Post by Laurin Enthusiast on Aug 8, 2014 1:53:31 GMT
These two essays were posted a year and 8 months ago, respectively, by 'fwes", a septuagenarian Parkinson' patient who testified that coconut oil had helped him improve his life. The first essay tackles his experience while the second essay connects the success that he encountered to the presence of Lauric Acid in coconut oil. Lauric Acid is, of course, a medium chain triglyceride.
The first article was posted about a year ago (sometime in 2013) on the "HealthUnlocked" online community:
Coconut oil has improved my life
fwes a year ago
I am 74 years old and I have Parkinson's, diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago and am under conventional drug treatment by Mayo Clinic. A year ago, while taking Mirapex Er (3mg) and Azilect (1Mg), my symptoms had progressed to severe slowness, unsteadiness, chronic stiffness and joint pain, frequent freezing episodes and I dragged my left leg. I had lost all facial expression and my lower left leg was retaining a significant amount of fluid (swelling to about 130%).
The addition of Carbidopa/Levodopa (25/100, 3 per day) eased the joint pain and the freezing episodes and restored some of the lost balance, but I still had annoying unsteadiness, slow movement, and could not rise from a low chair unassisted. I still dragged my left leg. I began to have severe lower back pain (under-medicated?) and got some relief from osteopathic manipulation.
This past April, I began taking coconut oil, worked up to 8T daily (4 with breakfast, 2 at lunch, 2 at dinner). I saw significant improvements in a couple of days. My wife and friends are astonished at my apparent recovery. It is strikingly noticeable. The reason for this dosage pattern is that I can feel a return of old symptoms 6-8 hours after the last dose, especially the return of dragging my left leg and low back pain.
Current status:
I move so quickly about the house (kitchen) that my wife and I nearly collide,
My speed on the elliptical trainer changed from 2 mph to 3.5 mph in a few days (I had to be careful with this, my knees were not used to this level of performance)
I have good balance (stand on one foot, put on pants standing without support, confidently step over small objects 6", etc)
I can rise from any chair unassisted
I can do football agility drills (shift right, shift left, step forward, step back in response to random commands)
Past and Present Photos show a pronounced change in facial expression
I can smell again
My osteopath has noticed a pronounced improvement in joint flexibility
The swelling in my left leg has disappeared.
I walk normally, but still have a tendency to stoop.
Back pain has disappeared, but returns quickly if I get behind on dosage
My primary care physician has declared my improvement miraculous, he calls me his "clinical trial of one"
I have no delusions that this is a cure. I still have Parkinson symptoms, but my quality of life has vastly improved. We are about at the end of 3 months, and the benefits are maintaining. Something real has happened to me.
There is solid science behind this: Blog of Dr Mary Newport
I strongly encourage you to look a some of her postings on the Internet and to read her book: Alzheimer's - what if there was a cure.
Saturated Fat Myths: The knee-jerk fear of saturated fats has been largely discounted by modern research results. Nonetheless, my doctor did a complete blood workup on me after 2 months: big rise in HDL (good) and all LDL in large particles (good). Healthy blood report!
I may be a lucky one. I take my coconut oil on top of hot tea or coffee, hardly noticeable. It can cause indigestion, so start slowly and work up gradually. I saw benefits in a couple of days. In the interest of science, give it a fair trial and then report your results (COMFIRMATION OF PD STATUS, dosage, time used, results POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE), preferably to tis blog and to Dr. Newport: ketones08@aol.com
Dr. Newport reports that 19 PD patients have reported benefits to her. Her initial and primary interest is in Alzheimer's. To the degree that this is a case of benefit from improved nutrition to the damaged brain, there is hope that some of the AD benefits will also apply to the PD patients. USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute began double blind Clinical Trials on 65 AD patients in April, the first clinical trials of coconut oil as a therapy!
The second one came 8 months later:
Coconut Oil, Lauric acid, and Cholesterol
fwes 8 months ago
There had been several posts in the past few months discussing benefits of large doses of coconut oil for relieving portions of PD symptoms. One of the issues that has come up from time to time is the question of the impact of taking a large dose of the saturated fat in coconut oil on one's overall health. I and others have shared comments from doctors reports indicating that their blood work has not shown an adverse reaction to the use of coconut oil in large doses.
