Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #152816

Title: EFFECT OF L-DOPA ON PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE IN PD PATIENTS: RELATIONSHIP TO B-VITAMIN STATUS

Author
item MILLER, JOSHUA - HNRCA
item SELHUB, JACOB - HNRCA
item NADEAU, MARIE - HNRCA
item THOMAS, C - BU MED SCHOOL
item FELDMAN, R - BU MED SCHOOL
item WOLF, PHILIP - BU MED SCHOOL

Submitted to: Neurology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/28/2002
Publication Date: 4/1/2003
Citation: MILLER, J.W., SELHUB, J., NADEAU, M., THOMAS, C.A., FELDMAN, R.G., WOLF, P.A. EFFECT OF L-DOPA ON PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE IN PD PATIENTS: RELATIONSHIP TO B-VITAMIN STATUS. NEUROLOGY. 2003. 60:1125-1129.

Interpretive Summary: Homocysteine is an amino acid which is formed in the body from another amino acid, methionine after the latter is used for other functions called methylations. Homocysteine serves in the body to reform methionine but can also be potentially harmful if its concentration in the blood is increased. High blood homocysteine is thought to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. High homocysteine can be lowered by increased intake of the B vitamins, folic acid B12 and B6. In this study we have shown that patients with Parkinson disease who are taking the drug DOPA have high homocysteine in their blood. We are recommending that these patients take vitamin supplement to lower their homocysteine.

Technical Abstract: The antiparkinsonian drug L-dopa causes increased cellular synthesis of homocysteine and consequent hyperhomocysteinemia in rats. This effect of L-dopa on plasma homocysteine is accentuated under conditions of impaired homocysteine metabolism such as folate deficiency. To investigate the effect of L-dopa administration and B-vitamin status on plasma homocysteine concentrations in humans with PD. Plasma homocysteine, folate, vitamin B(12), and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) concentrations were determined in 40 individuals diagnosed with idiopathic PD who were being treated as outpatients at the Boston University Medical Center Neurology Clinic. Twenty of the patients were on L-dopa therapy (treatment group) and 20 were L-dopa-naive (control group). The mean plasma homocysteine concentration was higher in the treatment group than in the controls (p=0.018). Plasma homocysteine was correlated with plasma folate, vitamin B(12), and PLP concentrations in the treatment group (p