Indication: Alzheimer’s disease

Source: Archives of Neurology, 2004;61:82-88.

Research: Investigators examined the relationship between vitamin supplementation and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease among 4740 elderly residents of Cache County, UT. They classified subjects as vitamin E users if they took more than 400 IU daily and vitamin C users if they took at least 500 mg daily; more than 97% used the supplements for at least two years. Multivitamin users took smaller quantities of vitamins E and C, and B vitamins users took supplements containing a complex of multi-B vitamins. The subjects were evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease in the mid-1990s and again in the late 1990s.

Results: Analysis of data from the mid-1990s showed that people taking a combination of vitamins E and C were 78% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. During the follow-up, in the late 1990s, people taking vitamins E and C had a 64% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Subjects taking vitamin E supplements plus a multivitamin containing vitamin C showed a slight reduction in Al­zheimer’s disease risk. However, no benefits were seen in people taking only vitamin E, only vitamin C, multivitamins (with low-dose vitamins E and C), or B vitamin supplements.