Does Vitamin E Help Slow Functional Decline in Alzheimer's Patients ?

ConclusionsThe authors write that the current study is one of the largest and longest treatment trials in patients with mild to moderate AD, and that it provides information on reported safety issues of vitamin E, with results from previous trials resulting in decreased prescribing for patients with AD. “In contrast to the conclusion drawn from a 2005 meta-analysis of vitamin E, which showed that high-dose vitamin E (≥ 400 IU/d) may increase the risk of all-cause mortality, we found no significant increase in mortality with vitamin E.The annual mortality rate was 7.3 percent in the alpha tocopherol group vs. 9.4 percent for the placebo group.”The researchers note that decline in functioning in AD is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of both patient quality of life and social and economic costs.“In the current study, the placebo group lost approximately 3 units more on the ADCS-ADL Inventory than the alpha tocopherol group. A loss of this magnitude could translate into either the complete loss of being able to dress or bath independently, for example, or losing independence on any 3 different ADLs. Because vitamin E is inexpensive, it is likely these benefits are cost-effective as alpha tocopherol improves functional outcomes and decreases caregiver burden.”doi:10.l001/jama.2013.282834 To learn more about Alzheimer's and dementia visit the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Dementia Authors: Source Type: blogs