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The following article is part of the conference coverage of the virtual annual meeting of the International Congress on Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders (MDS). Neurology Advisor staff will share the latest news related to research from leading neurology experts. Look back for the latest news from the MDS 2021 Annual Virtual Meeting. |
Drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease (PD) can alter the composition of the gut microbiome, with potential effects on the biosynthesis and breakdown of fatty acids and the metabolism of the B vitamin family, according to study results presented at the International Congress on Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS) Virtual Congress 2021 from September 17th to 22nd, 2021.
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Previous studies have shown that drugs used to treat Parkinson’s are linked to changes in the composition of the gut microbiota.
The aim of the current study was to determine the differences in the composition of the gut microbiota between drug-naïve patients with PD and those receiving PD drugs.
The study sample comprised 30 drug-naive patients with PD, 33 medically treated patients with PD (29 with levodopa; 20 with a dopaminergic agonist) and 33 matched control subjects. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of DNA extracted from stool was used to determine gut microbiota composition, including calculations of α-diversity and β-diversity indices and analyzes at the family and genus level.
Compared to drug-naïve patients with PD and control subjects, medically treated patients with PD exhibited a higher degree of alpha diversity. The differences in β-diversity were significant between medically treated and drug-naive patients with PD, between those treated with levodopa and those who did not, and between those treated with a dopamine agonist and those who did did not.
At the generic level, Phyllobacterium, Blautia, and Romboutsia were more common in drug-naive patients with PD compared to medically treated patients with PD and healthy controls. Treatment with levodopa was associated with an increase in Lachnospira, Phreatobacter and Anaerotruncus species, while treatment with a dopamine agonist was associated with an increase in Bacteroides, Lachnospira and Lachnoclostridium species.
The results of the analysis suggested that changes in the intestinal microbiota could have an impact on the biosynthesis and breakdown of fatty acids and the metabolism of the B vitamin family.
“The anti-PD drugs could change the microbial composition of the patients” [with PD]. Drug naive patients [with PD] show a relative increase in blue slide compared to both [healthy control participants] and [medicated PD]who are closely related to the manufacture of [short-chain fatty acids]. [Dopaminergic agonists] could be involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism of the B vitamin family, while levodopa could influence fatty acid breakdown, ”the researchers concluded.
reference
Zhang P., Huang P., Qian Y. et al. Do Parkinson’s Drugs Affect the Gut Microbiome? A case-control study. Presented at: MDS Virtual Congress 2021; 17.-22. September 2021. Summary 1043.
