Folate associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease
Intake of at least the recommended daily allowance of folate is associated with a 55 per cent reduction in risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research (Alzheimer’s & Dementia 2005;1:11).
María Corrada, University of California Irvine, California, and
colleagues analysed data from 579 non-demented volunteers over 60 years
old who had completed dietary diaries and recorded supplement intake
for seven days as part of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
Alzheimer’s disease developed in 57 participants over a mean follow
up of 9.3 years. The researchers found that intake of folate, vitamin
E and vitamin B6, when analysed individually, were all associated with
a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. When analysed
simultaneously, only folate continued to be associated with a decreased
risk (relative risk 0.45, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.21–0.97,
P=0.04). No association between risk of Alzheimer’s disease and
intake of vitamin C, carotenoids or vitamin B12 was found. The researchers
note that only 13 per cent of participants reached the recommended daily
allowance for folate through diet alone, a further 22 per cent reaching
it through folate supplementation.
“A clinical trial would be necessary to minimise the effect of
unmeasured or unknown [confounding factors] and to establish a protective
role for
folate in Alzheimer’s disease,” the researchers conclude. |
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