Do Vitamin C&E Supplements Help Prevent Alzheimer’s?

Do vitamin C&E supplements help prevent Alzheimer’s?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

The research on vitamin C and E supplements for preventing Alzheimer’s disease presents mixed results. While some studies suggest potential benefits, particularly when both vitamins are used together, others highlight significant risks or find no protective effect. The inconsistency in findings indicates that more rigorous, large-scale, randomized controlled trials are needed to draw definitive conclusions. For now, the routine use of these supplements specifically for AD prevention is not universally recommended.

The potential role of vitamin C and E supplements in preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been a subject of considerable research. These vitamins are known for their antioxidant properties, which could theoretically protect against oxidative stress, a factor implicated in the pathogenesis of AD.

Key Insights

• Combined Use of Vitamins C and E:
  • Some studies suggest that the combined use of vitamin E and C supplements is associated with a reduced risk of AD and cognitive decline1 3 5 6. However, other studies found no significant protective effect against AD7 10.
• Vitamin E Alone:
  • High doses of vitamin E alone have shown mixed results. Some studies indicate a potential benefit in slowing functional decline in AD patients8 10, while others highlight increased risks, such as higher all-cause mortality and heart failure1 7.
• Vitamin C Alone:
  • Lower plasma levels of vitamin C have been observed in dementia patients, suggesting a potential link between vitamin C deficiency and cognitive decline2. However, the evidence for vitamin C alone in preventing AD is less consistent1 6.
• Dietary Intake vs. Supplements:
  • Dietary intake of vitamins E and C, as opposed to supplements, has been associated with a lower risk of AD in some studies4. This suggests that the source of these vitamins might influence their effectiveness.
• Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants:
  • The role of oxidative stress in AD pathogenesis supports the hypothesis that antioxidants like vitamins E and C could be beneficial. However, the clinical evidence remains inconclusive, with some studies showing benefits and others showing no effect or even potential harm1 7 8 10.

Do vitamin C&E supplements help prevent Alzheimer’s?

Anitra Carr has answered Uncertain

An expert from University of Otago in Vitamin C

Not sure if vitamin C and E supplements help prevent Alzheimer’s. The brain has some of the highest levels of vitamin C in the body indicating an important role for the vitamin in the central nervous system (reviewed in [1]). Some neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, are associated with enhanced inflammation and oxidative stress, and lower vitamin C levels (reviewed in [2]). Vitamin C has a number of functions in the brain that could potentially aid in various neurological conditions, however, more clinical studies are required to confirm this.

References:

1.       May JM. Vitamin C transport and its role in the central nervous system. Subcell Biochem. 2012;56:85-103.
2.       Monacelli F, Acquarone E, Giannotti C, Borghi R, Nencioni A. Vitamin C, Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease. Nutrients. 2017;9(7).