Hi All,

I have a quick question on behalf of my Mom who has Parkinson's. She recently had her blood work done and it shows that she has iron deficiency anemia.

I was reading some articles that if she supplemented with iron that it could interfere with her Parkinson's meds.

Does anyone have any insight on how to solve for this? We also have a call into her primary physician.

Thanks,
Shelley

Hi Shelley,
I'm not sure on specifics of iron supplementing effects, but here is some info on Protein foods and absorption/timing of C/L meds.

[The medication levodopa (Sinemet) is a protein building block so it competes for absorption with other proteins. Eating a very proteinic meal reduces the likelihood of effectively absorbing levodopa, so you may want to leave meat, fish and cheese for dinner and eat more carbohydrates and vegetables during the day. Taking medication on an empty stomach – 30 minutes before or 60 minutes after a meal – allows the drug to reach the small intestine and absorb faster. However, a carbohydrate snack (crackers, toast, oatmeal) with the medication may be necessary to prevent nausea.]
Parkinson's Disease | Good Nutrition for Parkinson's Patients - More Details

Shelley, has your mother been tested for hypothyroidism? That might account for her iron deficiency anemia. And, if she's hypothyroid, treating that condition might resolve her anemia without the need for iron supplementation. Here are a couple of links which talk about hypoT and anemia:

Iron and hypothyroidism - Stop The Thyroid Madness

Linking Thyroid Problems, Anemia, Fatigue, and Loss of Cognitive Ability | Health & Wellness News

As we get older our thyroid function gradually slows down. If she has been tested but only with the TSH test, please be aware that TSH is a pituitary hormone (not a thyroid hormone) and it doesn't show the whole picture. A more complete thyroid panel might reveal something.

I hope she does well.

Thank you Bergamotte and Jo! Yes she has been tested for Hypothyroidism and the tests are normal. I am hypothyroid so I made sure they did a full panel.

Her neuro (parkinson doc) does not seem the be interested in the blood results and confirmed they were all low but noting than that. I'll have to try the primary care doc I guess if the neuro doesn't want to respond. Well let me rephase that, the neuro's nurse practitioner (awful bedside manner) does not want to respond and we can never seem to get to the doctor at all.

I would have her try some extra iron over the counter at a small dose but I do not want it to interfere with her Parkinson meds.

Thank you both for your response, it is much appreciated.

Shelley, the information here about iron deficiency anaemia might help you and your mother; Medscape: Medscape Access.