Early research suggests that probiotics may help ease constipation, a common Parkinson’s disease symptom. Those findings are too early to rely on for medical guidance, so it’s best to consult your doctor for advice on managing Parkinson’s disease and any symptoms.

Recent research suggests that gut health and other environmental factors may play a role in how Parkinson’s disease develops and progresses.

Given this, there’s a growing interest in using probiotics as an additional lifestyle change along with prescribed medical care and treatments.

Probiotics, which are present in many different types of food, are healthy yeasts and bacteria that naturally support your immune system and other aspects of your health. These live microorganisms found in food and supplements help support a healthy gut microbiome, meaning they could help relieve Parkinson’s-related constipation and may impact the disease process itself.

About Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects over 1 million people in the United States.

In Parkinson’s, brain cells become impaired or die, leading to reduced dopamine levels and movement difficulties. Dopamine is important for your body’s ability to move. It’s not clear what causes brain cell death in Parkinson’s, but research suggests that inflammation may play a role.

This is where probiotics come into play to help reduce inflammation.

Parkinson’s disease has 4 main symptoms:

  • tremors in the hands, arms, jaw, head, or legs
  • slowed movement
  • muscle stiffness
  • decreased balance and coordination

Other common symptoms include constipation, urinary problems, difficulty swallowing or chewing, speech impairment, and skin issues such as irritation, excess sweating, dry or oily skin.

This 2022 meta-analysis of research concluded that probiotics may help reduce constipation and underlying inflammation, and metabolic issues that can worsen the disease. These physical changes could be related to gut dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria) and gut barrier dysfunction that results in inflammation.

This inflammation may disrupt a communication channel between the brain and gut called the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Gut inflammation contributes to decreased gut motility, less nutrient absorption, and a weakened immune system, and scientists are examining whether these changes could have an impact on dopamine levels.

Constipation

Specifically, research so far shows that probiotics may have an effect on constipation, an early indicator and a common Parkinson’s symptom.

This 2021 study found that people using probiotics had significantly greater spontaneous bowel movements and better stool consistency compared to those who only had a placebo. Another study also found improvements in bowel frequency and gut transit time after taking a multistrain probiotic for 8 weeks.

Beyond constipation, there isn’t enough human research to show that probiotics have any noticeable effect on Parkinson’s symptoms. More research is needed to explore other areas where probiotics could play a role in helping people with Parkinson’s disease.

There is no specific recommendation on the type of probiotic or how they may exactly affect Parkinson’s disease.

However, some believe taking a probiotic supplement may be beneficial in some cases. So that may be an option if a healthcare professional prescribes it as part of a Parkinson’s management plan.

Lifestyle changes may also help with Parkinson’s symptoms

You can practice many lifestyle behaviors to help manage your symptoms, such as regular physical activity, limiting processed foods, getting quality sleep, smoking cessation, and managing stress.

Consulting your doctor and healthcare team is always the best option to help discuss Parkinson’s treatments and how different lifestyle steps could help you live healthier with the disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a complicated neurodegenerative disease that affects the body’s ability to control movements. While its cause is unknown, researchers have started to link the gut microbiome to Parkinson’s disease. In particular, it’s thought that gut inflammation and an imbalance of gut bacteria may worsen constipation or the disease itself.

Some research supports probiotics’ support for Parkinson ‘s-related constipation, but it’s too early to make conclusions.

Consult your doctor and healthcare team to ensure you’re getting the right treatment to manage symptoms and live with the disease.