Parenteral application of NADH in Parkinson's disease: Clinical improvement partially due to stimulation of endogenous levodopa biosynthesis

Summary

Exogenous application of levodopa is conventionally used to equalize the striatal dopamine deficit in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). The stimulation of endogenous biosynthesis of levodopa via activation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) has been proposed as new therapeutic concept in PD. This may be achieved by exogenous supply with the reduced coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Aim of this open prospective study was to investigate (1) the efficacy of a new developed, parenteral application form of NADH on Parkinsonian symptoms and (2) the influence of bioavailability of levodopa. 15 patients, suffering from idiopathic PD (11 male, 4 female, age: 61.40[mean] ± 10.27[SD] range: 44–74 years, Hoehn and Yahr stage: 3.03 ± 0.69, range 2–4) received intravenous infusions of NADH (10 mg a' 30 min) over a period of 7 days in addition to conventional Parkinsonian pharmacotherapy. Parkinsonian symptoms were scored before (day 1) and after NADH treatment (day 8). Levodopa plasma levels were estimated over a period of four hours on the day before and on the first day of NADH application by HPLC. Parkinsonian patients showed a significant response, evaluated by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Version 3.0 (p=0.025; Wilcoxon test). Moreover application of NADH significantly increased bioavailability of plasma levodopa (AUC, p=0.035; C_max, p=0.025). In conclusion NADH in the used galenic form may be a potent stimulator of endogenous levodopa biosynthesis with clinical benefit for Parkinsonian patients.