{"id":5975,"date":"2022-01-26T08:25:58","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T07:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kompetenz-statt-demenz.dsgip.de\/?p=5975"},"modified":"2023-03-21T14:11:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T13:11:52","slug":"vitamin-e-supplements-and-alzheimers-disease-a-new-study-supports-the-importance-of-its-composition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kompetenz-statt-demenz.dsgip.de\/en\/vitamin-e-supplements-and-alzheimers-disease-a-new-study-supports-the-importance-of-its-composition\/","title":{"rendered":"Vitamin E supplements and Alzheimer’s disease: a new study supports the importance of its composition.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The use of vitamin E\u00a0supplements in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer\u2019s\u00a0disease\u00a0has been\u00a0studied for a long time and still\u00a0controversial:\u00a0The scientific literature contains contradictory reports on positive and negative results of vitamin E (for an overview of the study situation regarding vitamin E and Alzheimer’s disease, please see the\u00a0KsD\u00a0page<\/a> –\u00a0Vitamin E)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is already known that oxidative stress plays an important role in neurodegeneration and that is no doubts about the powerful antioxidant effect of vitamin E. This fact\u00a0<\/span>has\u202fsparked interest as a potential option for Alzheimer\u2019s patients.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But some differences between vitamin E supplements \u2013 which contain mostly alfa-tocopherol \u2013 and food sources\u00a0of vitamin E has been shown,\u00a0leading to new researches about other components of vitamin E, like gamma tocopherol and tocotrienols.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The term “vitamin E” refers to a group of eight fat-soluble compounds that occur naturally in certain foods and consist of four tocopherols and four tocotrienols, each of which has an alpha, beta, gamma and omega isoform. Of the eight isoforms of vitamin E, our bodies absorb alpha-tocopherol most efficiently, which is why it is the most studied form and the most commonly found in commercially available\u00a0vitamin E supplements. (info\u00a0box)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it was noticed in the studies that there are some differences between the effects of vitamin E supplements, which usually contain mainly alpha-tocopherol, and vitamin E sources as they occur naturally in food. This fact prompted new research on other components of vitamin E, such as gamma-tocopherol and the spectrum of tocotrienols (see\u00a0infobox).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alpha- tocopherol is a potent antioxidant,\u00a0able to eliminate free radicals such as reactive oxygen species and hydrogen peroxide.\u00a0It also influences cell signaling and the switching off of those genes involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to controversial findings in previous studies about vitamin E \u2013 some showed beneficial effects in delaying cognitive decline and protecting against Alzheimer\u2019s\u00a0disease and some other didn\u2019t show any benefits \u2013 it has been postulated that other forms of vitamin E\u00a0may\u00a0play an important whole in protecting the brain from oxidative stress.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The creator of the Mind diet, Dr. Martha Clare Morris,\u202fhas also\u00a0emphasized that the use of vitamin E-rich foods may improve cognitive performance in dementia patients and their consumption should be encouraged.\u202fIn her studies, she found that the highest the amount of vitamin E from food sources, the slowest the cognitive decline\u202fin people over 65 years.\u202f- you can find a video about that in\u00a0our\u00a0<\/span>Media Library.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A new in vitro study has now addressed precisely this question: Here, the researchers compared the effects of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol in cellular Alzheimer’s model systems and obtained interesting results that provide further information about the effects of vitamin E and its various components.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this study, special cells with mutations in Alzheimer’s genes were used, which, like the Alzheimer’s brain, form amyloid beta proteins that are components of Alzheimer’s-specific plaques. These “Alzheimer’s cells” were exposed to different concentrations of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol. The impressive result was that both forms of vitamin E were able to reduce the amount of amyloid beta compared to the untreated control but this reduction was more pronounced in the gamma-tocopherol treated cells compared to the alpha-tocopherol treatment. The authors further found that gamma tocopherol was a more potent than the alpha form in improving mitochondrial function and preventing apoptosis (programmed cell death). As we already know, mitochondria are the energy suppliers of every cell. Their function is impaired by the presence of beta-amyloids in early stages of the disease and thus mitochondrial dysfunction leads to neurodegeneration and brain cell death.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite many limitations due to the highly simplified test system, this study provides further evidence for the antioxidant and preventive function of various vitamin E components in Alzheimer’s disease.\u00a0 It confirms that the consumption of foods rich in this vitamin complex should always be encouraged. Furthermore, she also emphasizes the need to explore in further clinical studies dietary supplements containing different forms of vitamin E in order to adequately evaluate their efficacy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What this study has demonstrated:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n