“Vitamin E Hyped Again”
Headlines boldly state, “Vitamin E ‘beneficial’ in dementia” but is that true? A December 2013 study in the journal JAMA found people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease on high doses of vitamin E had a slower rate of decline than those given a dummy pill. High doses of the vitamin delayed the decline in daily living skills, such as making meals, getting dressed and holding a conversation, by about six months over a two-year period. Vitamin E did not preserve thinking abilities, though, and it did no good for patients who took it with another Alzheimer’s medication. But, the Alzheimer’s Society said the dosage was very high and might not be safe. And, Dr. Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer’s Society, said, ” It is vitally important that people always seek advice from their doctor before considering taking supplements. More research was needed to see if vitamin E really does have benefits for people with dementia, and whether it would be safe to be taking such a high dose on a daily basis.”
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