Alternative Health Blog

In a study involving 232 dementia-free subjects aged 80 years or older who were followed for up to 6 years, subjects in the highest tertile of plasma vitamin E (total tocopherols (HR=0.55), total tocotrienols (HR=0.46), or total vitamin E (HR=0.55) were found to have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, as compared to persons in the lowest tertile. Of the different forms of vitamin E, high plasma levels of beta-tocopherol (HR=0.62) were associated with a reduced risk of AD, while alpha-tocopherol (HR=0.72), alpha-tocotrienol (HR=0.70) and beta-tocotrienol (HR=0.69) were only associated with marginally significant effects. The authors conclude, "In conclusion, high plasma levels of vitamin E are associated with a reduced risk of AD in advanced age. The neuroprotective effect of vitamin E seems to be related to the combination of different forms, rather than to alpha-tocopherol alone, whose efficacy in interventions against AD is currently debated.   Reference:    "High Plasma Levels of Vitamin E Forms and Reduced Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Advanced Age," Mangialasche F, Kivipelto M, et al, J Alzheimers Dis, 2010 April 22; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy).