Vitamin E Lack Linked To Memory Loss

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Vitamin E Lack Linked To Memory Loss

June 30, 1999

Researchers have found a connection between poor memory and low blood

levels of vitamin E in an elderly population.

People who ate inadequately or skipped meals also had greater memory

loss than those who ate regularly, according to the study, published in the

American Journal of Epidemiology.

Dietary changes may be a way of easing the problem, suggest the

researchers, headed by Dr. J. Perkins of the Regenstrief Institute

for Health Care and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research in

Indianapolis.

The investigators examined the association between blood levels of

antioxidants, including vitamins A, C and E, and selenium, and memory in a

multiethnic population of senior citizens.

Antioxidants help provide protection against free radical damage. Free

radicals, produced during normal metabolic processes, are thought to cause

oxidative stress.

" Oxidative stress has been implicated both in the aging process and in

the pathological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, " note Perkins

and his colleagues.

The researchers examined 4,809 people aged 60 or older between 1988 and

1994. They conducted two simple memory tests, blood tests, and gathered

information on the subjects' backgrounds.

Overall, 7% of the group had poor memory. These people were at least

twice as likely to report problems managing their money or preparing meals.

Among those with vitamin E levels lower than 4.8 per unit of

cholesterol, 11% had poor memory. In contrast, just 4% of people with levels

higher than 7.2 had memory problems.

" Increasing levels of vitamin E were associated with better memory

performance for this ethnically diverse elderly population, " the study

authors write.

Among those who said they did not eat enough food or skipped meals,

almost 20% had poor memory, as opposed to 7% among people who ate regularly.

The study findings link vitamin E from diet, rather than from

supplements, to memory. The researchers report that they found no connection

between the other antioxidants and memory loss.

But the research team also notes that because the study did not look at

causes, " we do not know if low (blood) levels of vitamin E preceded the

onset of poor memory or that low levels of vitamin E are a result of having

poor memory. "

Most previous studies have not found a link between vitamin

deficiencies and memory. However, the researchers noted, many of these

studies had a limited range of subjects who were mostly Caucasian,

well-educated and higher income levels -- all factors linked to better

memory retention.

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology

1999;150:37-44.____________________________________________________________

editor: Lenny Schafer east coast editor: , Ph.D.

schafer@... CIJOHN@...

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