If you’ve ever searched “best supplements for Parkinson’s” online, you’ve likely been left with more questions than answers. From vitamins to herbal blends, the world of supplements can feel confusing and overwhelming.
To get clarity on this topic, I asked Britt Stone, MD, a movement disorder specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, who also completed an integrative medicine fellowship and herbalism certification, to answer the most common questions about Parkinson’s and supplements.
Where Should People Start With Supplements?
Before adding any supplement, Dr. Stone recommends asking yourself: What am I trying to accomplish? “Are you hoping to ease a specific symptom, boost energy or support your overall well-being? Together, I and my patient can look at specific concerns and decide if that supplement makes sense or whether something else would better address those concerns,” she says.
If you choose to try supplements, know that they are not a quick fix for symptoms. “Nothing is going to change instantaneously. Supplements, when they do help, take consistency and time.”
What Are the Best Supplements for Parkinson’s?
“Everyone with Parkinson’s should be looking at a few specific vitamins and minerals and supplementing if levels are low,” says Dr. Stone. “These include Vitamin B12, B6, D and magnesium. Vitamins B12 and D are often low in people with Parkinson’s and B6 can be low in people taking levodopa. ” These vitamins and minerals are important for brain, bone and whole body health. Your doctor can draw blood to check levels, if needed.
Dr. Stone adds that magnesium can also be especially helpful for sleep issues, muscle cramps or constipation, depending on the formulation. “For those with constipation, magnesium citrate may be best. If you don’t have issues with bowels, you might want to try magnesium glycinate or threonate for sleep or muscle cramps.”
If sleep is a challenge, “sometimes I suggest a combination of melatonin, magnesium and lavender. But remember, only do one new thing at a time and work up to a combination.” Lavender can help with frequent awakening or anxiety at night — “like when you can’t shut your mind off,” says Dr. Stone. “Melatonin is another popular sleep supplement, especially for people who have vivid dreams or act out their dreams.” And lastly, she says, “CBD, a compound in cannabis, also can help with sleep given its anti-anxiety and anti-pain effects. Some people use topical balms on sore muscles or take gummies that contain CBD, with or without melatonin.”
When it comes to issues concerning memory or thinking, Dr. Stone says she’s seen anecdotal benefit with Lion’s Mane mushroom tincture. “Some people feel they have an easier time recalling words when taking this.” Small studies have suggested mild memory improvement in adults who take ginkgo biloba, but more research is needed, specifically in people who live with Parkinson’s.
Can Supplements Slow or Prevent Parkinson’s Disease?
“I wish!” Dr. Stone says, adding, “I don’t know of any.”
Still, Dr. Stone emphasizes that while supplements can help ease some symptoms, they are just one part of a larger picture. “Supplements won’t solve everything,” she says. “You have to have a good foundation with diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors in order for supplements to work as well as they can. After all, to supplement is to ‘add on,’ not to replace.”
Are Supplements Safe?
One of the top misconceptions Dr. Stone hears from patients is that natural, as in non-prescription, means harmless. “Supplements can have side effects and drug interactions,” she explains. “And they aren’t regulated with the same rigor as prescription medications. So, what’s on the label may not be what’s in the bottle.”
Dr. Stone explains that this leaves room for variation, even in products you use regularly. “Even the same brand can change over time, meaning you might not be consistently taking what you think you are.” Choose products that are third-party, or independently, tested and backed by credible research data. And rely on reputable sources rather than being swayed by social media influencers or strong marketing.
Dr. Stone encourages patients to keep an open dialogue with their healthcare providers about any supplements they’re taking or considering. “Talk to your doctor,” she says. “We can navigate together. I’m often researching products for my patients, and I’ll even try some myself before recommending them to others.”
Should Everyone With Parkinson’s Take a Multivitamin?
“Not necessarily,” says Dr. Stone. “If your diet is balanced and your doctor has checked your vitamin levels, you might not need one.”
She explains that multivitamins can include ingredients you don’t need and miss ones you do. “They’re not one-size-fits-all,” says Dr. Stone. “They can be helpful for some people, but others may benefit more from more targeted supplementation.”
Which Supplements Should I Avoid?
“I generally tell people to avoid supplements that have no evidence of benefit and have more potential risk than benefit, including risk in how they are administered or how much they cost,” says Dr. Stone. A few she does not recommend include:
- High-dose Coenzyme Q10: This supplement is not beneficial, as found in a Phase III research study.
- Lithium: Without much data to support its use, along with the risks of side effects, Dr. Stone says that the chance of risk is higher than the chance of benefit.
- Intravenous (IV) Glutathione: “IV anything comes with risk,” says Dr. Stone. “And the chance of a placebo effect with more invasive treatments like those given by IV is higher, so it’s hard to separate placebo effect from true impact.”
- High-dose Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) – Unless your B1 is low, Dr. Stone doesn’t recommend this supplement. “Higher doses aren’t absorbed well through the gut, which means they require IV or intramuscular injections, which increases risk of toxicity.”
She adds, “Sometimes the ‘harm’ of supplements is around how much they cost, or around effort and time invested in something whose benefits are uncertain, especially compared to exercise, diet and other tools with more data.”
The Bottom Line on Supplements and Parkinson’s
While supplements may play a role in supporting overall health for those with Parkinson’s, they’re not a cure or a replacement for proven therapies.
As always, ask your doctor for guidance on what supplements to try — or at the very least, let them know what you are trying on your own. If your doctor isn’t familiar with a supplement, Dr. Stone suggests asking if they can help assess its safety or refer you to someone with expertise in this area.
“As doctors, we are here to facilitate that with you,” says Dr. Stone. “We have the same goals as you — we want you to have the best quality of life possible, with or without supplements.”
The medical information contained in this publication is for general information purposes only. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has a policy of refraining from advocating, endorsing or promoting any drug therapy, course of treatment, or specific company or institution. It is crucial that care and treatment decisions related to Parkinson’s disease and any other medical condition be made in consultation with a physician or other qualified medical professional.
