Folate & Alzheimer’s (2007)

This study investigated folate & Alzheimer’s. Folate helps the body to process homocysteine, which is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and may also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers studied the diets of 965 people age 65 and older who did not have dementia when the six-year study began.

Results demonstrated 192 cases of incident AD. The highest quartile of total folate intake was related to a lower risk of AD (hazard ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.9; P=.02 for trend) after adjustment for age, sex, education, ethnic group, the epsilon4 allele of apolipoprotein E, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, current smoking, heart disease, stroke, and vitamin B6 and B12 levels. Vitamin B6 and B12 levels were not related to the risk of AD.

Conclusions: Higher folate intake may decrease the risk of AD independent of other risk factors and levels of vitamins B6 and B12. These results require confirmation with clinical trials.

Luchsinger et al., ‘Relation of higher folate intake to lower risk of Alzheimer disease in the elderly’, Arch Neurol.;64(1):86-92, 2007

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Dementia & Alzheimer’s (2007)

This study investigated dementia & Alzheimer’s. Over 8000 over-65s were monitored for development of dementia and Alzheimer’s over a 4 year period and details of their dietary habits were analysed. Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was found to be associated with a decreased risk of all types of dementia. Weekly consumption of fish was also associated with a decreased risk of all dementias and Alzheimer’s Disease but only amongst those people who do not have the genetic variation called ApoE4. The regular use of omega-3 supplements was associated with a slight decreased risk of all dementias. However, the regular use of omega-6 supplements, where it was not balanced with the use of omega-3 supplements or fish, actually doubled the risk developing dementia amongst those who do not have the ApoE4 gene. In summary, frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, fish, and omega-3 rich oils may decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease, especially among ApoE4 non-carriers. In addition, balance of the omega 3:6 ratio may also be an integral risk factor, although further research is warranted.

Gateau P et al.,’Dietary patterns and risk of dementia: The Three-City cohort study, Barberger’.  Neurology. 2007 Nov 13;69(20):1921-30

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Vitamin D & Alzheimer’s (2011)

Scientists at Oxford University’s OPTIMA project* ran a study to look for a link between vitamin D & Alzheimer’s. Participants were comprised of 255 people with definite or probable Alzheimer’s and 260 healthy elderly people. The study looked at the gene for the vitamin D receptor, which manages the body’s response to vitamin D.

Findings were that there does appear to be a link. Two slight changes in the genetic code which makes up the gene for the vitamin D receptor were associated with risk of Alzheimer’s. These are preliminary findings, and more research is needed to understand their significance.

Lehmann DJ, Refsum H, Warden DR, Medway C, Wilcock GK, Smith AD (2011) The vitamin D receptor gene is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Neurosci Lett. Oct 24;504(2):79-82.

*OPTIMA is led by Professor David Smith who is also on our Scientific Advisory Board

Click here for abstract.

Homocysteine & Dementia (2002)

This study investigated homocysteine & dementia. A total of 1092 subjects without dementia (667 women and 425 men; average age, 76 years) were followed for an average of 8 years. Their homocysteine levels were monitored. The study used multivariable proportional-hazards regression to adjust for age, sex, apolipoprotein E genotype, vascular risk factors other than homocysteine, and plasma levels of folate and vitamins B12 and B6. Over a median follow-up period of eight years, dementia developed in 111 subjects, including 83 given a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The multivariable-adjusted relative risk of dementia was 1.4 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 1.9) for each increase of 1 SD in the log-transformed homocysteine value either at base line or eight years earlier. The relative risk of Alzheimer’s disease was 1.8 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.5) per increase of 1 SD at base line and 1.6 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.1) per increase of 1 SD eight years before base line. With a plasma homocysteine level greater than 14 micromol per liter, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease nearly doubled.

Conclusions: An increased plasma homocysteine level is a strong, independent risk factor for the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Seshadri S et al, Plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.N Engl J Med., 346(7):476-83, 2002

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Omegas 3, 6 & DCD (2005)

This study investigated omegas 3, 6 & DCD. DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) is associated with core deficits in motor function as well as difficulties in learning, behaviour and psychosocial adjustment that persist into adulthood. In a randomised, controlled trial, 117 children with DCD aged 5-12 years were given omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements or placebo for 3 months. At this point all children received the omega-3 and omega-6 supplements for a further 3 months. While there appeared to be no effect on motor skills, there were significant improvements in reading, spelling and behaviour in the children on the essential fat supplements compared with those on placebo and then similar improvements were seen for the placebo group once they started supplementation.

