Many Parkinson’s patients use supplements; few tell their doctors
Researchers say study shows need for education about alternative therapies
More than half of people with Parkinson’s disease take nutritional supplements, a study found. Yet fewer than half discuss them with their doctors.
Almost one in three Parkinson’s patients use other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) alongside their standard treatment, the study found. Both practices are more common among women.
The study, from Lithuania, found that while 67.3% of patients who used CAM therapies such as massage or yoga discussed their use with their doctors, while 47.1% of those taking nutritional supplements did the same. “Nevertheless, the latter has a greater potential for interaction with conventional treatments,” the researchers wrote.
The findings underscore the “need to expand the education of general practitioners, neurologists, and [Parkinson’s] patients about the indications, effects, and possible side effects of nutritional supplements and other CAM methods, thus raising awareness and encouraging better communication regarding these measures,” they wrote.
The study, “Use of nutritional supplements and other complementary medicine methods among patients with Parkinson’s disease in Lithuania,” was published in Frontiers in Neurology.
Risk of interaction
CAM refers to a broad group of health practices and products that fall outside standard medical care but are used alongside or in place of conventional treatments. These include mind-body therapies such as yoga, massage, and art therapy, as well as biologically based approaches like nutritional supplements — including vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and other natural products.
Because the use of such approaches, particularly nutritional supplements, “may influence the motor and non-motor symptoms of [Parkinson’s] by interacting with prescribed medication” and altering their effects, it is important to evaluate how often such approaches are used, the researchers wrote.
The team surveyed people with Parkinson’s about their use of nutritional supplements and CAM methods over the past year. The survey, conducted in 2022 at the Parkinson’s Disease Center of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, also gathered information on participants’ demographics, disease history, and whether they discussed these practices with healthcare professionals.
Of the 206 questionnaires distributed, 169 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Participants had a median age of 66, and just over half were women (52.1%). Most lived in urban areas (70.4%), about one-third were employed (31.4%), and 60.4% had a college or university education.
Most participants had lived with Parkinson’s disease for about four years, and more than half (62.1%) had mild symptoms affecting both sides of the body without significant balance issues or loss of independence. On average, they were taking two Parkinson’s treatments.
Some 62.7% reported taking nutritional supplements in the past year, most often vitamin D, fish oil, or magnesium. About one in four (26.4%) said they used them specifically for Parkinson’s. About 30.8% said they had used other forms of CAM, most commonly massage, movement-based therapies, or art and music therapy.
No significant differences in age, disease duration, education, employment, or medication use were found between supplement users and non-users. Women, however, were more likely than men to use both nutritional supplements (70.5% vs. 54.3%) and other CAM methods (38.6% vs. 22.2%).
Among CAM users, 67.3% discussed their use with their doctors. Fewer than half of supplement users (47.1%) discussed their use with a general practitioner or neurologist. Many said they began taking supplements on their own (38.7%) or based on advice from family and friends (21.7%).
The researchers suggested the difference “could be because CAM practices are often considered as more significant interventions for [disease] managing” and typically involve “professional guidance, leading patients to seek validation or advice from their clinicians.”
“In contrast, nutritional supplements are readily available over-the-counter and are often marketed as safe or routine, which may diminished patients’ perceived need to disclose their use of these supplements,” they wrote.
However, the team cautioned, “there is no scientifically based evidence regarding their efficacy and benefits.”
The researchers also noted that limited communication about supplement and CAM use may stem from a lack of knowledge among both doctors and patients regarding how these methods work, their potential side effects, and interactions with standard Parkinson’s medications.
“There is a clear need to enhance education for physicians and patients about these treatments, including their benefits and potential risks,” and “to discuss the existing evidence for nutritional supplements and other CAM methods with a patient,” they wrote.
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