title: Chocolate consumption is increased in Parkinson's disease. Results from a self-questionnaire study.
abstract: Clinical observations in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suggested an increased chocolate consumption. Chocolate contains high contents of various biogenic amines potentially influencing brain monoamine metabolism. 498 PD patients and their partners were evaluated by a structured self-questionnaire asking for consumption of chocolate and non-chocolate sweets, changes in chocolate consumption during the disease course, and depressive symptoms. Questionnaires from 274 patients (55 %) and 234 controls were eligible for further analysis. Consumption of chocolate was significantly higher in PD patients compared to controls, while consumption of non-chocolate sweets was similar in both groups. Our study suggests that chocolate consumption is increased in PD independent of concomitant depressive symptoms measured by BDI-1. Although reasons for increased chocolate consumption in PD remain elusive, it may hypothetically be a consequence of the high content of various biogenic amines and/or caffeine analogues with potential antiparkinsonian effects.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Neurology, Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. Alexander.Storch@neuro.med.tu-dresden.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolz
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaminsky
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löhle
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Storch
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reichmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002099:Cacao; D003863:Depression; D018450:Disease Progression; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires