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Vitamins C and E to prevent Alzheimer’s

Posted on the April 4th, 2012 under - Alzheimer's,- Foods for the Brain by

In 1980s, 65% of all East Boston residents over the age of 65 were recruited in the study of neuroprotective effects of vitamins C and E. None of the people taking vitamin C or vitamin E developed Alzheimer’s disease when followed up in 4.5 years while among vitamin C non-users, 85% developed the disease. Among vitamin E non-users, 14% developed Alzheimer’s (1)
I was shown that supplementation with vitamin E and/or vitamin C might be useful in maintaining brain acetylcholinesterase (footnote a) activity at the normal level and serotonin (footnote b) concentration for some extent under the condition to induce experimental dementia in experimental animals (2)
High intake of vitamin E from food (tocopherol), but not from supplements (which usually contain alpha-tocopherol), is shown to reduce incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. The most common alpha-tocopherol alone may not be sufficient in the protective effects (3)
Sources
MC Morris et al, Vitamin E and Vitamin C Supplement Use and Risk of Incident Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 1998 – V12 – 3
LEE Lilha et al., Effect of supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and neurotransmitter levels in rats treated with scopolamine, an inducer of dementia, Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 2001, vol. 47, no5, pp. 323-328
MC  Morris et. al., Relation of the tocopherol forms to incident Alzheimer disease and to cognitive change. Am J Clin Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 2, 508-514, February 2005
Footnotes
a) Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme that degrades  the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions and cholinergic synaptic transmission in the brain.
b) Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system. It is best known as a “happiness hormone” though it’s no hormone but monoamine.

In 1980s, 65% of all East Boston residents over the age of 65 were recruited in the study of neuroprotective effects of vitamins C and E. None of the people taking vitamin C or vitamin E developed Alzheimer’s disease when followed up in 4.5 years while among vitamin C non-users, 85% developed the disease. Among vitamin E non-users, 14% developed Alzheimer’s (1)

I was shown that supplementation with vitamin E and/or vitamin C might be useful in maintaining brain acetylcholinesterase (footnote a) activity at the normal level and serotonin (footnote b) concentration for some extent under the condition to induce experimental dementia in experimental animals (2)

High intake of vitamin E from food (tocopherol), but not from supplements (which usually contain alpha-tocopherol), is shown to reduce incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. The most common alpha-tocopherol alone may not be sufficient in the protective effects (3)

Sources

  1. MC Morris et al, Vitamin E and Vitamin C Supplement Use and Risk of Incident Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 1998 – V12 – 3
  2. LEE Lilha et al., Effect of supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and neurotransmitter levels in rats treated with scopolamine, an inducer of dementia, Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 2001, vol. 47, no5, pp. 323-328
  3. MC  Morris et. al., Relation of the tocopherol forms to incident Alzheimer disease and to cognitive change. Am J Clin Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 2, 508-514, February 2005

Footnotes

a) Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme that degrades  the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions and cholinergic synaptic transmission in the brain.

b) Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system. It is best known as a “happiness hormone” though it’s no hormone but monoamine.