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Dear Bill, I believe we met at the Seattle Parkinson's symposium, which I enjoyed very much. Wish I'd had more time to talk to individuals, it was a great meeting! > Also, does anyone have information on a vitamin regimen that is helpful to > those with PD? Unfortunately, nutrition is never that simple. It would be great to advise everyone with PD to take 200-400 IUs of vitamin E, for instance. However, some of my clients are using medications like aspirin or coumadin, or have a family history of hemorrhagic stroke. Large amounts of vit. E could potentially be fatal in some cases. It used to be thought that older adults should have more iron, hence all the Geritol ads. Now, though, iron is known to be an oxidant; people over age 50 are advised not to use iron supplements unless they are anemic. Vitamin C is generally considered to be a useful vitamin without side effects; however, it can increase iron absorption, and this often isn't a good idea -- for instance, for some people with heart disease. I ask my clients for a 3-day food record, which I analyze to get a nutrient profile; also a medical history, and quite a bit of other information. Following all this, I frequently do recommend vitamins and/or minerals as an adjunct to various appropriate foods; but I'd never make a blanket statement re supplementation -- it wouldn't be professional. Most often, I recommend a vitamin/mineral supplement that contains the RDA for most major nutrients; plus a calcium supplement and/or fortified foods, such as calcium-fortified orange juice. And often a B-complex. But food is the gold standard when it comes to nutrients; supplements are more like, well, copper or brass. Food supplies protective fiber complexes as well as powerful flavonoids that supplements can't match. Best regards, Kathrynne -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD "Nutrition you can live with!" Medical nutrition therapy http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ Tel: 970-493-6532 // Fax: 970-493-6538