title: Vitamins and entacapone in levodopa-induced hyperhomocysteinemia: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: Elevated homocysteine is associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Therapy of Parkinson disease (PD) with levodopa elevates homocysteine. The authors conducted a 6-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test whether folate 1 mg/vitamin B(12) 500 microg or entacapone reduced serum homocysteine in 35 levodopa-treated PD patients. Levodopa initiation caused a small elevation in homocysteine. Vitamin therapy, but not entacapone, resulted in a decrease in homocysteine compared to placebo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ron.postuma@muhc.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Postuma
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Espay
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zadikoff
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Suchowersky
authors.forename: W R W
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A-L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lafontaine
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranawaya
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Camicioli
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada; D002396:Catechols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015990:Placebo Effect; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D002396:Catechols; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009570:Nitriles; D014815:Vitamins; D006710:Homocysteine; D007980:Levodopa; C071192:entacapone; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12