The impact of long-term vitamin supplementation on cognitive functioning.
The possibility that the taking of vitamin supplements may influence cognitive functioning was explored. One hundred and twenty-seven young healthy adults took either ten times the recommended daily dose of nine vitamins, or a placebo, under a double-blind procedure, for a year. After 12 months better performance on two measures of attention was found in females who had taken the vitamin supplement, even though the blood status of nine vitamins reached a plateau after 3 months. The use of regression equations demonstrated the association between improved thiamin status and improved performance on a range of measures of cognitive functioning in females rather than males. Although it was not possible to establish the reason for a beneficial response in females rather than males, the evidence that females respond differently to dietary factors was discussed.
Benton
D
D
Department of Psychology, University College Swansea, Wales, UK.
Fordy
J
J
Haller
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013831:Thiamine / Q000097:blood; D013998:Time Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014815:Vitamins; D013831:Thiamine