Supplementation with antioxidants, zinc or copper does not have any effect on cognition in elderly people, according to a study published last week.
The study carried out at the University of California, San Francisco found that the patients experienced neither a beneficial nor a harmful effect from supplementation.
“Oxidative pathways” are thought to be involved in common forms of dementia, said lead researcher Dr Kristine Yaffe and colleagues in Neurology.
She added: “Several observational studies of non-demented older adults have suggested that high antioxidant dietary intake or the use of antioxidant supplements is associated with better cognitive performance.”
The researchers therefore decided to investigate the effects of daily antioxidant and/or mineral supplements on the mental abilities of elderly participants.
In the Age-Related Eye Disease Study the patients were randomly assigned to take antioxidants (500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 15 mg of beta carotene); or 80 mg of zinc and 2 mg of copper; or antioxidants plus zinc and copper; or placebo.
After a median of 6.9 years, over 2000 patients who completed study were subjected to a series of tests to evaluate their cognitive powers.
The researchers noted that there were no significant differences between the patients when they looked at the results of the six cognitive tests.
“These results do not support a beneficial or harmful effect of antioxidants or zinc and copper on cognition in older adults,” concluded the scientists.
Original Article: http://nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=56193&n=dh324&c=bonhbftnvvgejwd
