Dear Dr. Gott: I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in June 2005. I take Mirapex, which is prescribed, and co-enzyme Q10, which is not. I read somewhere that Q10 is a good over-the-counter for people with Parkinson's disease. Could you please comment on this?
Dear Reader: Parkinson's is a neurological disorder that results from the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses. Dopamine is essential for normal functioning of the central nervous system. When the neurons that produce dopamine die, that part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement malfunctions and leads to tremor, rigidity, lack of coordination, sleep disturbances, difficulties with movement and more.
Recent studies performed on mice have been extremely promising, revealing that the damaged area of the brain in Parkinson's patients can be protected by slowing the progression of the disease with the use of co-enzyme Q10. It should be noted, however, that larger studies and double-blind studies on humans must be coordinated to determine the validity of such results.
This is a good time for me to clarify something I said in a past column regarding Parkinson's disease. When discussing advancement of the disease, I indicated that some people are blessed with a complete cure within months. What I should have said was that some people go into remission without advance of symptoms, giving the appearance of a complete cure. I apologize for misleading my readers.
Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 73-year-old woman with joint pain. I've been taking glucosamine and chondroitin for about four years for control. When I read your column about grape juice and pectin for the pain of arthritis, I tried it, and it worked immediately. Should I keep taking the glucosamine and chondroitin while using the grape juice and pectin?
Dear Reader: It appears you have been taking over-the-counter supplements for four years with minimal success.
It's time to experiment. Use only the grape juice and pectin for a month. Remember to make a mental note of your activity during the trial period.
If you are involved with cleaning out the attic or painting a room, you will be using muscles that you don't ordinarily use and could experience pain even without joint inflammation.
This would not be a fair test. If, however, you have a normal routine and your pain level remains decreased, you will have your answer.
If, on the other hand, it elevates considerably, you will probably be better off using the glucosamine/chondroitin and grape juice/pectin combination.