Vitamin E levels, cognitive impairment and dementia in older persons: the InCHIANTI study.
There is conflicting evidence that antioxidants contribute to maintaining cognitive function in elderly subjects. We investigated whether vitamin E plasma levels are related to the presence of dementia and cognitive impairment in a population-based cohort study conducted in Italy. A total of 1033 participants aged at least 65 years received clinical and neuropsychological examinations, donated blood for vitamin E analysis and had their diets assessed. Participants with plasma vitamin E levels in the bottom tertile had a significantly higher probability of being demented (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-7.1) and also of suffering from cognitive impairment (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.2) compared to those in the highest vitamin E tertile after adjustment for age, gender, education, lipid levels, energy intake, vitamin E intake, and smoking. This study supports the notion that higher vitamin E plasma levels might provide significant protection against cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly subjects.
Cherubini
Antonio
A
Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia Medical School, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, via Brunamonti, Policlinico Monteluce, Padiglione E, Perugia 06122, Italy. acherub@unipg.it
Martin
Antonio
A
Andres-Lacueva
Cristina
C
Di Iorio
Angelo
A
Lamponi
Marco
M
Mecocci
Patrizia
P
Bartali
Benedetta
B
Corsi
Annamaria
A
Senin
Umberto
U
Ferrucci
Luigi
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D014810:Vitamin E