Abstract
Objective: To report a case of Parkinsonism rapidly responsive to intravenous replacement of vitamin C and zinc. Case Summary: A 66-year-old man with Parkinsonism, pleural effusion, and bipolar disorder was found to have low serum vitamin C and zinc levels. Intravenous replacement of these micronutrients led to resolution of the movement disorder in less than 24 hours. Discussion: Parkinsonism has been associated with vitamin C deficiency, and recent cases of scurvy complicated by Parkinsonism have responded well to intravenous replacement of vitamin C. In this case, deficiency of zinc may have contributed to the development of a movement disorder. The likely pathophysiology of, and treatment recommendations for, Parkinsonism linked to deficiencies of vitamin C and zinc are reviewed. Conclusions: Whereas vitamin C has a strong link with Parkinsonism, the potential role of zinc has only been suspected. This case report highlights some of the potential links between zinc deficiency and Parkinsonism.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1515-1520 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Annals of Pharmacotherapy |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 27 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Parkinson disease
- central nervous system
- nutrition
- psychiatry
- vitamins
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology (medical)