Anti-oxidant vitamins and mental performance of the elderly

Abstract

A double-blind placebo controlled trial was carried out to examine the effects of supplementation with anti-oxidant vitamins on mental performance in the elderly. The participants were assigned to either placebo or vitamin groups and assessed at 4, 8 and 12 months. Blood samples were taken to determine vitamin levels at these times. The results showed little effect of supplementation on mental performance and few associations between plasma levels of the vitamins and mental functioning. These results are in contrast to results from assessment of mood, intelligence and cognitive failure which demonstrated beneficial effects of increased levels of vitamin C.