Vitamin B3 linked to Alzheimer's protection

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Vitamin linked to Alzheimer's protection

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1 & click_id=31 & art_id=qw1091422441143B2

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August 02 2004 at 06:54AM

 

Chicago - A vitamin found in fish, nuts, dairy products, tea and coffee may

offer protection against the development of Alzheimer's disease, research in

America has revealed.

 

Scientists also found that niacin - or vitamin B3 - in the diet could help

prevent a decline in mental agility.

 

The team, writing in the Journal of Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, said their

findings could have important implications for prevention of the disease in

the future.

 

The researchers, from the Rush Institute for Health Ageing in Chicago,

questioned almost 4 000 people over the age of 65 who had no history of

Alzheimer's disease, which is characterised by severe dementia and

confusion.

 

'There has been little previous examination of dietary niacin and

Alzheimer's'

The participants were asked about their diet and checked for any signs of

decreasing mental agility - cognitive decline - three and six years later.

After three years, a sample of 815 people were checked for clinical changes

and their dietary niacin intake was assessed.

 

Among this group, 131 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

 

The researchers, led by Dr Martha Morris, adjusted the results for important

risk factors for Alzheimer's - age, gender, race, educational levels and a

gene known as the ApoE.

 

They concluded that those with the lowest food intake of niacin - around

12.6mg a day - were 80 percent more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's

than those with the highest intake - around 22.4mg a day.

 

The researchers also looked at the mental agility of the larger group after

six years.

 

They found that cognitive decline was " significantly reduced " by 44 percent

among those with the highest niacin intake compared with those with the

lowest intake.

 

The researchers noted that niacin had been prescribed to older people in

order to prevent confused states.

 

Severe deficiency of the vitamin causes pellagra - a condition characterised

by dementia, diarrhoea and dermatitis - but its role in Alzheimer's has not

been thoroughly explored, they said.

 

" There has been little previous examination of dietary niacin and

Alzheimer's disease, although niacin has been administered to older people

to prevent confusional stats and there have been several published clinical

trials of medications for this indication, " the researchers said.

 

" In this study, we observed a protective association of niacin against the

development of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline within normal

levels of dietary intake, which could have substantial public health

implications for disease prevention if confirmed by further research. " -

Sapa-dpa