A new research study found older adults who took a multi-vitamin mineral antioxidant supplement scored significantly higher on a memory test than those who did not take the supplements. These results come from an experimental trial in which 4,500 adults ranging in age from 45-60 were randomly assigned to take either a placebo (containing no nutrients) or an antioxidant supplement containing vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene (related to vitamin A), selenium, and zinc.
While some observational studies have previously found an association between supplementation and cognitive capacity, this study is one of the first long-term studies to experimentally demonstrate such a link. Lead researcher Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot wrote, the "findings support a beneficial effect of a well-balanced intake of antioxidant nutrients for maintaining cognitive performance, especially verbal memory."
What to do: Overall, this research points to the potential benefits of getting a balanced diet rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants supplemented in this study are primarily found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Consuming a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables helps to ensure adequate intake of a range of antioxidants. Taking a multi-mineral multi-vitamin can help to ensure adequate nutrition but is no substitute for a healthy diet. Also be mindful not to take supplements with excessive doses of nutrients as these can be very harmful, particularly in the case of minerals.
Information adapted from Reuters. Research Source: http://bit.ly/ntXIcp American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, online July 20, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment