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Progesterone for Parkinsons

Hello Wray,
I am a new progesterone user and discovering its many benefits for my hormonal issues. Sitting down recently with a family member that has Parkinsons disease, I couldn't help but wonder if progesterone could help. Not only does he struggle with the shakes but also debilitating anxiety caused from the disease. Progesterone is great for anxiety as it increases GABA. In your experience, have you ever heard of anyone using progesterone for Parkinsons? Currently he is on numerous drugs and he hates the way they make him feel. Just wondering if you have ever heard of anyone or any studies using progesterone for Parkinsons? Thanks!

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Mar 13, 2013
 Progesterone for Parkinsons
by: Wray

Hi there There's only one person I know of, and that is someone I knew. But his PD wasn't very advanced. I was actually giving it to him, as he couldn't afford the amount I wanted him to take, 500mg/day. He said it was helping him, he found he was less unstable, and mentioned his moods were better. But I've since lost touch with him. Possibly because I couldn't afford to keep giving it to him. There's strong evidence PD is caused by oxidative stress, i.e. too many free radicals damaging cells. Progesterone is an antioxidant, analgesic, anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory. Plus it protects neurons from damage, re-myelinates nerves, increases BDNF (brain derived neurotropic factor) and GDNF (glial derived neurotropic factor) which are low in PD, is converted into allopregnanolone and 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone which are low in PD, is involved in the dopamine pathway, prevents lipid peroxidation, stimulates the GABA receptors and more. These are a few papers here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. It also suppresses any excess oestrogen, which is an excitatory, inflammatory hormone, have they checked his levels? Oestrogen increases free radicals in the brain, antioxidants counter the damage it does, see here. Continued below
Mar 13, 2013
 Progesterone for Parkinsons Part 2
by: Wray

It also stimulates glutamate, our most excitatory neurotransmitter, see here. One paper says " Elevated levels of glutamate are thought to be responsible for CNS disorders through various mechanisms causing oxidative stress". Glutamate increases levels of reactive oxygen species. Whereas progesterone protects against glutamate toxicity, it also increases BDNF (brain-derived neuroptrophic factor) in itself protective, see here and here. If glutamate is too high, it allows calcium, an excitatory mineral, to enter the cells. Progesterone also protects against calcium induced excitotoxicity, see here. It's very evident oxidative stress is behind PD, in fact behind most of our diseases. One extremely important nutrient is N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). It reduces neuronal cell death, it supplies vital sulphur, a powerful reducing agent. NAC is also the rate limiting step in glutathione synthesis, without which cells die. Glutathione levels are always low in any oxidative stress, but it's rarely checked, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. This paper here gives an overview of NAC. It appears iron levels are high in PD patients, see here. Chelating the excess iron with desferal reduces the iron and therefore oxidative stress. Continued below
Mar 13, 2013
 Progesterone for Parkinsons Part 3
by: Wray

And finally vitamin D, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. It's the most important nutrient there is, increasing the risk of all diseases if low. A powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anxiolytic. Please could he have a test done. A lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone, see here, here and here. I find it very hard to persuade people to use enough progesterone. It's safety is beyond question, see here. Too little stimulates oestrogen, which worsens any existing symptoms, plus causing more. It's essential to use enough to not only overcome this aspect, but to overcome the existing symptoms. which is why I suggested 500mg/day, possibly more. It's essential to get vitamin D levels up high, 100-150ngml for the same reason. Plus both Progesterone and Vitamin D work synergistically. Essential to take large quantities of other antioxidants, the amounts found in capsules are far too low to prevent oxidative stress, and the damage the Inflammation causes. Continued below
Mar 13, 2013
 Progesterone for Parkinsons Part 4
by: Wray

Many of the amino acids are powerful antioxidants, another he should consider is taurine. It's not found in vegetables, nuts, seeds etc, only animal protein. It's a potent anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic too, see here, here and here. It can be converted from NAC, but as this is so important and needed for glutathione synthesis too, it's often too low. The other two precursors to glutathione are glutamine and glycine. If stressed the body cannot get enough to cope. It's pointless taking glutathione as it's a tripeptide or mini protein, so is broken down in the gut. It's always better to take the precursors. He should avoid all sugars, even those found in all grains, legumes, processed milk and sweet starchy fruits and vegetables. These all convert to glucose. Excess glucose causes glycation, this occurs when a sugar molecule binds to a protein or lipid molecule without the control of an enzyme. This impairs the function of the molecule, leading to advanced glycation endproducts or AGEs, see here. This results in oxidative stress, see here. Which in turn leads to inflammation, see here, resulting in many of our inflammatory diseases, which are the end result of long term oxidative stress. He could consider going on a ketogenic diet, this eliminates all sugars to the barest minimum. Stanford University have a meal planner. One problem in PD patients is a lack of ATP in the brain, in other words it's starved of energy. Ketones can supply this, see here. One study says "Recent studies have shown that D-beta-hydroxybutyrate, the principal "ketone", is not just a fuel, but a "superfuel" more efficiently producing ATP energy than glucose or fatty acid.", see here and here. Continued below
Mar 13, 2013
 Progesterone for Parkinsons Part 5
by: Wray

Medium chain triglycerides, or MCT oil is the most efficient at producing ketones. One advantage is the oil cannot be deposited as fat. It's a very light oil, and as it's saturated it does not oxidise readily. It also kills candida and a number of other fungi, we use it for making the Natpro. Although about cancer this paper gives some idea of the diet, see here. Whether the problem is cancer, epilepsy, neurological disorders, the aim of the diet is to reduce glucose, to prevent oxidation and thence to inflammation and cellular damage. So it's a two pronged approach, reduce glucose and increase substantially all the most potent antioxidants. Take care Wray
Mar 02, 2014
 Parkinson's
by: Anonymous

Hi Wray,
My Boss has Parkinson's. He does not shake but is slowly losing control of his right side of his body. After reading your reply to this first query I wondered if u had heard any positive results with progesterone helping someone with Parkinson's. Many thanks
D
Jan 10, 2017
 Progesterone - pregnant person with PD
by: Anonymous

My wife has PD and she just went through in-Vitro fertilization, during which she has to take progesterone. I can tell you for sure that her condition got very worse.

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