by
Stepy —
October 22, 2018
- Cinnamon may stop the development of Parkinson’s disease.
- Organic cinnamon is an especially potent spice, known for its immune boosting properties as well as its anti-clotting properties and blood sugar regulation benefits.
- In the United States, 50,000-60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are diagnosed each year, which adds to the one million people who already have it.
- While the disease itself is not fatal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks complications from Parkinson’s as the 14th leading cause of death in America.
- Research from scientists at Rush University Medical Center has shown that cinnamon may stop the development of Parkinson’s disease and reverse the physical changes that occur in the brains of mice with Parkinson’s disease. The study was published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology.
- “Cinnamon has been used widely as a spice throughout the world for centuries,” said Kalipada Pahan, PhD, professor of neurology at Rush and the lead researcher in the study. “This could potentially be one of the safest approaches to halt disease progression in Parkinson’s patients.”
- “Cinnamon is metabolized in the liver to sodium benzoate, which is an FDA-approved drug used in the treatment for hepatic metabolic defects associated with hyperammonemia,” Pahan added.
- There are two types of cinnamon that are available in the United States. There is Cassia cinnamon, which is Chinese cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon. Pahan points out that one may be better than the other. “Although both types of cinnamon are metabolized into sodium benzoate, by mass spectrometric analysis, we have seen that Ceylon cinnamon is much more pure than Chinese cinnamon as the latter contains coumarin, a hepatotoxic molecule,” explains Pahan.
- “Understanding how the disease works is important to developing effective drugs that protect the brain and stop the progression of PD,” said Pahan. “It is known that some important proteins like Parkin and DJ-1 decrease in the brain of PD patients.”
- The results of the study showed that when the rats were fed ground cinnamon, it was metabolized into sodium benzoate, which then enters the brain and halts the loss of proteins called Parkin and DJ-1. These proteins are lost as PD progresses. The organic cinnamon also protected neurons, normalized neurotransmitter levels, and improved motor function in mice with PD.
- “Now we need to translate this finding to the clinic and test ground cinnamon in patients with PD. If these results are replicated in PD patients, it would be a remarkable advance in the treatment of this devastating neurodegenerative disease,” Dr. Pahan concluded.
- Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
- For the health benefits of cinnamon.
- For a honey and cinnamon weight loss recipe.
- REFERENCES:
- 1. “Cinnamon Treatment Upregulates Neuroprotective Proteins Parkin and DJ-1 and Protects Dopaminergic Neurons in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease.” Springer. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 01 June 2014. Web. 12 July 2014.
- 2. “Cinnamon May Be Used to Halt the Progression of Parkinson’s Disease.” Rush News Room. Rush University Medical Center, 08 July 2014. Web. 12 July 2014.
- 3. “Cinnamon May Be Used to Halt Progression of Parkinson’s Disease, Study Suggests.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 09 July 2014. Web. 12 July 2014.
- 4. “Parkinson’s Disease.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, n.d. Web. 09 July 2014.
- 5. “Parkinson’s Disease Overview.” National Parkinson Foundation. National Parkinson Foundation, n.d. Web. 10 July 2014.
- 6. “CDC Lists Parkinson’s as the 14th Leading Cause of Death in America.” Parkinson’s Action Network. Parkinson’s Action Network, n.d. Web. 12 July 2014.
