Effect of Folic Acid in Levodopa Treated Parkinson's Disease Patients

This is a prospective single center, randomized, double-blind, 2 arm placebo-controlled study in subjects with Parkinson's disease receiving levodopa .The patients will be randomized to receive tablet Folic Acid 10 mg per day or placebo for 8 weeks. The safety and efficacy outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and 8 weeks.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neuron in the substantia nigra. Most commonly used drug, levodopa can improve the dopamine level in brain but levodapa causes hyperhomocysteinmia as a result increse neurotoxicity,oxidative stress and motor fluctuations and dyskinesia in many patients. Folic acid has been reduced homocystein level in levodopa treated Parkinson's disease on animal model and also reduced Levodopa induced dyskinesia without compromising the motor benefits of Levodopa. Therefore, the present study is to attempt to improve the sign symptoms of Parkinson's disease by giving folic acid along with Levodopa. This study is a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial and conducting at Department of Pharmacology, BSMMU in collaboration with Department of Neurology, BSMMU. A total of 60 patients suffering from Parkinson's disease is selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The diagnosis of the patients suffering from Parkinson's disease will be performed by a neurologist at movement disorder clinic of department of Neurology, BSMMU. Patients will undergo MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) to assess the severity of the disease. The patients will be randomly allocated into two arms: control and intervention. Patients in intervention arm consisted of 30 patients who will receive levodopa plus folic acid orally for 8 weeks. On the other hand, control arm consisted of 30 patients who will receive levodopa plus placebo for 8 weeks. The severity of Parkinson's disease will be assessed 8 weeks follow up.