Hello Beth:
Subject: Re: Protein/timing of meds
You wrote:
>>What I want to know is what is the role of digestive
enzymes in >>this process? Couldn't the intake of
protein-digesting >>enzyme/s help sort it out? What about
eating papaya with every >>protein meal? What do you
think?<<
Protein, when digested in the stomach and small
intestine, breaks down into amino acids (such as tyrosine,
lysine, tryptophan and cystine [there are 20 or more]). The
body uses the amino acids to build other proteins that enable
the body to build and repair muscles and tissues. The amino
acids are also used to manufacture hormones, antibodies
and enzymes.
To be effective, levodopa must get to the brain where it
is converted to dopamine. Levodopa is absorbed through the
selective mucous membrane of the stomach and small
intestine by means of a limited #transport system# before it
reaches the blood. The mucosa transport system is #limited#
because it only contains a fixed number of time-regulated
openings through which the amino acids pass into the blood.
Levodopa is structurally similar to amino acids. So a
competition is created between the levodopa and the amino
acids for passage through the mucosa. When levels of
amino acids are lowered in the stomach/small intestine more
levodopa gets through, faster. I don't think it matters how
quickly the protein is digested, the amino acids must still
pass into the blood.
To make matters worse, the same transport system is
in operation at the blood-brain barrier. This represents
another place where levodopa competes with amino acids for
passage, this time into the brain. This #double whammy#
[named after Dr. D.B.L. Whami, M.D.] can be optimized by
limiting protein intake at the same time as levodopa intake.
Hence, the goal of dietary modification is to eat a
relatively low protein diet and eat 95% of your protein during
dinner. This should minimize motor control fluctuations
(dyskinesias and dystonia) caused by medication therapy.
A #low protein# diet would consist of from 20g to 35g
per day, depending upon a person#s weight. You can eat
meat for dinner, but limit the portion (a 1 oz. piece of meat
contains about 7g of protein). A 2 oz. slice of pizza is about
12g of protein. And your favorite: Foster#s = 1g per 1 oz.
Stephan 52/6
