Skip to main content
Article
Use of Nutritional Supplements in Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Movement Disorder (2006)
  • Summer C. Wolfrath, University of South Florida
  • Amy R. Borenstein, University of South Florida
  • Skai Schwartz, University of South Florida
  • Robert A. Hauser, University of South Florida
  • Kelly L. Sullivan, University of South Florida
  • Theresa A. Zesiewicz, University of South Florida
Abstract
The use of nutritional supplements has almost doubled in the elderly population in the United States (US) in the past decade. We evaluated the use of nutritional supplements in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to determine the prevalence of their use and whether patients were aware of possible side effects and drug interactions in the supplements they were taking. Consecutively selected PD patients from an academic movement disorders center completed a 33‐item questionnaire regarding their use of nutritional supplements. A total of 120 PD patients completed the questionnaire and were included in the data analysis (mean age ± SD = 68.2 ± 11.65 years, 67 [55.8%] men and 53 women). Seventy‐six patients (63%) took nutritional supplements at the time of data collection. Vitamins were the most common nutritional supplements used, and vitamin E was the most commonly used vitamin. Thirty‐six patients (47%) who took nutritional supplements consulted with their doctor before taking them, and only 4% of patients who took nutritional supplements were aware of possible side effects from their use. Twenty patients (16.7%) reported that they were currently taking nutritional supplements because of symptoms related to their Parkinson's disease. The vast majority of PD patients surveyed were not aware that nutritional supplements could cause adverse side effects. Less than half of the patients who took nutritional supplements consulted their physician before starting them. Greater awareness of nutritional supplement use in PD patients is warranted to avoid potentially harmful effects and drug interactions. 
Keywords
  • Nutritional Supplements,
  • Parkinson's Disease,
  • Patients
Disciplines
Publication Date
August 21, 2006
DOI
10.1002/mds.20902
Citation Information
Summer C. Wolfrath, Amy R. Borenstein, Skai Schwartz, Robert A. Hauser, et al.. "Use of Nutritional Supplements in Parkinson’s Disease Patients" Movement Disorder Vol. 21 Iss. 8 (2006) p. 1098 - 1101 ISSN: 1531-8257
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kelly_sullivan/122/