title: Nutraceuticals and their preventive or potential therapeutic value in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common aging-related disorder in the world, after Alzheimer's disease. It is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and other parts of the brain, leading to motor impairment, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Current treatment methods, such as L-dopa therapy, are focused only on relieving symptoms and delaying progression of the disease. To date, there is no known cure for PD, making prevention of PD as important as ever. More than a decade of research has revealed a number of major risk factors, including oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, numerous nutraceuticals have been found to target and attenuate these risk factors, thereby preventing or delaying the progression of PD. These nutraceuticals include vitamins C, D, E, coenzyme Q10, creatine, unsaturated fatty acids, sulfur-containing compounds, polyphenols, stilbenes, and phytoestrogens. This review examines the role of nutraceuticals in the prevention or delay of PD as well as the mechanisms of action of nutraceuticals and their potential applications as therapeutic agents, either alone or in combination with current treatment methods.
authors: Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Anatomy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Jianfei
authors: J
authors: Chao
authors: Yen
authors: Y
authors: Leung
authors: Mingfu
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Raymond Chuen-Chung
authors: RC
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors