Vitamin E may slow Alzheimer's
2009-05-05 18:13
New York - Vitamin E and drugs that
reduce inflammation may slow the decline of mental and physical
abilities in people with Alzheimer's disease over the long
term, according to new research.
"Our results are consistent for a potential benefit of
vitamin E on slowing functional decline and a smaller possible
benefit of anti-inflammatory medications on slowing cognitive
decline in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease," said
Dr. Alireza Atri, of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard
Medical School in Boston.
The findings, reported at the annual meeting of the
American Geriatrics Society in Chicago, are based on data from
540 patients.
Slowing functional decline
All of the patients were receiving standard treatment with
a drug intended to help patients with Alzheimer's. Nearly 210
patients also took vitamin E but no anti-inflammatory, 49 took
an anti-inflammatory but no vitamin E, 177 took both vitamin E
and an anti-inflammatory, and 106 took neither.
While the daily dose of vitamin E ranged from 200 to 2000
units, the majority of patients were given high doses that
ranged from 800 units daily to 1000 units twice daily.
Each patient's performance on cognitive tests and their
ability to carry out daily functions such as dressing and
personal care were assessed every six months.
After an average of 3 years, "there was a modest slowing of
decline in function in those patients taking vitamin E,"
Michael R Flaherty, a student at the University of New England
College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine who
presented the findings, said. He added that the benefit of vitamin E increased with time.
Benefit increased over time
Taking an anti-inflammatory medication was associated with
"very consistent but generally only small effects on slowing
long-term decline in cognitive functioning," Atri said.
But in patients who took both vitamin E and
anti-inflammatory medications, there appeared to be an added
effect in terms of slowing overall decline.
The researchers said more studies are needed to assess the
long-term balance of risks versus benefits for people with
Alzheimer's disease from taking vitamin E and anti-inflammatory
drugs.