Parkinson’s Link to Gut Bacteria Suggests Unexpectedly Simple Treatment

Researchers suspected some time The connection between our gut and our brain plays a role in the onset of disease Parkinson’s illness.

A recent study found that gut microbes were likely involved and linked them to reduced disease. riboflavin ( vitamin B2) and biotin (vitamin B7) unexpectedly simple treatment that may help:B vitamins.

“Supplementation therapy targeting riboflavin and biotin holds promise as a potential therapeutic avenue to alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms and slow disease progression.” in question medical researcher Hiroshi Nishiwaki of Nagoya University in Japan, when the paper is published in May 2024.

Related: A Small Peptide Could Freeze Parkinson’s Proteins Without Being Toxic

Effects of neurodegenerative disease approximately 10 million people worldwideAt best who can hope? treatments that slow and relieve symptoms.

Symptoms typically begin with constipation and sleep problems, progressing to dementia and debilitating loss of muscle control as early as 20 years ago.

Watch the video below for a summary of the research:

previous research It found that people with Parkinson’s disease experience changes in their microbiomes long before other symptoms appear.

Nishiwaki and colleagues analyzed stool samples from 94 Parkinson’s patients and 73 relatively healthy controls in Japan and compared their results with data from China, Taiwan, Germany and the United States.

While different groups of bacteria were present in the different countries studied, they all affected the pathways that synthesize B vitamins in the body.

The team found that changes in gut bacterial communities riboflavin And biotin In people with Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers later showed that vitamin B deficiency was linked to decreased blood levels. short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and polyamines: molecules that help create a healthy environment mucus layer in the intestines.

“Deficiencies in polyamines and SCFAs can lead to thinning of the intestinal mucus layer, increased intestinal permeability, both of which have been observed in Parkinson’s disease,” Nishiwaki said. explained.

They suspect that the weakened protective layer exposes the intestinal nervous system to many of the toxins we now encounter more regularly.

These include: cleaning chemicals, pesticidesand herbicides.

Such toxins lead to excessive production of α-synuclein fibril molecules. It is known to accumulate inside cells that produce dopamine inside mainly nigra part of our brain—and nervous system—increased inflammation, ultimately leading to the more debilitating motor and dementia symptoms of Parkinson’s.

A. 2003 study It was found that high doses of riboflavin could help improve some motor functions in patients who eliminated red meat from their diets.

Nishiwaki and his team suggest it’s possible that high doses of vitamin B could prevent some of the damage.

All of these show that you are healthy gut microbiomes It can also be protective and help reduce toxic pollutants in our environment.

Researchers are constantly discovering how our gut bacteria affect our health. The composition is not fixed: It varies depending on many factors, such as what you eat. your ageand your sleep quality.

We don’t all respond the same way to the same diets, and a recent discovery helps explain why: Gut microbes that naturally produce more methane can also leach more energy and calories from high-fiber foods.

Related: Unusual Activity in Our Guts May Help Our Brains Grow

In 2025, scientists in China and the USA found: I can’t sleep at night It may be due, at least in part, to the mix of microbes in our digestive tract.

This year, researchers also found that some bacteria in our intestines can be absorbed and stored. perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because of how long they persist in the environment.

“We found that certain strains of human gut bacteria have an extremely high capacity to absorb various concentrations of PFAS from their environment and store them in aggregates inside their cells.” reports Kiran Patil, a molecular biologist at the University of Cambridge.

In theory, increasing these microbes could help reduce the harmful effects of PFAS on our health.

Related: Parkinson’s Disease May Be Ignited by Burned Brain Cells

Of course in most cases impact of the gut microbiome just part of the whole story.

Because there is such a complex chain of events in Parkinson’s disease, it is likely that not all patients will experience the same causes, so each individual will need to be evaluated.

“We can do gut microbiota analysis or fecal metabolite analysis on patients.” explained Nishiwaki.

“Using these findings, we can identify individuals with specific deficiencies and administer oral riboflavin and biotin supplements to those with low levels, creating a potentially effective treatment.”

This research was published on: npj Parkinson’s Disease.

An earlier version of this article was published in June 2024.

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