Objective: Our first aim was to evaluate differences in the blood lipid profile levels between Parkinsons disease (PD) patients and healthy controls (HC). Secondly, in PD patients, to assess the relationship between the lipid profile and the clinical characteristics of the disease, severity, as well as progression of the disease in the cohort of PD patients.

Background: The etiology of PD continues to be unclear. α-Synuclein has lipid-binding domains, and α-synuclein aggregation could be induced by some lipids. Also the cholesterol oxidation products seem to be involved in the increasing of α- synuclein level. Nevertheless, several case-control studies have also found low levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol. 

Methods: This case-control study included 405 PD patients (58.5% men, mean age 65.8 ± 11.2 years) and 405 HC (53.6% men, mean age 61.75 ± 17.62 years). We evaluated total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) in both groups from peripheral blood. We collected data regarding demographic and clinical features, treatment and the severity of PD according the Hoehn and Yahr scale. Patients on statin therapy or familial hypercholesterolemia were excluded. To compare in serum TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG levels between groups we analyzed data with binary logistic regression and multivariante analysis adjusted by age and gender. In the PD group, the relationship between clinical features and lipid profile was assessed.

Results: The levels of TC (PD: 195,69±42,94 mg/dl, HC: 201,41±40,91 mg/dl; p=0,037) and TG ( PD: 112,54±63,66 mg/dl, HC:124,52±72,42; p=0,007) were significantly lower in the PD patients. In the PD group, low levels of TC were associated with a higher rate of dysphagia, and the low levels of TG were associated with loss of appetite. No significant differences were observed in the other variables.

Conclusions: The levels of TC and TG are lower in PD patients compared to controls. These findings may be a consequence of the progression of the disease, and therefore of patients’ dietary habits in more advanced stages. Consequently, the lipid profile could help to study the nutritional status of the disease.

References: de Lau LM, Koudstaal PJ, Hofman A, Breteler MM. Serum cholesterol levels and the risk of Parkinsons disease. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;164:998-1002.

Guo X, Song W, Chen K, Chen X, Zheng Z, Cao B et al. The serum lipid profile of Parkinsons disease patients: a study from China. Int J Neurosci. 2015;125:833-844.

« Back to 2017 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/serum-lipid-profile-in-parkinsons-disease-patients-from-southern-spain/