Parkinson’s is one of the conditions that are usually associated with old age, although it must be said that not all older adults experience it. The warning signs of this disease, as occurs with Alzheimer’s, appear gradually, until they worsen and end up affecting people’s mobility.
As detailed by the United States National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus, Parkinson’s is not a condition that occurs directly in the bone and muscle structure, which is what provides support and movement to the body, but rather it is a disorder that originates in the neurons, when they lose their ability to produce dopamine
Although this hormone is usually related to happiness, it is not the only function it performs in the body, so its deficiency can lead to other discomforts. Thus, when there is a low amount of dopamine, the proper communication with the muscles is cut off. Ultimately, this results in problems having full control over the body’s movements, coordination, and balance.
Some research has found that certain nutrients may have beneficial properties to treat this disease, including to prevent or delay its appearance, as is the case of vitamin B12.
What is vitamin B12?
The human being requires six essential nutrients for his performance, these are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. The latter are needed in small amounts and are therefore classified as micronutrients.
The B family is a complex of vitamins that are recognized for their positive effect on obtaining energy, but they also have other uses within the body. Precisely, from the blog of the Center for Neuro-Regenerative Medicine they explain that there are studies that have associated vitamin B12 with the prevention of Parkinson’s.
One of these works showed that the discomforts typical of Parkinson’s, such as imbalance, appeared earlier in patients (from the study group recently diagnosed with this disorder) who had vitamin B12 deficiency. From these data, It was determined that, on the contrary, the supplement of this vitamin could favor the relief and delay of the symptoms of this condition, without saying that it would be a definitive cure, since it is necessary to delve deeper into the results.
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, this micronutrient is necessary for the preservation of neurons, whose damage, as explained before, is the one that precedes Parkinson’s disease. In addition, this unit details that this vitamin is involved in the formation of DNA.
Depending on age, gender, and other health conditions, the suggested amount of this nutrient per day may vary. For adults over 18 years of age, it is recommended that they consume 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 daily, either through food or through supplements, under medical supervision.
For women who are pregnant or lactating, a slightly higher amount is suggested: 2.6 mcg for pregnant women and 2.8 mcg for those who are feeding their babies.
It must be said that this nutrient it is found in the composition of various proteins, such as beef and liver, chicken meat and other poultry, as well as in fish. Milk and its derivatives are also a source of this vitamin.
In no way does this article constitute a professional medical recommendation, so it is advisable to follow the treatment indicated by the specialist and consult the possibility of supplementing it.