The Potential Benefits of Vitamin P on the Brain
Supplementing your brain with vitamin P, a type of flavonoid which is found in many citrus fruits, can be helpful in treating damaged neurons that control movements, according to a new study.
In a report published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, biologists at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum investigated a new approach to protecting movement-regulating neurons from dying. They found that the molecule 7, 8-Dihydroxyflavone, commonly called vitamin P, ensures survival of the said neurons by sending survival signals on another path than the molecule Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which is considered as a potential treatment for diseases affecting motor neurons. However, the BDNF is rarely used to treat neurodegenerative illnesses because it has poor pharmacokinetic profile and is associated with negative side effects and absence of survival properties in clinical trials.
Previous studies suggest that vitamin P works the same way with BDNF. But the current study, led by Dr Teresa Tsai and Professor Stefan Wiese from the Molecular Cell Biology and the Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, disagrees to the claim. Although both of the molecules promote cell growth in isolated and cultured mouse motor neurons, they differ when it comes to the protein activation levels, the researchers note. The BDNF activates two signalling pathways – the MAP kinase and PI3K/AKT, whereas vitamin P only uses the PI3K/AKT pathway.
Usage Warning
While vitamin P provides a better alternative to BDNF, it should be taken only at a very small amount, according to the researchers. Prof Wiese reported that an overdose of the vitamin can reduce the survival effect, whereas a little shortage takes away its positive effects. Researchers argued that vitamin P is easier to use because it has the ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier and therefore can be administered without using pumps like in the case of BDNF. Nevertheless, they hope that the vitamin has fewer side effects if any than BDNF.
While the study suggests that vitamin P can serve as a better approach to treating neurodegenerative disorders, a more detailed analysis of it is necessary to ensure its clinical benefits to human patients.
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