Vitamins D and E May Affect Dementia Risk
Studies Show Blood Levels of Vitamins D and E Are Linked to Risk of Cognitive Decline
Two new studies help clarify the role that certain vitamins may play in the onset of cognitive decline, including risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
One study suggests that low blood levels of vitamin D may increase risk for cognitive decline, while another study shows that consuming a food rich in the antioxidant powerhouse vitamin E may help reduce the risk for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
But experts, including the study researchers, caution that it is still too timely to make any blanket recommendations about what individuals should eat and what supplements they should take to reduce their risks for age-related cognitive decline and dementia.
In the vitamin D study of 858 adults aged 65 and older, those with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D — less than 25 nanomoles per liter of blood — were 60% more likely to show symptoms of general cognitive decline during the six-year study and 31% more likely to show declines in their ability to plan, organize, and prioritize (so-called executive function), than their counterparts who had sufficient blood levels of vitamin D.
The discoverings appear in the July 12 issue of the Archives of Internal treatment.
Vitamin D is frequently called the sunshine vitamin because our bodies generate it in response to sunlight. Vitamin D has become the “it” vitamin in recent years, as growing research links its deficiency to a host of health predicaments including heart disease, certain cancers, osteoporosis, diabetes, schizophrenia, and some autoimmune disorders.
wherever from 40% to 100% of older adults in the U.S. and Europe may be vitamin D-deficient, consistent to information cited in the new study.
Can Vitamin D Prevent Dementia?
“Our study shows that low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of new cognitive predicaments,” study researcher David J. Llewellyn, PhD, of the University of Exeter, England, says in an email. “This raises the prospect that vitamin D supplements may have therapeutic potential for the prevention of dementia and hospitalal trials are now urgently needed.”
“We do not yet know the optimal intake of vitamin D to protect the brain as we need the results of hospitalal trials to confirm this,” he says.
Andrew Grey, MD, of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, co-authored an editorial accompanying the new study that calls for rigorously designed trials. The new study “should serve as a springboard to conduct a randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate whether vitamin D supplements prevent dementia,” he says in an email.
“Similarly, other check outional studies have reported associations between lower levels of vitamin D and many other ailment [and] randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation are required to determine whether these associations are causal,” he says.
As of right now, “vitamin D should only be measured if hospitalally indicated — [such as in] the frail elderly, dark-skinned people — and those who avoid the sun for religious, cultural, or medical reasons are at risk of hospitalally essential vitamin D deficiency,” he says.
“At present, there is not rigorous evidence for health benefits of vitamin D supplementation in community-dwelling individuals, beyond avoiding the very low levels,” he says. The bottom line? “Routine supplementation of vitamin D is not, at present, justified.”
Michael Holick, MD, PhD, is not as cautious in his interpretation of the new discoverings or in his vitamin D recommendations. As a professor of treatment, physiology, and biophysics at the Boston University School of treatment and the director of the Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory there, Holick has been warning Americans about the hazards of vitamin D deficiency for most of his career.
“I am not at all surprised that vitamin D deficiency is associated with cognitive decline,” he tells WebMD. His guidance is simple: “Take more vitamin D. All adults should consume 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day.”
Currently, the foodary reference intake (DRI) for vitamin D is 200 IU per day for adults aged 14 to 50, 400 IU per day for adults 50 to 71, and 600 IU per day for those older than 71. The Institute of treatment is admit as true thating new recommendations for vitamin D intake.
But the jury is in, consistent to Holick, and the time to supplement is before you develop symptoms of dementia or other ailment. “The role of vitamin D is to prevent and reduce risk of disease more so than treat them,” he says.
Vitamin E and Alzheimer’s Risk
A second study in the July issue of the Archives of Neurology shows that eating foods rich in vitamin E may help lower risks of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, sardines, egg yolks, nuts and seeds, but most participants in the new study got their vitamin E from margarine, sunflower oil, butter, cooking fat, soybean oil, and mayonnaise. Antioxidants like vitamin E protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.
In the study of 5,395 people aged 55 and older, those who got the most vitamin E in their food — 18.5 milligrams per day, on average — were 25% less likely to develop dementia, than their counterparts who got the least vitamin E on their food, about 9 milligrams per day.
Elizabeth R. Devore ScD, of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues followed the study participants for 9.6 years. During this time, 465 developed dementia, including 365 cases of Alzheimer’s disease. They as well looked at how much vitamin C, beta-carotene and flavonoids participants consumed, but only foodary vitamin E seemed to be related to dementia risk.
