RecruitingNCT05998772

Influence of Glucose on Metabolism and Clinical Symptoms of Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Sponsor

University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

Enrollment

50 participants

Start Date

Sep 1, 2023

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Sugar Intake

Summary

Many patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) report an increased consumption of fast-acting sugars. This tendency to consume sweet, high-sugar foods occurs in some patients even before the onset of cardinal motor symptoms. Some recent studies have demonstrated that PD patients have an increased consumption of fast-acting carbohydrates compared to healthy controls. However, the reason for this change in eating behavior has not yet been adequately explained. It is discussed that the increased sugar intake leads to an increased dopamine release in the brain via an increase in insulin and thus to an improvement in clinical symptoms. This study investigates the influence of fast-acting carbohydrates on insulin and glucose blood levels as well as motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with PD using an oral glucose tolerance test and a placebo oral glucose tolerance test in a crossover design.

Eligibility

Min Age: 50 YearsMax Age: 80 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study investigates how glucose (sugar) affects the brain and physical symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease, and whether sugar cravings are linked to how the body processes energy. **You may be eligible if...** - You have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at a moderate stage (Hoehn & Yahr stage 1.5 to 3) - You are between 50 and 80 years old (a small number of participants outside this range may also qualify) - You are able to temporarily pause your Parkinson's medication in the morning without major difficulty - You have the mental capacity to give informed consent (a brief cognitive test may be used to confirm this) - You are able to complete a 3-day food diary before the study **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have severe Parkinson's or are at an early or very advanced stage - You are unable to briefly stop your medication for the study assessments Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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