Reduced concentrations of several vitamins in normal weight patients with late-onset dementia of the Alzheimer type without vascular disease
Glasø, M.; Nordbø, G.; Diep, L.; Bøhmer, T.
Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging 8(5): 407-413
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1279-7707 PMID: 15359361 Document Number: 572276
Background: There is an uncertainty to what an extent initiation of late onset dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) is related to nutritional factors. Objective: To find any differences in nutrient concentrations between women (75-85 y), well-nourished with moderate DAT, and a control group, all without vascular disease. Design: A case control study assessing clinical, anthropometrical, biochemical and micronutrient characteristics of 20 DAT patients and 18 free-living healthy women (Norway). Results: Significant differences (p<0.05) were found for the following nutrients, given in sequence (Mean (SD)) for controls and DAT patients, respectively: Thiamin (nmol/litre): 11.7 (6.9), 7.1(3.7); Blood thiamine diphosphate (nmol/litre): 86.0 (12.5), 65.8 (27.5); Pyridoxal-5-phosphate 90.2 (14), 24.8 (3.3); Cobalamin (nmol/litre) 435(263), 350 (264); Homocysteine (mmol/litre) 14.7 (1.3), 18.5 (1.6); Ascorbic acid (mmol/litre) 77.7 (28), 46.2 (25); alpha -tocopherol (mmol/litre) 38.2 (9.2), 27.1 (11.5). Serum and blood thiamine mono-phosphate and ascorbic acid in cerebrospinal fluid were significantly different as well. Age, BMI, MMSE, MADRS, "Vascular Score" and a set of other biochemical parameters were similar between the groups. Using logistic regression analysis, models for predicting the presence of DAT all contained pyridoxal-5-phosphate, and CSF-protein, in combination with either one of variables, age, ascorbic acid, retinol, alpha -tocopherol, homocysteine, thiamin-diphosphate, CSF-thiamin. All the models give complete separation between DAT and controls. Conclusions: The presence of reduced concentrations of several vitamins in the DAT patients compared to the controls might indicate that these nutrients may contribute to the development of DAT.