MDS 2014

Inverse Association Between Yerba Mate (Ilex Paraguaiensis) Consumption And The Risk Of Parkinson's Disease

Gatto,  E.M., Melcon,  C.M., Parisi,  V., Bartoloni,  L., Gonzalez,  C., Tomoko,  A., Garreto,  N., Pavon,  H., Bueri,  J., Matiazzi,  M.

Yerba Mate tea (YM), an infusion made from the leaves of the small tree Ilex paraguariensis, is a very common beverage in some countries of South America. Its popularity is increasing in the USA, Canada, and Europe. Argentina drinks only moderate amounts of coffee, favoring yerba mate infusion. The bioactive compounds in YM include phenolics, chlorogenic acid, theobromine, caffeine, chlorophyll, condensed tannins and saponins. Experimental studies suggests a neuroprotective role of YM in development and progression of Parkinson disease (PD) probably related to the adenosine A2A receptor antagonism or an augmentation of the expression in the striatum of adenosine A1 receptor.

Methods:

Case-control study on an individual basis from hospital records Data were adjusted by age and sex. Case was defined as a 40 years or older PD individual with ≥ 4 years of disease duration. Other causes of Parkinsonism were excluded. Exposure was measure by YM consumption, coffee, tea, alcohol intake and smoking. Clinical and demographic data were recorded.

Results:

This analysis included cases 180 and 378 control, mean age of PD patients was 68.11 years old. There was an inverse association between YM consumption and PD (coefficient −0.432±0.098; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis with logistic regression adjusted by sex, alcohol intake and smoking showed for YM an OR: 0.65, 95% CI 0.54-0.79; Tea OR: 0.65 CI 95% 0.45-0.94, Coffee OR: 0.53 (95% CI 0.53-0.77). Total xanthines together had an OR 0.69, CI 0.60-0.80.

Conclusions:

YM consumption is inversely associated with PD risk. These results leads us to hypothesize that YM may have a potential protecting role in developing PD, probably related with several mechanisms including Adenosine A2 antagonism.

To cite this abstract, please use the following information:

Gatto, E.M., Melcon, C.M., Parisi, V., Bartoloni, L., Gonzalez, C., Tomoko, A., Garreto, N., Pavon, H., Bueri, J., Matiazzi, M.; Inverse association between Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguaiensis) consumption and the risk of Parkinson's disease [abstract]. Movement Disorders 2014;29 Suppl 1 :1483