Lack of effect of 1 year intake of a high-dose vitamin and mineral supplement on cognitive function of elderly women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if long-term, high-vitamin supplementation could reverse cognitive malfunction in old people.


METHODS
We performed a longitudinal study relating the 12-month outcome to baseline values. Twenty non-vitamin-deficient elderly females with a Folstein mini mental state examination score indicating cognitive malfunctions were recruited to ascertain if feeding a high-dose vitamin-mineral supplement for 1 year could, by mass vitamin action, reverse some existing cognitive malfunctions. Ten females were fed a high-dose vitamin-mineral supplement pill with each of three daily meals for 1 year; the other 10 did not receive this supplementation. Twelve blood vitamin analyses and a Folstein mini mental state examination were performed for each of the 20 subjects before and after 1 year; each subject served as its own control.


RESULTS
No improvement in cognitive malfunction was noted despite elevation of blood vitamins.


CONCLUSIONS
Feeding of a high-dose vitamin and mineral supplement for 1 year did not improve cognitive malfunction in non-vitamin-deficient elderly in this study.
Baker
H
H
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, N.J., USA.
De Angelis
B
B
Baker
E R
ER
Frank
O
O
Jaslowdagger
S P
SP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins