Vitamin may ward off Alzheimer's

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3894485.stm

 

Vitamin may ward off Alzheimer's

A vitamin found in a range of common foods could

protect against Alzheimer's Disease, researchers have

claimed.

 

A team from the Chicago Institute for Healthy Aging

found niacin - vitamin B3 - was also linked to a

reduced risk of age-related mental decline.

 

It is found in dairy products, poultry, fish, lean

meats, nuts, and eggs.

 

The team said their findings, published in the Journal

of Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, could help prevent

Alzheimer's developing.

 

This research will be of interest worldwide

Harriet Millward, Alzheimer's Research Trust

The US researchers looked at the diets of almost 4,000

people aged 65 and over between 1993 and 2002.

 

None had any history of Alzheimer's disease. The

researchers then monitored for any signs of decreasing

mental agility.

 

After three years, a sample of 815 people were checked

for clinical changes and their dietary intake was

assessed.

 

Among this group, 131 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's

disease.

 

The researchers, led by Dr Martha Morris took into

account other risk factors such as age, gender, race,

educational levels and a gene known as the ApoE.

 

They found that those with the lowest food intake of

niacin - around 12.6mg a day - were 80% more likely to

be diagnosed with Alzheimer's than those with the

highest intake - around 22.4mg a day.

 

When they examined the mental agility of the larger

group after six years, the researchers found cognitive

decline was " significantly reduced " by 44% among those

with the highest niacin intake compared with those

with the lowest intake.

 

Increase understanding

 

The researchers, led by Dr Martha Morris, said severe

niacin deficiency causes pellagra - characterised by

dementia, diarrhoea and dermatitis - but its role in

Alzheimer's has not been thoroughly explored.

 

Writing in the journal, they said: " There has been

little previous examination of dietary niacin and

Alzheimer's disease.

 

" 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. "

 

Harriet Millward, deputy chief executive of the

Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: " This research will

be of interest worldwide since there hasn't been a

serious study of a possible link between niacin and

Alzheimer's previously.

 

" The results will be less relevant in the UK since on

average dietary levels of niacin are higher in the UK

than they are in the US where this study took place.

 

" Research into protective factors is not only valuable

in helping us to identify ways of reducing people's

risk of developing Alzheimer's, but can also help

increase our understanding of the mechanism of the

disease. "

 

Catherine Collins, of the British Dietetic

Association, said a typical diet in the UK included

significantly higher levels of vitamin B3 than even

those than the highest seen in the US study.

 

She added: " There are a lot of other risk factors in

relation to Alzheimer's, but people should feel

assured that if they eat a balanced diet, they are

doing all they can to protect themselves against

Alzheimer's in relation to niacin levels. "

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3894485.stm

 

Published: 2004/07/16 23:11:37 GMT

 

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