AUTHOR=Rusch Carley , Beke Matthew , Tucciarone Lily , Nieves Carmelo , Ukhanova Maria , Tagliamonte Massimiliano S. , Mai Volker , Suh Joon Hyuk , Wang Yu , Chiu Shannon , Patel Bhavana , Ramirez-Zamora Adolfo , Langkamp-Henken Bobbi 

TITLE=Mediterranean Diet Adherence in People With Parkinson's Disease Reduces Constipation Symptoms and Changes Fecal Microbiota After a 5-Week Single-Arm Pilot Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.794640

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.794640

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) such as gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction are common, yet little is known about how modifying dietary intake impacts PD. The aim of this study in individuals with PD was to determine whether a Mediterranean diet intervention is feasible and induces changes in GI function, intestinal permeability and fecal microbial communities.
Methods: A single-arm, 5-week Mediterranean diet intervention study was conducted in 8 people with PD. Daily and weekly questionnaires were administered to determine changes in GI symptoms. Urine and stool samples were collected at baseline and after 5 weeks to assess intestinal permeability and fecal microbial communities. Additionally, live-in partners of the participants with PD were matched as controls (n=8) for baseline urine and stool samples.
Results: Participants with PD adhered to Mediterranean diet (4.4±0.6 vs. 11.9±0.7; P<0.01 with >10=good adherence), which was linked with weight loss (77.4 kg vs. 74.9 kg, P=0.01). Constipation syndrome scores were decreased after 5 weeks (2.3±0.5 vs. 1.5±0.3; P=0.04). Bilophila, was higher at baseline in PD (0.6±0.1% vs. 0.2±0.1%  P=0.02) and slightly decreased after the diet intervention (0.5±0.1%; P=0.01). Interestingly, the proportion of Roseburia was significantly lower in PD compared to controls (0.6±0.2% vs. 1.6±0.3%; P=0.02) and increased at week 5 (0.9±0.2%; P<0.01). No differences were observed for markers of intestinal permeability between the control and PD groups or post-intervention. 
Conclusions: Short-term Mediterranean diet adherence is feasible in participants with PD; correlated with weight loss, improved constipation, and modified gut microbiota. 
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03851861.