Antioxidants: Memory

Nutraceutical: Antioxidants

Indication: Memory

Source: Am J Clin Nutr, July 20, 2011 [Epub ahead of print]

Research: The goal of this study was to estimate the long-term effects of antioxidant supplementation on the cognitive performance of participants in the Supplementation in Vitamins and Mineral Antioxidants (SU.VI.MAX) study 6 years after the end of the trial. This study included 4447 French participants aged 45-60 years, who were enrolled in the SU.VI.MAX study (1994-2002), a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. From 1994 to 2002, participants received daily vitamin C (120 mg), beta-carotene (6 mg), vitamin E (30 mg), selenium (100 μg) and zinc (20 mg) in combination or as a placebo. Between 2007 and 2009, the cognitive performance of participants was assessed with four neuropsychological tests (6 tasks). Principal components analysis (PCA) was performed to identify cognitive-function summary scores. Associations between antioxidant supplementation and cognitive functions, in the full sample and by subgroups, were estimated through ANOVA (analysis of variance between groups).

Results: Subjects receiving active antioxidant supplementation had better episodic memory scores. PCA indicated two factors that were interpreted as showing verbal memory and executive functioning. Verbal memory was improved by antioxidant supplementation only in subjects who were non-smokers or who had low serum vitamin C concentrations at baseline.