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Slowing progression of Parkinson's disease with daily niacin supplements

As this human trial was small, a larger study is warranted to confirm its effectiveness

07-Jul-2021

Key points from article :

Animal studies supported evidence that niacin may be beneficial for Parkinson’s disease.

This double-blind study enrolled 32 men and 15 women with Parkinson’s disease

Daily supplements of either a placebo, 100 mg of niacin, or 250 mg of slow-release niacin.

80% of subjects receiving 100 mg experienced flushing, compared to only 5% of the 250-mg slow-release group.

The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III improved at 12 months by 3.5 points.

Secondary measures also improved, including handwriting, perception of fatigue, mood, postural control, and frontal EEG rhythm.

Quality of sleep did not change after 12 months.

Visual attention and task switching was poorer.

At 12 months, niacin levels were approximately 34% higher in plasma.

One anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and two pro-inflammatory cytokines increased (MIP-1a and IL-1ß).

Need for a larger scale, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

Study by Augusta University published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

Mentioned in this article:

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Augusta University

Public Research University and medical center in Georgia

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Journal providing information on the mechanisms of Central Nervous System aging.

Topics mentioned on this page:
Parkinson’s Disease, Supplements