Objective: The primary aim of the project was to evaluate the effect of long-term administered gluten-free diet (GFD) on motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The secondary aim was to evaluate effects of GFD on autonomic symptoms, cognition, and elementary biochemical parameters.
Background: Chronic inflammation in the intestine is strongly associated with PD and pro-inflammatory immune activity has been shown to increase levels of α-synuclein in the gut and the brain. The GFD is associated with lower inflammatory properties compared to the standard diet.
Method: We present the initial safety and efficacy data of the first 20 patients treated 1 year with GFD (7 females and 13 males, age 64.5±8.5 years, disease duration 9.2±5.0, BMI 27.1±4.4. We compared the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Score (MDS-UPDRS) score I, II, III, IV and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, Up and Go Test (TUG), biochemical parameters (glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, lipid spectrum) and metabolomics on baseline, 1 and 12 months on GFD.
Results: The first results showed the safety and tolerability of the GFD as well as the good compliance of the patients with Parkinson’s disease. The dataset in the first 20 patients present improvement in MoCA (p<0.001) test, time in TUG (p <0.001) and trend of reduction in glycaemia (p=0.053) after 12 months on GFD. Initial improvement in MDS-UPDRS I (p=0.028), II (p=0.067) and III (p=0,069) after 1 month on GFD was insignificant after 12 months. Analysis of metabolome displayed statistically significant differences in 7 metabolites (acetate, alanin, asparagin, glucose, glycerol, hypoxantin, and lactate) and a tendency in 3 other metabolites after a year exposure to the GFD diet.
Conclusion: Long-term gluten-free diet as an option to reduce inflammation in the intestine is safe and well tolerated in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Initial metabolomics data revealed differences in metabolites in stool and we present benefit on cognition and gait in the first patients. Investigation of larger number of patients is necessary.
References: The study was supported by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (AZV), grant NU21-04-00443
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
H. Brožová, K. Poláková, T. Gentileová, M. Fialová, M. Kubjatková, J. Rusz, M. Sap, M. Kuzma, H. Pelantová, M. Jandová, D. Funda. Long term evaluation of gluten-free diet in Parkinson´s disease patients [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2024; 39 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/long-term-evaluation-of-gluten-free-diet-in-parkinsons-disease-patients/. Accessed October 4, 2024.« Back to 2024 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/long-term-evaluation-of-gluten-free-diet-in-parkinsons-disease-patients/