Maybe Vitamin E Can Help Alzheimer’s, After All?

Not so long ago intake of supplemental vitamin E was considered ineffectual, and large doses over a long period were found to accelerate mortality. In particular, it failed to prevent or improve Alzheimer’s disease in a number of small studies. However, a presentation at the American Academy of Neurology meeting this week reported that high doses may, indeed, help Alzheimer’s patients. Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine followed 850 patients for up to 15 years (average 5 ½ years).

The participants, who attended the Baylor’s Alzheimer Disease Clinic, were asked to take vitamin E supplements, but were not required to. At the last visit before death or data analysis, 9% were taking vitamin E alone, 62% were taking it together with an anti-dementia drug, 13% were taking only the drug, and 16% were not taking either vitamin E or the drug. The suggested dose of vitamin E was 2,000 IU daily – a very high dose. For the women taking vitamin E (either with or without the drug), the mortality rate was 25% lower than those not taking it. And it wasn’t just a question of living longer, according to the researchers; those taking vitamin E had better clinical outcomes using a wide range of tests (although this was not reported in the presentation).

These results appear provocative, after the rather negative studies reported over the last 10 years. The patients weren’t randomized to the different treatments, so that those who took their supplements and drugs more religiously may have had better care, or different personality traits, that could have influenced the results considerably. Apparently this was the case with the early use of estrogen treatment for Alzheimer’s. So we shouldn’t get too excited about the findings here. Let’s wait for another well-controlled randomized clinical trial . . .