Vitamins 'cut Alzheimer's effect'

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Vitamins 'cut Alzheimer's effect'

Alzheimer's causes damage to the brain

It may be possible to reduce the effects of Alzheimer's disease by taking

the right combination of vitamins, US research suggests.

Scientists have found vitamins E and C may protect the ageing brain - but

only if taken together.

They both mop up destructive molecules, called free radicals, released by

the body's metabolic processes.

Researchers at s Hopkins University in land announced their findings

in the journal Archives of Neurology.

Brain cells, known as neurons, are thought to be particularly sensitive to

damage caused by free radicals.

Lead researcher Dr Zandi said: " These results are extremely exciting.

" Our study suggests that the regular use of vitamin E in nutritional

supplement doses, especially in combination with vitamin C, may reduce the

risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. "

Dr Zandi's team examined data on 4,740 people aged 65 years or older. Of

these 304 showed signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Approximately 17% of the study participants reported taking vitamin E or C

supplements.

Another 20% used multivitamins, but without a high dosage of vitamin E or C.

Combination crucial

The researchers found that taking a combination of vitamin E and C seemed to

have a protective effect.

People taking both vitamins were 78% less likely to show signs of

Alzheimer's than those not taking the combination.

They found no benefit from taking either of the vitamins in isolation, or

from taking regular one-a day type multivitamins alone.

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" The doses...in this study are quite extreme "

Dr ne Sorensen,

Alzheimer's Society

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But there was some evidence of a protective effect from combining vitamin E

with the lower doses of vitamin C found in multivitamin supplements.

Multivitamins typically contain the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E

(22 IU or 15 mg) and vitamin C (75-90 mg), while individual supplements

contain doses up to 1,000 IU of vitamin E and 500-1,000 mg or more of

vitamin C.

Dr Zandi said further trials were needed before drawing firm conclusions

about the protective effects of the two vitaimins.

Working together

He told BBC News Online it was unclear why the two vitamins had to be taken

together to have any beneficial effect in reducing the damage caused by free

radicals - known as oxidative stress.

It was possible that it was simply a dosage effect - taking two vitamins

instead of just one meant more was circulating around the body.

However, he said: " There is also evidence of a synergistic effect between

the activities of vitamin E and C.

" Vitamin E is lipid-soluble and thus sticks around in fat tissues of the

body a relatively long time.

" In contrast, vitamin C is water-soluble and is rapidly excreted from the

body.

" Vitamin C may act to recharge the antioxidant capacities of vitamin E so

that the vitamin E can continue doing its job of soaking up free radicals

and reducing oxidative stress. "

Harriet Millward, of Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: " Oxidative damage

probably occurs to the brain in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and

therefore antioxidants in food, and possibly in supplements, could help

prevent Alzheimer's.

" Randomised prevention trials are now needed because it is always possible

that in a retrospective study such as this, people taking vitamins might be

more health conscious than those not taking vitamins, and therefore the

difference might be due to factors other than the vitamins. "

Dr ne Sorensen, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: " The doses of

vitamins vitamin C and E that made a difference in this study are quite

extreme.

" It may be difficult to find populations outside the US taking equivalent

doses on a regular basis to verify this evidence. "

It is thought that Alzheimer's disease will become an increasing problem as

an increasing proportion of the population lives for longer.