of Parkinson's). What exists are studies that indicate that meat intake is directly linked to the production of neurotoxins.
This was precisely the path that Coimbra followed in his studies. He associated the information already known about the harmful effects of red meat with the lack of vitamin B2, caused by the malabsorption of the organism, factors that, in his opinion, may be associated with the development of the disease.
The neurologist says that, at the beginning, the idea of the research was to check whether patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's had, in addition to the characteristic increase in homocysteine "a toxic substance pointed out as a participant in the neurodegenerative process", the same degree of deficiency of certain vitamins. "We wanted to know if there was a specific vitamin deficiency pattern for each disease."
To measure these substances, Coimbra collected blood samples from ten patients with Alzheimer's and another 31 with Parkinson's. With the collaboration of the biochemist Virgínia Berlanga Junqueira, head of the laboratory of the Center for the Study of Aging of the Geriatrics discipline at Unifesp, he found that the differences found between the two groups, regarding the levels of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, were not found. statistically significant. However, when those of vitamin B2 were analyzed, Alzheimer's patients, in general, had normal concentrations, while all Parkinson's patients had levels considered below normal.
Thereafter, the neurologist began to analyze whether the patients' diet did not include sufficient amounts of this vitamin, found mainly in milk. "To my surprise, the intake was good. But we noticed that the consumption of red meat among these patients was high."
According to Coimbra, it is already known that red meat produces a substance called hemin, extremely toxic to the body's cells, causing the production of free radicals. "To be eliminated, these free radicals need a substance called glutathione that, after being used, can only be recovered with vitamin B2", says Coimbra. "The lack of glutathione is the first neurochemical change present in brain cells that are degenerating with Parkinson's disease."
With the replacement of the vitamin, the researcher hoped that the disease would stop progressing. But the result was better: it is regressing. The neurologist still cannot explain whether this phenomenon is due to neurogenesis (a process that leads to the formation of the nervous system) or the recovery of cells that did not work but were still alive in the substantia nigra of the brain, the main region affected by the neurodegenerative process.
"Anyway, the level of recovery achieved in such a short time is surprising, as it is estimated that about 60% of the cells in that region have already been lost when the first symptoms appear."
Coimbra believes that the lack of vitamin B2 in the body of these patients may be due to a problem that affects 15% of the population: the malfunction of an enzyme called flavoquinase, responsible for the absorption of the vitamin.
Know the limits imposed by each stage of the disease
Parkinson's disease is an alteration of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system, causing tremors, muscle stiffness and postural changes.
Other non-motor manifestations can also occur, such as memory impairment, depression and sleep disorders.
Neurologist João Carlos Papaterra Limongi, from the Department of Neurology at Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo, explains that only 5% of people with the disease have a strong hereditary component.
Another 75% of cases still challenge science to discover the cause. The remaining percentage, according to him, is classified by secondary parkinsonism, in which it is possible to identify a drug, toxic, infectious or traumatic cause for the development of the disease.
Know the phases of Parkinson's and the limitations imposed in each of them.
- Phase 1 - The individual has only one side of the body affected by tremors, stiffness or both symptoms
- Phase 2 - The same symptoms affect both sides of the body
- Phase 3 - In addition to the symptoms of phase 2,
the individual's balance is affected. Usually acquires a stooped posture and has extreme difficulty in changing direction quickly or taking steps backwards without losing balance - Phase 4 - Rigidity already prevents you from doing
personal hygiene, needing help even to feed yourself - Phase 5 - He cannot get out of bed or chair without help. Can walk but often with the support of someone or
a cane
