Niacin might offer protection against Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline
Dietary niacin (vitamin B3) may protect against Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline in ageing, according to a prospective study published this week.
Some 3,700 people aged 65 years and older, with no Alzheimer’s
disease, completed a dietary questionnaire and were checked for signs
of cognitive decline at three and six years.
At three years, a random sample of 815 people were checked for clinical
changes and their dietary niacin intake assessed by means of food frequency
questionnaires.
Among this smaller group, 131 people were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
disease. After adjusting the results for the risk factors of age, gender,
race, educational levels, and the ApoE gene, researchers found that those
with the lowest food intake of niacin (an average of 12.6mg/day) were
80 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease
than those with the highest intake (22.4mg/day).
An analysis of the larger group showed that the rate of cognitive decline
among those with the highest niacin intake was almost half that of those
with the lowest intake.
Niacin’s role in Alzheimer’s disease has not been thoroughly
explored, say the authors.
Previous research has indicated that niacin has an important role in
DNA synthesis and repair and neural cell signalling. It also acts as
a potent antioxidant in brain cells, they add and they call for further
research (Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgical Psychiatry 2004;75:1093-99). |
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