Serum Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Levels in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

We aimed to investigate possible associations between systemic iron metabolism deficiency and Parkinson's disease, and also to research any possible correlations between stage of the disease and vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. 33 male and 27 female patients diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and 22 male and 20 female age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Having the diagnosis of secondary Parkinsonism or Parkinson plus syndromes, and for the females, not being in the menopausal stage were considered as exclusion criteria. Recordings of blood samples of both groups collected after 8 h fasts were assessed in terms of serum iron, ferritin levels and iron-binding capacity, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. The Hoehn and Yahr scale was used to determine the stage of the disease. No statistically significant difference was found with respect to mean serum iron, median serum ferritin levels and median serum iron-binding capacity between the groups. A statistically significant but inverse correlation was found between symptoms' duration and serum iron and ferritin levels. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. However, a statistically significant but inverse correlation was determined between the patients' vitamin B12 levels and the Hoehn and Yahr scores. As Parkinson's disease progresses, serum iron, ferritin and vitamin B12 levels may decrease. The lower levels of these parameters may be the cause of the progression or may be the result of it.

Association between sex, systemic iron variation and probability of Parkinson's disease

“…The same consideration can be made about the biological effect of sex on metals. In fact, when we adjusted our biochemical findings for sex effect, no difference in ferritin levels was detected between patients and controls, in agreement with recent studies [23,24]. The sex effect resulted evident when we carried out a multivariate stepwise logistic regression considering all the biological and demographic variables.…”

Current practice in nutrition assessment for the management of Parkinson's disease in Australia and Canada

“…A number of micronutrients have been identified as being important in PWP, including calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12 . However, these were not consistently assessed by the surveyed dietitians.…”

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“…In fact, folate intake eight years prior to diagnosis of Parkinson's disease was associated with olfactory dysfunction and disease risk in Swedish patients (52,84). In contrast, the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study cohort and case-control studies from three regions in China (N > 6,000) found no relationship between folate or vitamin B 12 intake or status and risk for Parkinson's disease (53,113,114). However, a recent meta-analysis of 14 studies found that elevated plasma Hcy was an independent risk factor for Parkinson's disease (96,115,116).…”

“…Further, as Parkinson's disease progressed levels of vitamin B 12 decreased, and low B 12 was associated with greater disease severity (113,116). However, no clear relationship between vitamin B 12 intake and the risk of Parkinson's disease has been demonstrated (53,113,114,116).…”