More Study Needed
Mary Sano, PhD, the director of the Alzheimer disease Research Center and a professor of psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of treatment in New York City, says that more study is needed before any recommendations can be made about vitamin D or vitamin E and dementia risk.
“There is no assurance that raising the levels of vitamin D would reduce the association with cognitive decline,” she tells WebMD in an email. “This report should not lead us to vitamin supplementation for everybody, but if one’s levels are rigorously low then supplementation may be warranted for many reasons, not just dementia.”
As far as eating more vitamin E-rich foods to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Sano says other issues may be at play; meaning that it may not be the E per se as much as the fact that people who eat supplements that are rich in vitamin E and other antioxidants may eat less fat and sugar. She as well cautions that the benefits were seen from whole foods, not supplements.
“The importance of this study is that it suggests that foodary issues, particularly shifting food intakes from one food group to maybe a healthier one, may have benefit, but many of the supplementation studies have not shown that you can reverse the effects of food by taking vitamins,” she says.
SOURCES: Devore, E.E. Archives of Neurology, July 12, 2010; vol 67: pp 819-825.
Llewellyn, D.J. Archives of Internal treatment 2010; vol 170: pp 1135-1141.
Grey A. Archives of Internal treatment, 2010; vol 170: pp 1099-1100.
Michael Holick, MD, PhD, professor, treatment, physiology, and biophysics; director, Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University School of treatment.
Mary Sano, PhD, director, Alzheimer disease Research Center; professor of psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of treatment, New York City.
David J. Llewellyn, PhD, University of Exeter, England.
Andrew Grey, MD, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Effects of vitamin overdose
We all heard that vitamins minerals are good for our health, well being, youth and beautiful look. However, as everything in the world if consumed too much and without further accept as true thatation about your body’s needs, vitamins minerals can as well cause side effects.
Let’s review what are those side effects from some certain vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin A. Standard doses are from 10,000 to 25,000 IU daily. Toxicity may occur if you are consuming more than 50,000 IU during really expanded periods. What side effects could appear? Fatigue, bone pain, headdiscomforts, sleeping predicaments, dry skin, loss of hair, loss of appetite. Another inconvenient effects is yellowing skin. It’s like if you would be eating tons of carrots.
Vitamin B Complex.
Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) are very importantly non toxic.
Vitamin B3 (niacin). big doses may make you nauseous, increase heart rate and make feet and hands cold.
Vitamin B5. Overdose can lead to joint inflammation.
Vitamin B6. Completely protected at doses range from 50-250 mg.
Vitamin C. additional high doses can cause formation of kidney stones. It can cause diarrhea and if vitamin C is highly ascorbic and acidic it can irritate stomach.
Vitamin D. Overdose of vitamin D can cause excess calcification of bones.
Vitamin E. Generally non toxic. But if consumed too much rapidly can raise blood pressure which afterward organicly normalizes.
Vitamin K. Toxic effects result in nausea and anemia.
Try listen to your body and stay informed and you will be able to avoid side effects of vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins and Minerals alcohol withdrawal relief
Did you know that vitamins minerals can help with alcohol withdrawal process?
Alcoholism is a social and personal predicament in one. It affects not only the single person who is addicted but entire families, social groups and entities. Alcoholism is identified by Dr Ross Trattler as ” habitual alcoholic consumption to the point where it interferes with the performance of daily responsibilities”.
To get rid of the harmful abuse only vitamins minerals will not be sufficient of course. You need to decide yourself to get help and to become aware of the fact that you need help. You should as well accept as true that a professional help and support of relatives and friends. This battle is exhausting and very hard to win, so be prepared to battle hard.
Meanwhile, you may discover it interesting that some vitamins and minerals may help you stay more resistant.
Vitamin A. Will help you restore your body and nerves.
Vitamin B complex. Deficiency of vitamin B is extremely ordinary in alcoholism. regular to Dr Trattler, you could even accept as true that intramuscular injections of such vitamins as vitamin B1. Vitamins B will help you with irritated nervous system and will help support overwhelmed with alcohol liver.
Vitamin B3. Studies reveal that this vitamin really is able to reduce alcohol cravings.
Vitamin B5. Helps reduce stress related to withdrawal and help with detoxification.
Vitamin C. Helps detoxify and calm nerves.
