01.01.13
Nutraceutical: Calcium and Vitamin D
Indication: Cognitive impairment
Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Nov. 23, 2012; doi: 10.1111/jgs.12032 (Epub ahead of print)
Research: This study examined the effects of vitamin D and calcium on cognitive outcomes in elderly women through post hoc analysis of a large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that involved 40 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) clinical centers across the U.S. For this trial, 2,034 women were randomized to receive 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate combined with 400 IU of vitamin D3 (treatment) and 2,109 to placebo. Primary measurements included classifications of probable dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Secondary measurements were global cognitive function and individual cognitive subtests.
Results: Mean age of participants was 71. During a mean follow-up of 7.8 years, 39 participants in the treatment group and 37 in the placebo group developed incident dementia (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.71–1.74, P = .64). Likewise, 98 treatment participants and 108 placebo participants developed incident MCI (HR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.72–1.25, P = .72). There were no significant differences in incident dementia or MCI or in global or domain-specific cognitive function between groups. Researchers concluded there was no association between treatment assignment and incident cognitive impairment. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of vitamin D and calcium separately, on men, in other age and ethnic groups, and with other doses.
Indication: Cognitive impairment
Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Nov. 23, 2012; doi: 10.1111/jgs.12032 (Epub ahead of print)
Research: This study examined the effects of vitamin D and calcium on cognitive outcomes in elderly women through post hoc analysis of a large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that involved 40 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) clinical centers across the U.S. For this trial, 2,034 women were randomized to receive 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate combined with 400 IU of vitamin D3 (treatment) and 2,109 to placebo. Primary measurements included classifications of probable dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Secondary measurements were global cognitive function and individual cognitive subtests.
Results: Mean age of participants was 71. During a mean follow-up of 7.8 years, 39 participants in the treatment group and 37 in the placebo group developed incident dementia (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.71–1.74, P = .64). Likewise, 98 treatment participants and 108 placebo participants developed incident MCI (HR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.72–1.25, P = .72). There were no significant differences in incident dementia or MCI or in global or domain-specific cognitive function between groups. Researchers concluded there was no association between treatment assignment and incident cognitive impairment. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of vitamin D and calcium separately, on men, in other age and ethnic groups, and with other doses.