We now have found a reference to a scientific study which explains our experiences. A little background: Lauric acid is one of the medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil. In fact it is the majority constituent, constituting approximately 50% of the medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil. From Wikipedia:
"Lauric acid has been found to increase total cholesterol the most of all fatty acids. But most of the increase is attributable to an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) "good" cholesterol. As a result, lauric acid has "a more favorable effect on total:HDL cholesterol than any other fatty acid, either saturated or unsaturated";[9] a lower total/HDL cholesterol ratio suggests a decrease in atherosclerotic risk.[10]"
[9] Mensink RP, Zock PL, Kester ADM, Katan MB (May 2003). "Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 77 (5): 1146–1155. ISSN 0002-9165. PMID 12716665.
[10] Thijssen, M.A. and R.P. Mensink. (2005). Fatty Acids and Atherosclerotic Risk. In Arnold von Eckardstein (Ed.) Atherosclerosis: Diet and Drugs. Springer. pp. 171–172. ISBN 978-3-540-22569-0.
Much has been written scientific literature regarding the health problems associated with the consumption of saturated fats. Most of these results are based on old research that was conducted prior to the understanding of the distinctions between HDL and LDL. Also missing was the understanding of the different impacts of medium chain triglycerides and long chain triglycerides. Current posts by reputable organizations continue to confuse the issue by referring to the older reports. Since some of these posts have recent dates they give the appearance that current research is having the same findings, when in fact they may reveal that current writers are not keeping up with the field.
Since we are not experts, it is unnerving when the experts become confused. The recent book by Jeff Volek, PhD, RD and Stephen Phinney, MD, PhD.
"The art and science of low carbohydrate living" provides a compelling discussion to support its title. We introduce it here however because it has excellent chapters on the medium chain triglycerides, on the many roles of cholesterol, and how these relate to human health. Most of their claims are carefully documented by references to the scientific literature. This is not light reading, but if you are going to take responsibility for modifying your treatment and your eating habits, you would be well advised to make an effort to understand the pros and cons of the anticipated approach. This book provides many answers.
I personally continue to experience good benefits from my daily 10 T of coconut oil. I have recently reduced my Sinemet from 25/100 3 per day to 1.5 per day VERY GRADUALLY and with medical supervision. So far no adverse reactions and no worsening of PD symptoms.
10T CO = 1200 calories added to my diet. Weight control is an issue. So far I am breaking even, but am feeling a need to make some life-style changes. But PD is a life-style change and so are the long-term consequences of Sinemet. As I consider my options, I crave FACTS. This forum is a wonderful place to share and discuss facts as we find them.
The first article was posted about a year ago (sometime in 2013) on the "HealthUnlocked" online community:
Coconut oil has improved my life
fwes a year ago
I am 74 years old and I have Parkinson's, diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago and am under conventional drug treatment by Mayo Clinic. A year ago, while taking Mirapex Er (3mg) and Azilect (1Mg), my symptoms had progressed to severe slowness, unsteadiness, chronic stiffness and joint pain, frequent freezing episodes and I dragged my left leg. I had lost all facial expression and my lower left leg was retaining a significant amount of fluid (swelling to about 130%).
The addition of Carbidopa/Levodopa (25/100, 3 per day) eased the joint pain and the freezing episodes and restored some of the lost balance, but I still had annoying unsteadiness, slow movement, and could not rise from a low chair unassisted. I still dragged my left leg. I began to have severe lower back pain (under-medicated?) and got some relief from osteopathic manipulation.
This past April, I began taking coconut oil, worked up to 8T daily (4 with breakfast, 2 at lunch, 2 at dinner). I saw significant improvements in a couple of days. My wife and friends are astonished at my apparent recovery. It is strikingly noticeable. The reason for this dosage pattern is that I can feel a return of old symptoms 6-8 hours after the last dose, especially the return of dragging my left leg and low back pain.
Current status:
I move so quickly about the house (kitchen) that my wife and I nearly collide,
My speed on the elliptical trainer changed from 2 mph to 3.5 mph in a few days (I had to be careful with this, my knees were not used to this level of performance)
I have good balance (stand on one foot, put on pants standing without support, confidently step over small objects 6", etc)
I can rise from any chair unassisted
I can do football agility drills (shift right, shift left, step forward, step back in response to random commands)
Past and Present Photos show a pronounced change in facial expression
I can smell again
My osteopath has noticed a pronounced improvement in joint flexibility
The swelling in my left leg has disappeared.
I walk normally, but still have a tendency to stoop.
