Vitamin E and brain health

Over 90% of Americans Consume Less than the RDA for vitamin E.

 

“Vitamin E is an overlooked nutrient,”  says Michael McBurney, PhD, director of scientific affairs for DSM Nutritional Products, North America.. “Like dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines of America should have declared vitamin E as a ‘nutrient of concern’ because ‘What We Eat in America’ finds that over 90% of Americans are not consuming the Vitamin E RDA. And the situation is worsening.”

 

In the context of brain health, Dr McBurney explained that vitamin E’s antioxidant effects play a key role protecting membranes for oxidation, and omega-3 fatty acids from peroxidation (97% of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is found in the brain).

 

“Free radicals are thought to be important mediators of oxidative stress in the brain which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and stress,” he said. “Reduced levels of vitamin E and biomarkers of oxidative stress have been measured in individuals with Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment.”