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The effect of antioxidant vitamins E and C on cognitive performance of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment in Isfahan, Iran: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of vitamins E and C on cognitive performance among the elderly in Iran.

Methods

About 256 elderly with mild cognitive impairment, aged 60–75 years, received 300 mg of vitamin E plus 400 mg of vitamin C or placebo daily just for 1 year.

Background

Demographic characteristics, anthropometric variables food consumption, cognitive function by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and some of the oxidative stress biomarkers were examined.

Results

Antioxidant supplementation reduced malondialdehyde level (P < 0.001) and raised total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.001) and glutathione (P < 0.01). The serum 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine remained unchanged (P < 0.4). After adjusting for the covariates effects, MMSE scores following 6- (25.88 ± 0.17) and 12-month antioxidant supplementation (26.8 ± 0.17) did not differ from control group (25.86 ± 0.18 and 26.59 ± 0.18, respectively).

Conclusion

Despite significant improvement in most of the oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidants’ supplementation was not observed to enhance cognitive performance. A large number of kinetic and/or dynamic factors could be suspected.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna and the Vice-chancellor for Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran, by a Grant (No. 11126).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    A. M. Alavi Naeini, A. Djazayery & M. Djalali

  2. Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    I. Elmadfa

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    M. Barekatain

  4. Isfahan Center of Health Research, Nationally Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

    M. R. Aghaye Ghazvini

  5. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    A. Feizi

  6. International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    I. Elmadfa

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  1. A. M. Alavi Naeini
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Correspondence to I. Elmadfa.

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Alavi Naeini, A.M., Elmadfa, I., Djazayery, A. et al. The effect of antioxidant vitamins E and C on cognitive performance of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment in Isfahan, Iran: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr 53, 1255–1262 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0628-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0628-1

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