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Thursday 13 November 2014

Dementia study questions advice on taking supplements

Taking vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements does not seem to cut the risk of developing dementia, say Dutch researchers.
This contradicts what has previously been suggested, they say.
In one of the largest studies to date, there was no difference in memory test scores between those who had taken the supplements for two years and those who were given a placebo.
B vitamins have been linked to Alzheimer's for some years, and scientists know that higher levels of a body chemical called homocysteine can raise the risk of both strokes and dementia.
Vitamin B12 and folic acid are both known to lower levels of homocysteine.
More on this story here.

1 comment:

tess said...

we ALWAYS have to see what kinds of vitamins have been taken, and how much, before we can jump to conclusions that they help (or not) -- SO many studies use inadequate dosages to "prove" that vitamins or herbs don't do anything.... also, if the form of B12 is not easily absorbed (a standard oral tablet for example), or is in the form of cyano-cobalamin rather than methyl- or hydroxo- it's easy to see why it didn't work!