Consuming the seaweed Ecklonia cava might be able to decelerate or stop Parkinson’s illness, in accordance with a 2024 examine.
Researchers discovered that antioxidants in the seaweed – which is commonly utilized in soups and salads in Asian delicacies – could shield our neurons from free radicals to stop this debilitating illness.
Parkinson’s is a situation that impacts the nervous system, inflicting signs like shaking, stiffness and problem transferring. It occurs when neurons that produce dopamine – a chemical that helps management motion – begin to die off within the mind.
Whereas Parkinson’s will not be itself deadly, it causes severe issues that may result in demise. Sadly, there isn’t a remedy but.
However researchers have beforehand discovered hyperlinks between dietary antioxidants and Parkinson’s prevention. For instance, analysis has discovered that resveratrol – which is in lots of vegetation and fruits together with pink grapes, berries and peanuts – protected the neurons producing dopamine within the mind from demise in a number of mouse fashions of Parkinson’s illness.
Ellagic acid, α-lipoic acid and myrtenal all improved studying and reminiscence efficiency in addition to neuromuscular coordination in mouse fashions of Parkinson’s. Ellagic acid is discovered in lots of fruit and veggies together with grapes, pomegranates, berries and nuts.
Myrtenal is present in varied vegetation, akin to hyssop and sage. And α-lipoic acid is present in pink meat, spinach and broccoli.
A number of research have recommended that ingesting tea may help stop Parkinson’s illness. Though we do not actually know the way it works, some analysis suggests it’s as a result of antioxidants that tea accommodates.
Combating free radicals
Our physique produces dangerous free radicals in response to environmental insults akin to ultraviolet rays and air air pollution. Free radicals are additionally a pure byproduct of regular processes in cells.
Antioxidants are like bodyguards, defending cells from the harm brought on by free radicals. Our physique naturally produces antioxidants however some meals, like Ecklonia cava, are wealthy in antioxidants and may complement our naturally produced antioxidants to assist our our bodies battle free radical harm.
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For essentially the most latest examine, primarily based in Japan, researchers induced Parkinson’s illness in mice utilizing the pesticide rotenone.
Rotenone kills the neurons that produce dopamine within the mind, which causes the mice to develop a illness that appears like Parkinson’s, with comparable signs, akin to slower motion and impaired gastrointestinal motility (when there are issues transferring meals and waste by way of the digestive tract).
As soon as the researchers induced Parkinson’s within the mice, they fed some with antioxidants from Ecklonia cava and a few with a daily weight loss program. They discovered that the neurons producing dopamine within the mind of the mice fed with antioxidants appeared to be protected. Additionally, these mice had fewer Parkinson’s signs than the mice fed with the common weight loss program.
The researchers additionally seemed on the impact of antioxidants in cells grown in a dish and uncovered to rotenone. Rotenone will increase the manufacturing of free radicals, killing the cells.
The researchers discovered that antioxidants decreased the manufacturing of free radicals induced by rotenone within the cells, stopping cell demise. This analysis opens up the potential for utilizing Ecklonia cava polyphenols – plant compounds with antioxidant properties – to develop new remedies and prevention strategies for Parkinson’s.
Misplaced in translation?
Sadly, outcomes from research on animal fashions and cells aren’t at all times translatable to people. For instance, regardless of the protecting motion of one other antioxidant, vitamin C, present in cells and animal fashions to guard in opposition to Parkinson’s, it doesn’t appear to have the identical impact in people.
It’s because animal and cell fashions don’t fully mimic Parkinson’s illness in people. Animals have completely different mind constructions and capabilities in comparison with people, which implies the best way the illness develops and progresses could be completely different. Then again, cell fashions, even when researchers use human cells, lack complexity.
Parkinson’s illness impacts the whole mind and physique, involving many several types of cells and interactions. Cell fashions often concentrate on a single kind of cell, lacking out on this complexity.
Parkinson’s illness develops over a few years, with signs altering over time. Cell and animal fashions can not simply replicate this long-term development. For instance, the utmost lifespan of most laboratory mice is 2 years, whereas Parkinson’s is believed to develop over a long time.
In conclusion, sturdy large-scale medical trials are wanted to validate the efficacy of Ecklonia cava in stopping or slowing down Parkinson’s. Nonetheless, as a result of Ecklonia cava is already obtainable in meals dietary supplements, it most likely does no hurt to take it regularly.
Will it stop you from getting Parkinson’s? Possibly, however so does common train.
Marine Krzisch, Lecturer in Neuroscience, College of Leeds
This text is republished from The Dialog beneath a Inventive Commons license. Learn the unique article.
