title: Cohort study of vitamin C intake and cognitive impairment.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that vitamin C protects against cognitive impairment, the authors conducted a cohort study (n=117) in a retirement community in Sydney, Australia. Vitamin C intake was assessed at baseline (1991) with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and cognitive function was assessed 4 years later (1995). After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, education, total energy intake, and use of psychotropic medications, consumption of vitamin C supplements was associated with a lower prevalence of more severe cognitive impairment (based on scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination; adjusted odds ratio=0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.84). There were no associations between vitamin C intake and scores on tests of verbal and category fluency. This study suggests that vitamin C might protect against cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paleologos
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lazarus
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid