Antioxidant Vitamins in Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress can be defined as the increased production of free oxygen radicals with the effects of various facilitating factors, or the failure of the antioxidant defense mechanisms. As a result, damage occurs in the certain cellular structures, especially in the lipid ones. Although the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is still controversial, the role of the oxidative stress mechanisms in the pathogenesis is growing up gradually.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the serum levels of patients with AD and normal subjects and look if any difference can be predictive in between the two groups.

METHODS: In this study, the serum levels vitamin A, C and E (antioxidant vitamins) were studied in 98 patients with AD, and age, sex, socioculturally and nutritionally matched 76 control subjects.

RESULTS: When compared with the control subjects, vitamin A and vitamin C were found to be decreased in AD patients. There was no significant difference in the serum level of vitamin E between two groups. Two of the three vitamins known as their antioxidant properties found to be decreased especially in AD patients who are on mild stage of disease.

CONCLUSION: These variations in serum levels of antioxidant vitamins can be predictive in distinguishing the patients and control subjects and as detected in the early stages of the disease, new strategies can be developed to prevent, to delay or to treat the disease.