Vitamin E and cognitive function

A literature review

Authors

  • Marcela Rodrigues Moreira Guimarães Nutricionista, Mestranda do Curso de Neurologia da Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro – UNIRIO – Bolsista Capes, Membro do Laboratório de Investigação em Nutrição e Doenças-Degenerativas (LINDCD), Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brasil
  • Lucia Marques Alves Vianna Nutricionista, Profa. Dra. Responsável pelo Laboratório de Investigação em Nutrição e Doenças Crônico-Degenerativas (LINDCD) Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro – UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2010.v18.8488

Keywords:

Vitamin E, Tocopherols, Antioxidants, Cognitive, Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Introduction. The oxidative stress seems to be one of the main factors contributing to the decline in cognitive function observed in neurological diseases standing out in the elderly as a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the antioxidant properties, vitamin E plays the role of prevention of various diseases and has been reported in the prevention or reduction in the decline of cognition. Therefore, the objective of the work was through the scientific literature, whether supplementation of vitamin E, or even the status of this vitamin in the body, is able to prevent or reduce the cognitive damage in the elderly. Method. We performed a literature review by bibliographic searches, to search for articles from magazines and scientific journals that are indexed on the subject covering the period 1998 to 2008. Results. It was detected an inconsistency in the results with respect to the benefits of vitamin E, and 50% of the work pointed to an improvement in cognitive function while 50% did not observe any effect of this vitamin. Conclusion. Apparently, the light of current evidence, the use of vitamin supplementation for cognitive improvement appears questionable, perhaps, not recommended.

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References

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Published

2010-06-30

Issue

Section

Revisão de Literatura

How to Cite

1.
Guimarães MRM, Vianna LMA. Vitamin E and cognitive function: A literature review. Rev Neurocienc [Internet]. 2010 Jun. 30 [cited 2025 Dec. 13];18(2):249-55. Available from: https://periodicos.unifesp.br/index.php/neurociencias/article/view/8488