A J Richardson & P Montgomery, ‘The Oxford-Durham study: a randomized, controlled trial of dietary supplementation with fatty acids in children with developmental coordination disorder ‘, Pediatrics, 115(5):1360-6, 2005

Click here for the abstract

Omega 3 & Brain Ageing (2007)

This study investigated omega 3 and brain ageing. An Italian study measured the blood levels of essential fats in 935 elderly Italians and compared these with their cognitive function, which ranged from normal cognitive function through to dementia. The researchers found those with the worst cognitive function, had the lowest level of essential fats, especially omega-3.

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Omega 3 & ADHD (2008)

This study investigated omega 3 & ADHD. This Canadian study compared dietary intake and blood levels of essential fats in adolescents with and without ADHD. They found that despite a similar level of intake, the adolescents with ADHD had lower levels of all omega-3 essential fats and DHA in particular, and higher levels of omega-6 essential fats. Also, those with the lowest levels of omega-3’s scored the worst on behavioural tests.

Colter A L  et al. ‘Fatty acid status and behavioural symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adolescents: a case-control study.’ Nutr J. 2008 Feb 14;7:8

Click here for the abstract

Omega 3 & ADHD (2011)

This study investigated omega 3 & ADHD. For the first 15 weeks, 200 children were given either the combination (PS-Omega3) or a placebo in a double-blind fashion (meaning that no-one involved in the trial knew who was getting the active supplement and who was getting the placebo). One-hundred and fifty children continued taking part in the trial for a further 15 weeks which was now open-label (all the children received the active supplement and all involved knew this was the case). At the beginning and at the end of the study period a number of assessments were made of the children’s ADHD symptoms such as restlessness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity using standard, validated questionnaires. These showed improvements in the children on the active supplements compared to those on placebo. Improvements were also noted in the children who were initially taking the placebo when they were switched to the active intervention for the second 15 weeks.

Manor I, Magen A, Keidar D, Rosen S, Tasker H, Cohen T, Richter Y, Zaaroor-Regev D, Manor Y, Weizman A. (2011) The effect of phosphatidylserine containing Omega3 fatty-acids on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial, followed by an open-label extension. Eur Psychiatry. Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]

Click here for abstract

Nutrients for Autism (2011)

This study investigated nutrients for autism. It involved  giving 141 children and adults with autism, a multi-nutrient formula containing a broad range of vitamins and minerals or a placebo. Their symptoms were assessed before and after the study which ran for three months. Fifty-three of the children in the study also had blood measures taken of nutritional and metabolic status(biomarkers) before and after.

In terms of symptoms, the supplemented group had significantly greater improvements than the placebo group on the following scores: Parental Global Impressions (PGI-R), Hyperactivity, Tantrumming, Overall and Receptive Language. The change in the PGI-R was strongly associated with a number of the biomarkers suggesting that there is a relationship between changes in biomarkers and changes in symptoms.

Levels of many vitamins, minerals, and biomarkers improved including markers of oxidative stress thought to be elevated in autism, as well as markers of key biological processes such as methylation and sulphation.

Click here for the abstract

Adams JB, Audhya T, McDonough-Means S, Rubin RA, Quig D, Geis E, Gehn E, Loresto M, Mitchell J, Atwood S, Barnhouse S, Lee W. (2011) Effect of a vitamin/mineral supplement on children and adults with autism. BMC Pediatr. 11:111.

Nutrition & ADHD (2012)

This study investigated nutrition & ADHD. A recent review of the current evidence for using diet to help manage ADHD in children concluded that a simple, healthy diet which was low in unhealthy fats and high in fruits, vegetables and fibres may work best. They found that ‘junk food’, fizzy drinks and ice-cream are probably the worst for affected children. They also found some evidence for the benefits of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fat supplementation.

Their review considered a range of other dietary interventions but weren’t able to come to any solid conclusions. This is most likely because of a lack of quality studies to review and the complications of studying dietary changes in children – it’s very difficult to study dietary changes in a double-blind, randomised, controlled fashion where the researchers, subjects and their parents don’t know who is eating the modified and diet and who isn’t, thereby making it impossible to rule out the placebo effect.

Millichap JG, Yee MM (2012) The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Pediatrics. Jan 9. [Epub ahead of print]

Click here for the abstract