Broad bean (Vicia faba) consumption and Parkinson's disease: a natural source of L-dopa to consider.

ଝ Consumo de habas (Vicia faba) y enfermedad de Parkinson: una fuente natural de L-dopa a tener en cuenta Dear Editor: Scientists know that broad beans (Vicia faba) contain enough L-dopa to be pharmacologically active on patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been shown that these beans increase plasma levels of L-dopa and improve motor function. 1 We present the case of a patient with PD who suffered very intense on-time dyskinesias linked to the consumption of this legume. This 73-year-old man had a 10-year history of PD, now in stage III on the Hoehn and Yahr scale, and well-controlled arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. His cognitive condition was good and he was active and independent; in fact, he tended the legume and vegetable crops in his garden every day. He was being treated with L-dopa plus carbidopa dosed at 800 mg/day and a dopaminergic agonist, cabergoline, dosed at 3 mg/day. Doses had not been adjusted in the past year. According to his family and his medical history, the patient experienced rigidity and slowness on rising in the morning and noticed only mild choreic dyskinesias toward late morning , before lunchtime (on-time dyskinesias). These events did not cause discomfort as he was used to them and experienced no other motor fluctuations at the time. He had never experienced hallucinations or psychiatric disorders, and slept well at night with no need for benzodiazepines or other sleeping aids. Family members brought him to the emergency department some 2 hours after lunch when he suddenly displayed (Vicia faba) consumption and Parkinson's disease: a natural source of L-dopa to consider. Neurología. 2015;30:375—376. choreic movements (including ballistic movements) of the limbs, trunk, and neck, accompanied by cervical dystonia, profound sweating, tachycardia, anxiety, nausea without vomiting, and some level of verbal aggressiveness. Arterial blood pressure was 90/55 mmHg. Routine laboratory analyses , electrocardiogram, and chest radiography did not reveal any relevant results. The family did not report the patient's taking any new drugs or having more than the normal dose of his usual medication. Doctors decided to provide fluid therapy , sedation with diazepam dosed at 20 mg, and temporary withdrawal of the antiparkinsonian treatment. Since nothing appeared to have triggered the patient's syndrome, doctors asked the patient and his family about his eating habits. They responded that he had eaten broad beans (Vicia faba). They had harvested the first broad beans of the season …