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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1989 Sep;52(9):1063–1067. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.52.9.1063

The effects of oral protein on the absorption of intraduodenal levodopa and motor performance.

J P Frankel 1, P A Kempster 1, M Bovingdon 1, R Webster 1, A J Lees 1, G M Stern 1
PMCID: PMC1031741  PMID: 2795076

Abstract

Four patients with levodopa induced fluctuations in motor performance were studied during the constant intraduodenal infusion of levodopa. The results confirm that steady plasma levodopa levels with stable motor control can be achieved. However, when patients were given oral protein loads, motor performance declined despite maintenance of plasma levodopa levels. These findings suggest that competition for levodopa carrier mediated transport by amino acids, is more important at the blood-brain barrier than across the gut mucosa; thereby possibly limiting the efficacy of long-term direct intraduodenal administration of levodopa.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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