High-Fiber and Low-Saturated-Fat Diet May Protect Against Parkinson's Disease

Up to now, there have been several studies which have shown inconsistent results regarding associations between Parkinson's disease (PD) risk and individual foods and nutrients. A new study by Xiang Gao, PhD, from the Harvard School of Public Health in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and colleagues published in 2007, examined associations between dietary patterns and risk of Parkinson's disease on two very large cohorts of men and women. Its results concluded that adherence to a prudent diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, fish, and poultry is associated with approximately 20 to 30 % lower incidence of Parkinson's disease in healthy men and women.

Parkinson's disease is a neuro-degenerative disease characterised by motor skill and speech impairments. After Alzheimer’s disease it is the second most common neuro-degenerative disease, with incidence ratio of 20 new cases per 100,000 people per year in Europe.

Study was carried out by way of a biennial questionnaire, analyzing medical history and lifestyle of 49,692 men and 81,676 women free of Parkinson's disease at baseline. On the basis of this questionnaire, researchers identified two groups; those who adhered to the prudent or to the Western diet. The prudent pattern was characterized by high intake of fruits, vegetables, and fish, whereas the Western pattern was characterized by high intake of meats, processed meats, refined grains, fries, sweets, desserts, and high-fat dairy products.

After 16 years of follow-up it seems the prudent dietary pattern (but not the Western) is inversely associated with the risk for Parkinson Disease. Higher intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, soy, cereal fiber, white meat, and polyunsaturated fats are associated with lower incidence of Parkinson's disease. These associations are independent of smoking, caffeine intake or any other risk factors for Parkinson's disease.

Sources: High-Fiber, Low-Saturated-Fat Diet May Protect Against Parkinson's Disease (Medscape) [1], Parkinson’s Disease (Chemicals Health Monitor) [2]