title: Parkinson's disease: no milk today?
abstract: Several prospective epidemiological studies on large cohorts have consistently reported an association between milk intake and a higher incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD). Pesticide contamination of milk and milk's urate-lowering effects have been put forward as risk factors to explain epidemiological data. This has led to considerable uncertainty among physicians and avoidance of dairy products by PD patients. However, neither factor stands up to the rational and detailed examination of the literature carried out in this mini-review. We suggest that changes in eating behavior related to pre-motor PD are an alternative potential explanation of correlations observed between milk intake and PD occurrence. Despite clear-cut associations between milk intake and PD incidence, there is no rational explanation for milk being a risk factor for PD. Based on current knowledge, limiting the consumption of dairy products does not seem to be a reasonable strategy in the prevention of the development and progression of PD.
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorder Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, University Hospital Grenoble , Grenoble , France ; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Unité 836, Equipe 11, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences , Grenoble , France.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kistner
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorder Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, University Hospital Grenoble , Grenoble , France ; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Unité 836, Equipe 11, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences , Grenoble , France ; Joseph Fourier University , Grenoble , France.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krack
keywords: Parkinson’s disease; dairy products; diet; eating behavior; milk; risk factors