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Parkinson's disease: no milk today?
1Movement Disorder Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, University Hospital Grenoble , Grenoble , France ; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Unité 836, Equipe 11, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences , Grenoble , France.
Frontiers in Neurology
|September 25, 2014
Summary
Epidemiological studies suggest a link between milk intake and Parkinson's disease (PD). However, this review finds no rational explanation, suggesting dietary changes in early PD stages may be the cause.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Prospective epidemiological studies indicate an association between milk consumption and increased Parkinson's disease (PD) incidence.
- Potential risk factors proposed include pesticide contamination in milk and milk's urate-lowering properties, causing physician uncertainty and patient avoidance of dairy.
- This review critically examines the literature to evaluate these proposed risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the proposed mechanisms linking milk intake to Parkinson's disease (PD).
- To explore alternative explanations for the observed association between milk consumption and PD incidence.
- To provide evidence-based guidance for physicians and Parkinson's disease patients regarding dairy product consumption.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of prospective epidemiological studies on milk intake and Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Critical analysis of proposed risk factors: pesticide contamination and urate-lowering effects of milk.
- Exploration of alternative hypotheses, including changes in eating behavior associated with pre-motor Parkinson's disease.
Main Results:
- The literature review found no rational or scientifically supported explanation for milk being a direct risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Neither pesticide contamination of milk nor its urate-lowering effects adequately explain the epidemiological associations observed.
- Changes in dietary habits related to pre-motor Parkinson's disease (PD) represent a plausible alternative explanation for the observed correlations.
Conclusions:
- Current scientific evidence does not support a causal relationship between milk intake and the development or progression of Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Limiting dairy product consumption is not a rational strategy for preventing or managing Parkinson's disease (PD) based on existing knowledge.
- Further research into pre-motor symptoms and their impact on dietary behavior is warranted to understand the observed associations.
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