Vitamin Supplement Use May Reduce Effects of Alzheimer's Disease

[Guest guest]

DGNews

 

Vitamin Supplement Use May Reduce Effects Of Alzheimer's Disease

BETHESDA, MD -- January 20, 2004 -- Antioxidant vitamin supplements,

particularly vitamins E and C, may protect the aging brain against damage

associated with the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a

study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other

institutions. The researchers believe antioxidant vitamin supplements may be an

ideal prevention strategy for our aging population as they are relatively

nontoxic and are thought to have wide-ranging health benefits. The study,

" Reduced Risk of Alzheimer's Disease in Users of Antioxidant Vitamin

Supplements " is published in the January 2004, issue of the journal Archives of

Neurology.

 

Peter P. Zandi, PhD, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the

School's Department of Mental Health, said, " These results are extremely

exciting. Our study suggests that the regular use of vitamin E in nutritional

supplement doses, especially in combination with vitamin C, may reduce the risk

of developing Alzheimer's disease. "

 

The researchers examined data from the Cache County Study, which is a large,

population-based investigation of the prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer's

disease and other dementias. Residents who were 65 or older were assessed from

1996-1997 and again from 1998-2000. Study participants were asked at their first

contact about vitamin usage. The researchers then compared the subsequent risk

of developing Alzheimer's disease over the study interval among supplement users

versus nonusers to come to their conclusions.

 

Approximately 17 percent of the study participants reported taking vitamin E or

C supplements. These individuals were significantly more likely to be female,

younger, better educated and reported better general health when compared to

non-supplement users. In addition to those who took vitamin supplements, another

20 percent of study participants used multivitamins, but without a high dosage

of vitamin E or C.

 

The researchers found a trend towards reduced Alzheimer's disease with a

combination of vitamin E and C supplements, even after controlling for age, sex,

education and general health. However, there was no notable reduction in the

risk of Alzheimer's disease with vitamin E or vitamin C alone or with

multivitamins. Multivitamins typically contain the recommended daily allowance

of vitamin E (22 IU or 15 mg) and vitamin C (75-90 mg), while individual

supplements contain doses up to 1,000 IU of vitamin E and 500-1,000 mg or more

of vitamin C.

 

The researchers explained that the use of vitamins E and C may offer protection

against Alzheimer's disease when taken together in the higher doses available in

individual supplements. In addition, there may be some protective effect with

vitamin E when it is combined with the lower doses of vitamin C found in

multivitamins.

 

Dr. Zandi said, " Further study with randomized prevention trials is needed

before drawing firm conclusions about the protective effects of these

antioxidants. Such trials should consider testing a regimen of vitamin E and C

in combination. If effective, the use of these antioxidant vitamins may offer an

attractive strategy for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. "

 

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and

National Institute of Mental Health. The Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Center at

Duke University completed the APOE genotyping.

 

James C. Anthony, Ara S. Khachaturian, Stephanie V. Stone, Deborah Gustafson,

JoAnn T. Tschanz, Maria C. Norton and John C. S. Breitner co-authored the study.

 

 

SOURCE: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The complete " Whole Body " Health line consists of the " AIM GARDEN TRIO "

Ask About Health Professional Support Series: AIM Barleygreen

 

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html

 

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

We have made every effort to ensure that the information included in these pages

is accurate. However, we make no guarantees nor can we assume any responsibility

for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or

process discussed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it!