Back pain has disappeared, but returns quickly if I get behind on dosage
My primary care physician has declared my improvement miraculous, he calls me his "clinical trial of one"
I have no delusions that this is a cure. I still have Parkinson symptoms, but my quality of life has vastly improved. We are about at the end of 3 months, and the benefits are maintaining. Something real has happened to me.
There is solid science behind this: Blog of Dr Mary Newport
I strongly encourage you to look a some of her postings on the Internet and to read her book: Alzheimer's - what if there was a cure.
Saturated Fat Myths: The knee-jerk fear of saturated fats has been largely discounted by modern research results. Nonetheless, my doctor did a complete blood workup on me after 2 months: big rise in HDL (good) and all LDL in large particles (good). Healthy blood report!
I may be a lucky one. I take my coconut oil on top of hot tea or coffee, hardly noticeable. It can cause indigestion, so start slowly and work up gradually. I saw benefits in a couple of days. In the interest of science, give it a fair trial and then report your results (COMFIRMATION OF PD STATUS, dosage, time used, results POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE), preferably to tis blog and to Dr. Newport: ketones08@aol.com
Dr. Newport reports that 19 PD patients have reported benefits to her. Her initial and primary interest is in Alzheimer's. To the degree that this is a case of benefit from improved nutrition to the damaged brain, there is hope that some of the AD benefits will also apply to the PD patients. USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute began double blind Clinical Trials on 65 AD patients in April, the first clinical trials of coconut oil as a therapy!
The second one came 8 months later:
Coconut Oil, Lauric acid, and Cholesterol
fwes 8 months ago
There had been several posts in the past few months discussing benefits of large doses of coconut oil for relieving portions of PD symptoms. One of the issues that has come up from time to time is the question of the impact of taking a large dose of the saturated fat in coconut oil on one's overall health. I and others have shared comments from doctors reports indicating that their blood work has not shown an adverse reaction to the use of coconut oil in large doses.
We now have found a reference to a scientific study which explains our experiences. A little background: Lauric acid is one of the medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil. In fact it is the majority constituent, constituting approximately 50% of the medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil. From Wikipedia:
"Lauric acid has been found to increase total cholesterol the most of all fatty acids. But most of the increase is attributable to an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) "good" cholesterol. As a result, lauric acid has "a more favorable effect on total:HDL cholesterol than any other fatty acid, either saturated or unsaturated";[9] a lower total/HDL cholesterol ratio suggests a decrease in atherosclerotic risk.[10]"
[9] Mensink RP, Zock PL, Kester ADM, Katan MB (May 2003). "Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 77 (5): 1146–1155. ISSN 0002-9165. PMID 12716665.
[10] Thijssen, M.A. and R.P. Mensink. (2005). Fatty Acids and Atherosclerotic Risk. In Arnold von Eckardstein (Ed.) Atherosclerosis: Diet and Drugs. Springer. pp. 171–172. ISBN 978-3-540-22569-0.
Much has been written scientific literature regarding the health problems associated with the consumption of saturated fats. Most of these results are based on old research that was conducted prior to the understanding of the distinctions between HDL and LDL. Also missing was the understanding of the different impacts of medium chain triglycerides and long chain triglycerides. Current posts by reputable organizations continue to confuse the issue by referring to the older reports. Since some of these posts have recent dates they give the appearance that current research is having the same findings, when in fact they may reveal that current writers are not keeping up with the field.
Since we are not experts, it is unnerving when the experts become confused. The recent book by Jeff Volek, PhD, RD and Stephen Phinney, MD, PhD.
"The art and science of low carbohydrate living" provides a compelling discussion to support its title. We introduce it here however because it has excellent chapters on the medium chain triglycerides, on the many roles of cholesterol, and how these relate to human health. Most of their claims are carefully documented by references to the scientific literature. This is not light reading, but if you are going to take responsibility for modifying your treatment and your eating habits, you would be well advised to make an effort to understand the pros and cons of the anticipated approach. This book provides many answers.
I personally continue to experience good benefits from my daily 10 T of coconut oil. I have recently reduced my Sinemet from 25/100 3 per day to 1.5 per day VERY GRADUALLY and with medical supervision. So far no adverse reactions and no worsening of PD symptoms.
10T CO = 1200 calories added to my diet. Weight control is an issue. So far I am breaking even, but am feeling a need to make some life-style changes. But PD is a life-style change and so are the long-term consequences of Sinemet. As I consider my options, I crave FACTS. This forum is a wonderful place to share and discuss facts as we find them.