News
Elevated vitamin B6 levels may protect DNA from oxidative damage
12 July 2013
A new study from Japan reports that increased blood vitamin B6 concentrations in men may reduce oxidative stress potentially damaging DNA.
30 January 2015
A supplementation of Alzheimer patients with vitamin E, B vitamins and amino acids seems to improve their cognitive performance and mood reports a new US study.
In the randomized controlled trial, 106 patients with Alzheimer’s disease received a daily nutrient combination – with vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), folate, vitamin B12, amino acids (S-adenosyl methioinine and N-acetyl cysteine) as well as acetyl-L-carnitine – or placebo for three or six month (1). After these treatment periods all participants received the nutrient combination for six additional months. The study results showed that patients who received the nutrients significantly improved versus the placebo group regarding their cognitive performance and mood resp. behavior within three months. All patient groups improved or maintained baseline performance during the additional six months when they were supplemented with nutrients.
The scientists commented that increasing evidence points toward the efficacy of nutritional modifications in delaying cognitive decline and mood/behavioral difficulties in Alzheimer’s disease. As nutritional supplementation with individual nutrients has shown varied results, the new findings support a treatment with a combination of nutrients. An insufficient supply with B vitamins has been linked with high blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine which has been associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (2). Earlier findings already indicated a benefit of alpha-tocopherol in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease by slowing functional decline and decreasing caregiver burden (3).
12 July 2013
A new study from Japan reports that increased blood vitamin B6 concentrations in men may reduce oxidative stress potentially damaging DNA.
10 May 2013
According to a new data analysis, the majority of pregnant women in the US may have an inadequate iodine status and insufficient intakes from dietary supplements.
1 March 2015
Since older people often do not process food well, old age may be considered a risk factor for inadequate micronutrient uptake. In the course of the natural aging process, several bodily functions deteriorate. An insufficient supply of micronutrients to the organism can accelerate the natural aging process and aggravate the decline of cell renewal processes, immune defense, eyesight and hearing, and cognitive performance. Further, the presence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer can increase micronutrient requirements. It is therefore all the more necessary to ensure that older people receive an optimal supply of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids. However, many older people are a long way from consuming the recommended daily amounts, even in highly developed industrial nations.