CAN ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS REDUCE THE RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S?
(June 2004) These days, the literature is full of articles about protection from Alzheimer’s – antioxidants, fish, unsaturated fats, more testosterone are all supposedly protective. Nothing is adequately documented. In this study, 5,092 men and women ages 65 years and older were followed for a three to five year period. During that time, there were a total of 304 cases of Alzheimer Disease. Those who took vitamin E plus vitamin C had a 64 to 78 percent reduced risk. Neither vitamin C nor vitamin E supplements alone were beneficial; neither were multivitamin supplements. Vitamin E appeared more effective than vitamin C, but the combination was needed. Commentary: The total number of Alzheimer’s cases was small; when the cases were placed in the various specific supplement categories, the number of cases in each category usually ranged from three to eleven. That is such a small number that great caution is needed in drawing firm conclusions. Of the other available studies, three focused
