09 December 2013
Blood concentrations of the antioxidants vitamin C and beta-carotene are significantly lower in patients with mild dementia, says a new German study.
In the observational study, the blood levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene as well as levels of lycopene and coenzyme Q10 were measured in 74 patients with mild dementia and 158 healthy control persons, all aged 65 to 90 (1). The results showed that the serum concentrations of vitamin C and beta-carotene were significantly lower in patients with mild dementia than in the controls.
The researchers commented that the findings indicate it may be possible to influence the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by increasing one’s intake of dietary antioxidants. In order to possibly influence the onset and development of AD, further investigations into potential dietary risk factors would be needed.
Alterations in the brain, caused by amyloid-beta plaques and loss of synapses, are held responsible for the characteristic symptoms of AD. Oxidative stress is believed to promote the development of AD, and so antioxidants may help to protect against neurodegeneration.
3 January 2014
A new review from China concludes that a combined antioxidant therapy with beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium may significantly reduce pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
28 August 2015
A new clinical trial by Khayznikov et al. has found that patients with low serum vitamin D levels that are exhibiting intolerance to statin therapy can be treated for the intolerance by restoring normal serum vitamin D levels by supplementation. Statins are widely, and very successfully, used to reduce blood cholesterol levels in patients with cardiovascular disease or at risk of it. Up to a fifth of people requiring statins will have some form of intolerance, often in the form of muscle pain or memory problems.
27 February 2018
In a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the organization calls attention to the importance of key vitamins, minerals and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential to support brain development in early life. Read on to learn more.
