Are Vitamin and Trace-element Supplementation the “Miraculous” Solution?
Alzheimers disease (AD) is a common and complex neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 15 million people worldwide (Geldmacher and Whitehouse, 1996; Mayeux and Sano, 1999). Aging is the major risk factor for a disease that coexists with other causes of cognitive decline, particularly vascular dementia (Hofman et al., 1997). At least 40 percent of elderly individuals in industrialized countries of North America and Europe have been estimated to have dietary intakes and blood-nutrient levels compatible with “deficiency” (Ames, 2004). Some studies indicate that vitamin E delays memory deficits in animal models (Ichitani et al., 1992; Socci et al., 1995). The Alzheimers Disease Cooperative Study completed a multicenter clinical trial of vitamin E plus selegiline supplementation of patients with moderate AD (Sano et al., 1997). The well-known results of this clinical trial indicate that treatment with vitamin E delays the time…
