Positive Health Online

Abstract

MOLINA ARJONA and colleagues, Servicio de Neurologia, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain investigated the possible relationship of several serum pro-oxidant and antioxidant substances to the risk for Parkinson's disease .

Background

Studies have suggested a role of 'oxidative stress' (increased production of pro-oxidants, deficiencies of antioxidants, or both) in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease .

Methodology

The researchers assessed the serum levels of iron, ferritin, transferrin, ceruloplasmine, vitamin A, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol in 28 patients with Parkinson's disease and 85 matched controls. All subjects were recruited from a population study.

Results

No values of pro-oxidant or antioxidant substances measured in serum differed significantly between the two study groups, and none correlated with the age at onset of disease, duration of the disease, scores on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, or Hoehm and Yahr staging in the Parkinson's disease grou p.

Conclusion

These results confirm previous findings from classic case- control studies, suggesting an absence of a relationship between the studied variables and the risk for Parkinson's disease .

References

Molina Arjona JA et al. (Serum pro-oxidant and antioxidant factors and risk of Parkinson's disease: population study.) Revista de Neurologia 29 (1): 12-5. Jul 1999.

Comment

The search for treatment options for Parkinson's disease is a desperate one, due to the large numbers of people afflicted, and the increasing age of the general population. The results of this research were negative, but extremely valuable to other researchers nonetheless, to prevent the needless expenditure of time, resources and finances to repeat the same experiments. This is why it is so important for journals to publish negative, as well as positive results.