Plasma Levels of Antioxidants Are Not Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease or Cognitive Decline

Vol. 19, No. 2-3, 2005

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 137 KB)

Original Research Article

Plasma Levels of Antioxidants Are Not Associated with Alzheimer's Disease or Cognitive Decline
Marianne J. Engelhart^a, Annemieke Ruitenberg^b, John Meijer^c, Amanda Kiliaan^{c, d}, John C. van Swieten^b, Albert Hofman^a, Jacqueline C.M. Witteman^a, Monique M.B. Breteler^a

Departments of
^aEpidemiology and Biostatistics and
^bNeurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam,
^cNumico Research, Wageningen,
^dDepartment of Anatomy, University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Address of Corresponding Author

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2005;19:134-139 (DOI: 10.1159/000082884)

Key Words

Antioxidants
Vitamins
Plasma
Alzheimer's disease
Cognitive decline

Abstract

Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress that possibly causes neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined whether high plasma levels of the antioxidant vitamins A and E were associated with lower prevalence of AD or cognitive decline (CD). We performed a cross-sectional study within the Rotterdam Study. In an univariate model, higher levels of vitamins A and E were significantly associated with lower prevalence of AD. However, when additional adjustments were made for important confounders, such as age, gender and total cholesterol, the relation substantially weakened - odds ratios per standard deviation increase were 0.87 (95% CI 0.64-1.19) for vitamin A and 0.94 (95% CI 0.60-1.48) for vitamin E. Antioxidants were not related to CD in non-demented subjects. Our findings suggest no association between plasma levels of vitamin A and E and AD or CD.

Author Contacts

Dr. M.M.B. Breteler
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 1738 NL-3000 DR Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
Tel. +31 10 4087489, Fax +31 10 4089382, E-Mail m.breteler@erasmusmc.nl

Article Information

Accepted: June 18, 2004
Published online: December 23, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 26

Medline Abstract (ID 15627760)

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