Search Here

Vitamin E and selenium were recently tested, in a new study, to determine their efficiencies in preventing and slowing down the adverse effects of dementia.The research revealed that antioxidant supplements and selenium showed no therapeutic value in preventing neurodegenerative disorders.

Vitamin E and selenium were initially thought to be effective medications that can prevent oxidative stress, a key role that leads to the development of neurodegenerative disorders like dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. However, scientific tests were conducted on these drugs and found no evidence that they can indeed prevent dementia, the Medical News Today reported.

Dementia has no specific and determined cause. However, oxidative stress has played a key role in developing the disease. This process is commonly associated with the aging of a person that brings physiological damage to the body, due to the accumulation of free radicals. Too many free radicals in the body can cause damage to the proteins, lipids and the DNA found in the body, thus causing several types of diseases.

The experiment was conducted to a large group of men aged 60 and older. It was led at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and was based on The Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease by Vitamin E and Selenium clinical trial.

A total of 7,540 men were initial subjects that took vitamin E supplements and selenium for 5.3 years. Three thousand seven hundred eight-six of these test samples agreed to continue taking the supplements for an additional 6 years, Web MD elaborates.

During the trial period, 325 men out of the 7,338 samples evaluated developed dementia. Experts immediately conclude that the supplemental use of vitamin E and selenium in preventing dementia was not effective.

At present, dementia is the biggest health and social care issue society is facing. It is also said to be the 21st century's fastest growing killer. Further studies and research efforts are continuously being conducted to be able to prevent, delay and cure the onset of such neurodegenerative diseases.