Vitamin C or E supplements, either individually or in combination, does not appear to lower the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease in older adults, suggest study findings published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle followed 2,969 adults, 65 years of age or older, for an average of 5.5 years to determine if the use of vitamin E or C supplements altered the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
At study entry, nearly 33 and 38 percent, respectively, reported using vitamin E and C supplements, and 25 percent of the participants reported taking the vitamin supplements concurrently.
Over the course of the study, 405 participants developed dementia and of these, 289 developed Alzheimer's disease. However, the researchers observed no relationship between vitamin supplements and dementia risk.
Previous findings have hinted that the two supplements, when taken together, helped lower the risk of Alzheimer's in healthy older adults.
Despite these findings, all adults are still encouraged to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. These foods provide natural sources of vitamins E and C and other substances - phytochemicals - that may have health benefits.
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