Fighting Alzheimer’s

Antioxidants Fight Elevated tHcy in Alzheimer’s Patients

Regularly consuming antioxidant polyphenols may help lower homocysteine levels in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study (J Neurol Sci. ePub 2010 Sep 16. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2010.08.050). After noting hyperhomocysteinemia and related oxidative stress is often observed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), researchers from the Catholic University of San Antonio looked to determine the effect of an antioxidant beverage rich in polyphenols on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) in Alzheimer’s patients.

For the multicenter, randomized, double blind, controlled clinical trial, the team recruited 100 subjects (52 control, 24 AD patients in initial phase, 24 AD patients in moderate phase) who received either the antioxidant drink (200 mL/d) or an equivalent size placebo drink daily for eight months. Researchers assessed plasma concentrations of tHcy, folate and vitamin B12 at baseline and at the end of the study.

At baseline, patients with moderate AD had higher tHcy levels and lower folate levels than the initial AD patients or control subjects. After the intervention, the researchers found the antioxidant drink attenuated tHcy increases in the control subjects and AD patients, particularly those in the moderate phase.

http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/news/2010/11/antioxidants-fight-elevated-thcy-in-alzheimer-s-p.aspx

http://www.depsyl.com/

http://back2basicnutrition.com

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/