Zinc. Supports immune health. Zinc deficiency is ordinary in chronic alcoholism.
Selenium. Helps with damage made to liver.
Calcium. Antispasmodic
Magnesium. Reduces stress, relieves tension.
Folic Acid. Helps restore damaged brain cells.
Always seek help of professional if you or close person is suffering from alcoholism. It is a serious challenge and predicament that kills and affects lives, satisfy, do not ignore the symptoms of alcoholism. Vitamins minerals can give you a hand of support strengthening your body and preparing for the varyent stages of withdrawal process.
Anti Alcohol Antioxidants
Protecting against alcohol toxicity Life Extension’s Anti-Alcohol Antioxidants with HepatoProtection Complex is an improved formula containing additional antioxidants designed to suppress free radicals, neutralize toxic alcohol metabolites such as acetaldehyde,4-7 and protect against liver toxicity and hepatic injury commonly associated with alcohol consumption. In addition to vitamin B1, vitamin C, N-acetyl-cysteine and benfotiamine, this new formula’s HepatoProtection Complex provides potent doses of these novel antioxidants:
- Chlorophyllin, an antimutagenic agent that protects the body from oxidative stress than can stimulate cellular mutation.
- Leucoselect® grapeseed extract, silymarin (from milk thistle), and resveratrol, three hepatoprotective agents that aid in reducing mutagenic compounds from potentially toxic xenobiotics and protecting cells from free radial-induced oxidative stress.
- Picroliv® Picrorhiza kurroa root extract, containing antioxidant kutkins that scavenge alcohol-induced excess free radicals, guard against alcohol-induced damage to cells by lipid peroxidation, and stimulate regeneration of cells (hepatocytes).
- Barley grass juice 24:1 extract, which enhances the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, thus inhibiting the formation of acetaldehyde malondialdehyde.Taking the proper supplements before and after drinking can substantially mitigate hangover effects experienced by people suffering from acute alcohol toxicity.
Don’t miss symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency
Vitamin E is a group of lipid-soluble compounds- tocopherols and tocotrienols. It is very important in keeping us healthy and young-looking through its action as an antioxidant. Natural sources of vitamin E are vegetable oil, avocado, and nuts. These are essential nutrients because the body cannot produce vitamin E on its own.
Vitamin E deficiency is health a disorder that may be inherited. Being deficient in it means that the body is impaired in absorbing fats that usually carry these fat-loving compounds. Vitamin E deficiency due to poor nutrition is very rare, but still possible, especially in underdeveloped countries. Here are 4 symptoms of vitamin E deficiency:
Anemia
Anemia can be a symptom of vitamin E deficiency. Anemia is a blood disorder wherein there is a low amount of red blood cells present in the blood. Red blood cells (RBCs) are important element of the blood because through hemoglobin, RBCs transport oxygen to other parts of the body. Oxygen is needed for cellular respiration. Hemolytic anemia is an anemia where red blood cells are abnormally broken down.
In research findings, there was a link with infants who have pronounced low birth weight and vitamin E deficient. This deficiency leads to hemolytic anemia, which, in turn, triggers the degradation of the red blood cells. Administration of doses of vitamin E proved to be helpful in treating these infants. They were treated with tocopherols to help them absorb the vitamin E.
Poor Balance
Vitamin E works as an antioxidant, thus deficiency in this vitamin will result to a series of great oxidative stress by many cells or tissues. This could lead to damage in many parts of the body. This could be observed in people who have vitamin E deficiencies and are suffering from certain neurologic effects of their case. Vitamin E deficiency affects the central nervous system. Thus, a person greatly lacking vitamin E will experience nerve degeneration of the hands and feet, poor reflexes, impaired coordination, and loss of balance.
Muscle Weakness
Another symptom of vitamin E deficiency is myopathy, wherein the muscular fibers do not function well or are weakened. There was even a study involving guinea pigs wherein the combined deficiency in selenium and vitamin E levels resulted to fatal myopathy and increased lipid peroxidation.
Vision Problems
Vitamin E deficiency may also lead to vision problems. One of the symptoms is retinal thinning or degeneration, where the inner lining of the eye is damaged and begins to become thinner. People with an vitamin E deficiency may also experience blurred vision and difficulty seeing at night.
So, in order to maintain a healthy level of vitamin E within the body, one must take the right dose of this vital nutrient each day. It should be noted, however, that complications can arise from an overdose of vitamin E as well.












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