I am writing this in response to the “Brain Supplements” section of your article “Ask Science” (GT, 1/5), which I feel is not accurate, and is misleading to your readers.
I am a Ph.D Nutritional Scientist and researcher with over 45 years experience and author of several hundred published articles, and was previously a columnist for the Press Banner.
The article has a quote from a neurologist who I am sure is very competent in her field, but lacks credibility in her comment: “There really isn’t evidence to suggest that any particular vitamin or supplement can help improve or reverse cognitive changes.”
I am very sorry Dr. Hellmuth, but you seem to have missed hundreds of scientific studies that disprove your statement.
I have included several studies in this letter, but I am prepared to provide additional scientific studies to prove my point.
The following findings were presented at the 14th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) on November 10, 2021, in Boston. The placebo-controlled study included 2,262 adults aged 65 and over without dementia who underwent cognitive tests at baseline and annually for 3 years. The average age at baseline was 73 years, and 40.4% were men.
“Daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation appears to slow cognitive aging by 60%, or by 1.8 years,” said study researcher Laura D. Baker, PhD, professor, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She continues “Our study provides new evidence that daily multivitamin supplementation may benefit cognitive function in older women and men.”
In a Feb 2017 study published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, researchers analyzed 5,269 men and women, and compared to non-supplementers, those who supplemented with vitamin C and/or vitamin E had a 38% lower adjusted risk of all-cause dementia and a 40% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. They also had a 23% lower risk of developing cognitive impairment.
In a 2020 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers concluded: “Vitamin D supplementation for 12 months appears to improve cognitive function through reducing oxidative stress … Vitamin D may be a promising public health strategy to prevent cognitive decline.”
Researchers in a randomized controlled trial published in a 2021 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reported: “Folic acid and DHA [from Omega 3 fish oil] improve cognitive function.”
Research findings in Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine (2011) indicate that Lion’s Mane (a nutritional mushroom) may have potential in stimulation of neurons to regrow in the treatment of senility, Alzheimer’s disease, repairing neurological trauma from strokes, improving muscle or motor response pathways and cognitive function.
I appreciate the honest and accurate information your paper usually provides; however, your article on brain supplements has more holes than swiss cheese.
I would hope you would provide your readers with accurate information on how nutritional supplements can benefit their lives and improve their brains.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.
Richard Goldberg
Felton
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