In this article, we investigate the available evidence that explores a link between nicotine and Parkinson’s, as well as its limitations.

However, up-to-date research from the Michael J. Fox foundation suggests that while pre-clinical studies suggest a link between nicotine, it is not a clinically useful intervention for Parkinson’s.

A number of studies suggest that dietary nicotine might have the ability to slow the progress of Parkinson’s disease.

Share on Pinterest While some research suggests that nicotine might help treat Parkinson’s, many of the studies are low-quality.

Studies have found an association between people who smoke tobacco and those who are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.

However, much of this research consists of animal studies or questionnaire studies of the wider population. Many studies are also unclear as to whether the nicotine, other chemicals in tobacco smoke, or alternative factors are responsible for blocking the action of Parkinson’s.

In late 2018, a randomized-controlled trial produced high-quality evidence that showed direct doses of nicotine via patches to be an ineffective treatment for Parkinson’s.

Certain species of Solanaceae, a flowering plant family, are edible and contain nicotine. People might be more familiar with these plants under the name nightshade.

This family includes peppers, chilis, and tomatoes. Researchers have been examining the potential of this dietary form of nicotine as a treatment for Parkinson’s.

One finding, published in Annals of Neurology, suggested that certain foods containing nicotine, such as plants belonging to the Solanaceae family, could help lower the risk of Parkinson’s.

The study, led by Dr. Susan Searles Nielsen and her colleagues from the University of Washington in Seattle, included 490 participants with Parkinson’s disease and a control group of 644 individuals who did not have the disease.

The researchers gave the participants questionnaires asking about their diet and tobacco use.

They found that people who ate higher levels of edible Solanaceae faced a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease in comparison to those who did not eat as much. Of all the foods containing nicotine, the best protection seemed to come from eating peppers.

The protective effects of food that contains nicotine were most noticeable in people who had never used other tobacco products.

Dr. Searles Nielsen advised the following about the study:

“Our study is the first to investigate dietary nicotine and risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Similar to the many studies that indicate tobacco use might reduce risk of Parkinson’s, our findings also suggest a protective effect from nicotine, or perhaps a similar but less toxic chemical in peppers and tobacco.”

In the conclusion of the study, however, Dr. Nielsen concedes that despite the relationship between tobacco smoke or some constituents of nightshade plants and a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s, she could not say whether the effects were a result of nicotine directly.

Dr. Nielsen advises that further research would be necessary to confirm nicotine as an effective, safe treatment for Parkinson’s.