Newswise - New research shows men and women who regularly eat berries may
have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, while men may also
further lower their risk by regularly eating apples, oranges and other
sources rich in dietary components called flavonoids. The study was released
today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 63rd
Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011.
Flavonoids are found in plants and fruits and are also known collectively as
vitamin P and citrin. They can also be found in berry fruits, chocolate, and
citrus fruits such as grapefruit.
The study involved 49,281 men and 80,336 women. Researchers gave
participants questionnaires and used a database to calculate intake amount
of flavonoids. They then analyzed the association between flavonoid intakes
and risk of developing Parkinson's disease. They also analyzed consumption
of five major sources of foods rich in flavonoids: tea, berries, apples, red
wine and oranges or orange juice. The participants were followed for 20 to
22 years.
During that time, 805 people developed Parkinson's disease. In men, the top
20 percent who consumed the most flavonoids were about 40 percent less
likely to develop Parkinson's disease than the bottom 20 percent of male
participants who consumed the least amount of flavonoids. In women, there
was no relationship between overall flavonoid consumption and developing
Parkinson's disease. However, when sub-classes of flavonoids were examined,
regular consumption of anthocyanins, which are mainly obtained from berries,
were found to be associated with a lower risk of Parkinson's disease in both
men and women.
"This is the first study in humans to examine the association between
flavonoids and risk of developing Parkinson's disease," said study author
Xiang Gao, MD, PhD, with the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. "Our
findings suggest that flavonoids, specifically a group called anthocyanins,
may have neuroprotective effects. If confirmed, flavonoids may be a natural
and healthy way to reduce your risk of developing Parkinson's disease."
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.