Two Faces of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Inhibitor on One-Carbon Metabolism in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Levodopa (L-dopa) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibition are widely used therapeutics in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Despite their therapeutic effects, it was raised that nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism can be deteriorated by PD therapies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of L-dopa and COMT inhibitors on levels of homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and folate in patients with PD. A total of 35 case-control studies from 14 different countries were selected through PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar and were meta-analyzed. In the L-dopa group, the Hcy level was higher compared to the PD without L-dopa group (SMD: 5.11 μmol/L, 95% CI: 3.56 to 6.66). Moreover, vitamin B12 and folate levels in the L-dopa group were lower compared to the healthy control (SMD: −62.67 pg/mL, 95% CI: −86.53 to −38.81; SMD: −0.89 ng/mL, 95% CI: −1.44 to −0.33, respectively). The COMT inhibitor group showed lower levels of Hcy (SMD: −3.78 μmol/L, 95% CI: −5.27 to −2.29) and vitamin B12 (SMD: −51.01 pg/mL, 95% CI: −91.45 to −10.57), but higher folate levels (SMD: 1.78 ng/mL, 95% CI: −0.59 to 4.15) compared to the L-dopa group. COMT inhibitors may ameliorate L-dopa-induced hyper-homocysteine and folate deficiency but exacerbate vitamin B12 deficiency.