20-02-2017
B Vitamins: folic acid may reduce dementia risk
Recent research has offered new hope in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. While several studies had already demonstrated the importance of Vitamin B Complex for the central nervous system, a French research team has assessed the therapeutic potential of these vitamins for reducing the risk of dementia. Here we review their study’s promising results, published in the journal
Nutrients1.
A major study on the B vitamins
The aim of the French scientists was to determine the effects of vitamin B intake on dementia risk. Their research began in 1999, with a total of 9294 individuals aged over 65. By the end of the 10-year study, they were able to analyse complete results from a total of 1321 subjects. These results were based primarily on neuropsychological tests to evaluate the onset of dementia, as well as dietary assessments to measure B vitamin intake. The researchers were particularly interested in vitamins B6, B9 and B12. Other factors were also taken into account such as age, gender, level of education, lifestyle and incidence of other diseases.
The benefits of vitamin B9 (folic acid) for reducing dementia risk
Published in 2016 in the journal
Nutrients, the results of their study suggest that vitamin B9, also known as folic acid or folates, may offer therapeutic benefits in the fight against dementia. Subjects with a higher intake of folic acid were found to be at lower risk of the disease, suggesting that increased intake of vitamin B9 could reduce the risk of dementia. No such difference was observed with vitamin B6 and B12.
This large-scale study confirms how important vitamin B9 is for good health, particularly for maintaining cerebral function. Since the body cannot produce vitamin B9, it is vital to ensure an optimal intake. While it is found in certain foods, vitamin B9 is also available in the form of dietary supplements such as SuperFolate, formulated from a new generation folic acid for optimal bioavailability.
> Source :
1. Sophie Lefèvre-Arbogast, Catherine Féart, Jean-François Dartigues, Catherine Helmer, Luc Letenneur, Cécilia Samieri, Dietary B Vitamins and a 10-Year Risk of Dementia in Older Persons, Nutrients 2016, 8(12), 761.
Order the nutrient mentioned in this article
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