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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 on supplements. In two, no effect of antioxidants in the diet or supplements was found. The third showed a reduction in risk from both vitamin E and vitamin C. Of three studies on diet, one showed reduced risk from flavonoids, one found lessened risk from vitamin E in the diet, but not in supplements (that finding mandates caution in interpretation), and one showed that dietary vitamin E and, to a lesser extent, vitamin C reduced risk.

So, the literature is inconsistent and actually not supportive of the conclusion that E and C are beneficial if both are used (not E or C alone).

Eventually, it may be possible that diet or supplements will reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, but, at present, nothing is adequately proven. We reviewed two studies skeptically one year ago (see Archives “can taking antioxidants really prevent Alzheimer Disease). The situation is as murky now as it was then. Actually, the most interesting of the potential beneficial substances is omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish (see article in Archives titled “eat oily fish and reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by 60 percent. Maybe), but that, too, is not yet shown conclusively.

Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. It could affect 14 to 16 million people by the year 2030. The answer to it is unlikely to come from the diet or supplements, though perhaps they will be found to help a bit. The answer is likely to come from an understanding of the basic mechanisms of the disease and designing drugs based on that understanding.

Zandi, P.P., et al. Reduced risk of Alzheimer Disease in users of antioxidant vitamin supplements. Archives of Neurology. Vol 61 (January) Pgs 82-88. 2004.

A member of our Advisory Board notes “there is no reliable way known to reduce an individual’s risk of Alzheimer Disease”.

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