Vitamin C and E Intake May Be Associated with Cognitive Health
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By VRP Staff
A new study indicates that people who consume both vitamin C and vitamin E supplements may have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimers disease.
Past studies have shown that antioxidants may protect the aging brain against oxidative damage associated with changes that occur during Alzheimers disease. Consequently, in the current study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University examined the relationship between antioxidant supplement use and risk of Alzheimers disease.
The study authors examined 4,740 elderly (65 years or older) subjects from 1995 to 1997 to determine if they suffered from dementia and Alzheimers disease, and again from 1998 to 2000. When first examining the subjects, researchers also determined their supplement use.
From 1995 to 1997, the investigators identified 200 prevalent cases of Alzheimers disease. From 1998 to 2000, the researchers identified 104 incident Alzheimers disease cases.
The study authors considered vitamin E supplement consumers to be individuals who took an individual supplement of vitamin E or a multivitamin containing more than 400 IU of vitamin E. Individuals who took at least 500 mg of ascorbic acid daily were considered to be vitamin C supplement users. People who consumed multivitamins containing smaller amounts of vitamins E and C were labeled multivitamin users.
Use of vitamin E and C (ascorbic acid) supplements in combination was associated with a nearly 78 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimers. Subjects who used vitamin E supplements together with multivitamins containing vitamin C also experienced a lower risk of Alzheimers. However, use of vitamin E or vitamin C supplements alone was not linked to a reduced Alzheimers risk.
According to the researchers, Antioxidant supplements merit further study as agents for the primary prevention of Alzheimers disease..br>
Reference:
Zandi PP, Anthony JC, Khachaturian AS, Stone SV, Gustafson D, Tschanz JT, Norton MC, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Breitner JC; Cache County Study Group. Reduced risk of Alzheimer disease in users of antioxidant vitamin supplements: the Cache County Study. Arch Neurol. 2004 Jan; 61(1): 82-8.
A number of vitamin E and vitamin C supplements are available from VRP, including E Team, C Plus, ascorbic acid capsules and D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate with mixed tocopherols.
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