Scientists have been talking about the role of oxidative stress in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, for many years now, according to an online edition for girls and women aged 14-35 who are Pannochka. net It is no accident that manufacturers of food additives actively promote high-priced antioxidants for the prevention and treatment of dementia.

However, the results of the new study will disappoint them: vitamin E and selenium showed no therapeutic or preventive value in dementia. Degenerative changes in the brain with equal probability develop both against the background of taking these supplements, and without them.

For the health of the cells, it is necessary to maintain a delicate balance between antioxidants and free radicals. The latter stand out when DNA, proteins and lipids are damaged.

Oxidative stress is often associated with aging.

With age, the amount of damage in our cells accumulates, free radicals become more and the risk of diseases increases.

So why are popular antioxidants ineffective against dementia?.

Unfortunately, a study by Dr. Richard Kryscio of the University of Kentucky in Lexington does not give a definitive answer to this question. Nevertheless, already today the futility of taking vitamin E and selenium is hopeless in the hope of keeping the mind sharp.

For details of the work, see the journal JAMA Neurology.

A large-scale project to study the prophylactic properties of tocopherol and selenium was called PREADViSE (Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease by Vitamin E and Selenium).

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study began in May 2002 and ended in May 2015. The PREADViSE project was originally part of a high-profile SELECT project (closed in 2009), which refuted the role of tocopherol and selenium in the prevention of prostate cancer.

The PREADViSE study included 7,540 men aged 60+ who were divided into four groups. Participants received vitamin E, selenium, a combination of both supplements or a placebo.

Over the course of all 13 years of follow-up, scientists regularly evaluated the participants' cognitive performance, trying to find a link between the intake of antioxidants and the risk of dementia.

Using the Cox proportional hazards model, the authors took into account factors such as nationality, socioeconomic status and educational level, as well as chronic diseases.

Neither vitamin E, nor selenium, nor a combination of them could prevent or slow down dementia.

Note that this is the first in the history of scientific work, considering the long-term effect of antioxidants on the incidence of dementia in asymptomatic men.

True, Dr. Crissio acknowledged two significant drawbacks of the project.

Firstly, at the closure of the SELECT study and the continuation of the cohort study, half of the participants.

Secondly, the public response to the side effects of bioadditives could affect the results.

"However that may be, today there is no scientific reason to continue taking vitamin E or selenium for the prevention of Alzheimer's and other dementia. Antioxidants have not shown themselves to be any valuable preventive or therapeutic agents, "concluded Crisis.

medbe. en.