Supplemental Vitamin C and E May Benefit Mental Health

by | Dec 2, 2016 | 2016, Alzheimer's Disease, Brain Health, Cognitive Health, Vitamin C, Vitamin E

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Study participants who supplemented with Vitamin C and E had a 40% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a 38% reduced risk of any kind of dementia, and a 23% reduced risk of “Cognitive Impairment, Not Dementia” compared to those who did not supplement with Vitamin C or E.  

agingIn 2010, an estimated 35.6 million people worldwide suffered from dementia, with 65.7 million expected cases by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050 1. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, accounting for up to 70% of all dementia cases, with a new case of Alzheimer’s being diagnosed every 4 seconds 2,3.

As there is no cure for dementia, finding ways to delay its onset would have “a major public health impact 4. Fortunately, research has started to find natural approaches, including a 2014 study 5 showing that an herbal combination of Bacopa monnieri, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Dioscorea bulbifera has mental health benefits. Now a 2016 study from Canada 6 suggests that supplemental vitamin C and E may also be a benefit.

In the study, researcher’s analyzed data on 5,269 subjects (2,596 males, 2,673 females) aged 68 to 82 who participated in the Canadian Study of Health and Aging 7, conducted between 1991 and 2002. Diagnosis of all-cause dementia was determined using criteria from the revised third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) 8. The criteria from the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer ’s disease and Related Disorders Association were used to diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease 9. Finally, diagnosis of another type of dementia called “Cognitive Impairment, Not Dementia” (CIND) used criteria from the International Classification of Diseases 10.

At the beginning of the study, the subjects were asked what supplements (including vitamins C and E) and medication they were taking. No information on diet or supplement dosages was requested.

At the conclusion of the study, 821 subjects had been diagnosed with dementia while 4,448 had not. Compared with those not taking vitamin supplements containing C and E, those doing so had a 40% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, a 38% reduced risk of any kind of dementia, and a 23% reduced risk of CIND (p < 0.001).

When suggesting how vitamins C and E may elicit these mental health benefits, the researchers cited studies showing these two antioxidants to reduce both nerve damage and death caused by oxidative stress, both of which contribute to the onset of dementia 11. They also cited research showing low blood levels of vitamins C and E to be associated with a memory deficit in older dementia-free persons 12,13.

Although admitting that not obtaining information about the dosing, consistency, or duration of supplement use were “major limitations” in their study, they concluded that “the use of vitamin E and C supplements is associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline”. They added, however, that “further research is warranted before suggestion in the clinical practice in order to determine the appropriate dose, form, dose response, and target population.”

Source: Luta Luse Basambombo, Pierre-Hugues Carmichael, Sharlène Côté, Danielle Laurin. Use of Vitamin E and C Supplements for the Prevention of Cognitive Decline. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2016, Vol. 51(2) 118–124; DOI: 10.1177/1060028016673072

© The Author(s) 2016 

Posted December 1, 2016.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.

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