Vitamin Boost for the Brain
February 15, 2005
By Hara Estroff Marano
Increasingly, the kinds of memory problems that have
long been seen as inevitable with age are now thought
to be avoidable—or at least postponable. The more
scientists look at the way we age, the more they recognize
the value of eating right and exercising regularly.
If we provide our brains with helpful nutrients, and
get sufficient exercise to keep our blood vessels clear,
the better our minds will work right up until the end.
Among the most helpful nutrients to the brain are foods
that work as antioxidants, those beloved chemicals known
for their cell-protecting properties. Antioxidants scavenge
and fight off free radicals, wildly reactive rogue molecules
of oxygen that damage cell membranes and the DNA, which
contains the cells basic operating instructions.
The brain is particularly susceptible to free radical
damage because it is exposed to a large amount of oxygen.
It’s the body's most metabolically active organ,
consuming about 20% of the body's oxygen, although it
totals only 2% of our body weight. Free radicals enter
our bodies through pollution, fried food and even just
normal metabolic processes of the body. The fatty membranes
that cover all brain cells are particularly subject
to oxidative damage. Free radical damage is implicated
in cognitive decline and memory loss as people age and
is thought to be a leading cause of Alzheimer's disease.
A steady level of antioxidants—including vitamins
C and E—has previously been linked to strong memories.
The newest study suggests that simply taking supplements
of vitamins C and E can prevent the risk of Alzheimer’s
disease and slow the progression of memory loss.
The two vitamins appear to act synergistically to prevent
age-related dementia. Together they cut the risk of
the disorder by more than 60%. The study findings are
preliminary. But experts agree that there is little
risk to taking the vitamins. The dosage found to be
helpful is well within the range of safety.
The current recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin
E is 22 international units (IU) and 75 to 90 mg for
vitamin C. Multivitamins typically contain amounts of
the two antioxidants that are in this range; individual
supplements may contain up to 1,000 IU of vitamin E
and even more than 1,000 mg of vitamin C.
In the new study, researchers examined the relationship
between use of antioxidant supplements and Alzheimer's
disease in nearly 5,000 closely followed Utah residents.
The greatest reduction in Alzheimer's disease incidence
occurred among people who took individual supplements
of the two vitamins in combination, with or without
an additional multivitamin. Taking either of the vitamins
alone or taking multivitamins did not appear to provide
any protective effect.
Source:www.ediets.com
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