healthmedicinet

• Liver converts spice into sodium benzoate – used to treat neural disorders
• Chemical enters the brain, protects neurons and improve motor functions
  
• Could potentially be one of the ‘safest approaches to halt Parkinson’s’

By
Daily Mail Reporter

Published:
16:09 EST, 10 July 2014

|
Updated:
17:57 EST, 10 July 2014

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Cinnamon could be a secret weapon in the battle against Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have found that the spice is the source of a chemical that can protect the brain.

Our liver converts cinnamon into sodium benzoate, an approved drug used in the treatment for neural disorders.

In a study of mice at Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago, a team of researchers found that the chemical then enters the brain, stops the loss of proteins that help protect cells, protects neurons and improves motor functions.

Billy Connelly (left) and Michael J Fox (right) have both been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The study shows that cinnamon could potentially be one of the safest approaches to halt disease progression in patients

Lead researcher Professor Kalipada Pahan told the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology: ‘Cinnamon has been used widely as a spice throughout the world for centuries.

‘This could potentially be one of the safest approaches to halt disease progression in Parkinson’s patients.’

Professor Pahan said tests had shown that Ceylon cinnamon is better at halting Parkinson’s as it is more pure.

He said the next step is testing cinnamon on patients with the disease.

The study found that after being eaten, ground cinnamon is converted into the chemical sodium benzoate, which then enters the brain, stops the loss of Parkin and DJ-1, protects neurons, normalises neurotransmitter levels, and improves motor functions in mice with Parkinson’s disease.

Professor Pahan said: ‘Understanding how the disease works is important to developing effective drugs that protect the brain and stop the progression of Parkinson’s.’

Scientists have found that the spice is the source of a chemical that can protect the brain. Our liver converts cinnamon into sodium benzoate, an approved drug used in the treatment for neural disorders

Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive disease that affects a small area of cells within the mid-brain known as the substantia nigra.

Gradual degeneration of these cells causes a reduction in a vital chemical neurotransmitter, dopamine.

The decrease in dopamine results in one or more of the classic signs of Parkinson’s disease that includes: resting tremor on one side of the body; slowness of movement; stiffness of limbs; and gait or balance problems.

The cause of the disease is unknown, but both environmental and genetic causes have been speculated by experts.

While one in six patients are diagnosed before age 50, it is generally considered a disease that targets older adults, affecting one of every 100 persons over the age of 60.

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Comments (43)

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Stu Pidd,

Smarter than the ave DM reader,

34 minutes ago

How can any CHEMICAL be good for you?

cwjones,

london,

4 hours ago

What you have a photo of is Cassia. This is much cheaper spice than Cinnamon and many retailers now sell this and call it “Cinnamon”. But Cassia causes liver failure and is highly dangerous. The way you can spot the difference between the two is that in cross section Cassia has hardly any curled bits whereas real Cinnamon looks like a cigarette in cross section ie it’s got lots of curled bits. Beware counterfeits.

mandyjeancole,

London, United Kingdom,

4 hours ago

Cinnamon has no equal in its benefits , it was once more expensive than gold and as far as im aware has a 100% thumbs up from all nutritionist .

Danton,

London, United Kingdom,

5 hours ago

I havent watched Parkinson’s for years. Is he still doing those interviews. I dont know who cinnamon is but if he is fighting Michael Parkinsons he should be ashamed as parky is fun

uk tax payer,

north yorks, United Kingdom,

5 hours ago

Lucky you. You obviously don’t have to watch a close relative fight this horrible condition.

Dennis,

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom,

52 minutes ago

I think hes selling insurance for the over fifties and giving away free pens…
I wonder if Paxman will go the same way?

LibertyAvo,

London, United Kingdom,

6 hours ago

How nice that it’s a commodity and easily accessible

cwjones,

london,

4 hours ago

Make sure you get real cinnamon rather than the killer Cassia which looks the same. And if often sold as cinnamon! Otherise the patient with Parkinson’s will also have liver damage!

Dennis,

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom,

47 minutes ago

All around the world there is abundance of essential herbs and what might be considered weeds by some, which have within them all the health benefiting nutrients that we could ask for but sadly few people now understand how to use them. Remember they used to burn witches? well they like to control all information no matter what!

King Rio,

Manchester, United Kingdom,

7 hours ago

If I stick a cinnamon stick up me bum will it work?

Rocksey,

Utopia, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

You never know, seeing as that’s obviously where your brain is located!

wake up,

UK,

10 hours ago

Wasn’t this banned recently in the EU?

John Preston,

Stoke on Trent,

10 hours ago

I have two cups of milky coffee every evening sweetened with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon.
My treat to myself.
The rest of the time I drink tea.

2 thirds milk.
1 third water
2 spoons of honey
Good sprinkle of cinnamon.

Buzzing Bee,

under cloudy skies, United Kingdom,

11 hours ago

The cinnamon sticks in the picture above are hollow and are most likely the “cinnamon cassia” from China which is not recommended. If you look at a website called ceylon-cinnamon.com there is a helpful picture showing the difference “how to identify real cinnamon from cassia”. I have looked carefully at my Schwartz jar of cinnamon sticks and they look like “the real deal” from Ceylon/Sri Lanka, the ones that contain very little coumarin which can be toxic to you.

Mr Rational,

Chelmsford,

1 hour ago

To test for Cassia – grind up the cinnamon and add tincture of iodine – if it turns blue then it shows it to be Cassia.

justjill,

copthorne,

11 hours ago

Thought sodium benzoate was bad for you?

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