Abstract
Gastrointestinal problems in Parkinson's disease patients could be due to changes in the gut microbiome leading to increased inflammation, suggest findings from a study carried out at the Quadram Institute in the U.K.
Individual studies have suggested some microbiome differences between Parkinson's patients and healthy controls, but results have been inconclusive and difficult to compare, possibly because of variation in methods and populations.
As reported in the journal npj Parkinson's Disease, Stefano Romano, Ph.D., and colleagues from the Quadram carried out a meta-analysis including results from 10 studies including just over 1200 people.
There was a significant increase in bacteria from the Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Bifidobacterium genera and a decrease in Lachnospiraceae family and Faecalibacterium genus bacteria in patients versus controls—both of which produce important fatty acids such as butyrate.
The bacteria found in increased amounts in the gut of Parkinson's patients are involved in methane production and degradation of mucus, which may also contribute to the gastrointestinal symptoms seen in these individuals.
