Skip to main content

B vitamins and the aging brain examined


B vitamins and the aging brain examined

Image result for vitamins


B vitamins-B-6, B-12 and folate-all nourish the brain. But much remains to be discovered about the relation between these essential nutrients and our brainpower.take vitamins today
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritionist Lindsay H. Allen has collaborated in ongoing research that has taken a closer look at the role these nutrients may play in preventing decline in brain function. The investigations, led by Mary N. Haan of the University of California-San Francisco, are part of the multiyear Sacramento (Calif.) Area Latino Study on Aging, or "SALSA." Begun in 1996, the study attracted nearly 1,800 Hispanic seniors, ages 60 to 101, as volunteers.
According to Allen, the research is needed because many studies of B vitamins and brain function have given inconsistent or conflicting results. Allen is director of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, Calif. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA. Scientists from the University of California-Davis (UCD) and the UCD Medical Center also are collaborating in the research.
An analysis of volunteers' blood samples showed that lower levels of one B vitamin, folate, were associated with symptoms of dementia and poor brain function, also called "cognitive decline," as determined by standard tests of memory and other factors. The impairments were detectable even though less than 1 percent of the volunteers were actually deficient in folate.
In women, but not men, low levels of folate were associated with symptoms of depression. In fact, female volunteers whose plasma folate levels were in the lowest third were more than twice as likely to have symptoms of depression as volunteers in the highest third. That finding provided new evidence of an association between lower blood folate and depression. Depression is already known to affect brain function.
In research with vitamin B-12, the SALSA team determined that a protein known as holoTC, short for holotranscobalamin, might be key to a new approach for detecting cognitive decline earlier and more accurately.
The researchers have published these and other findings, beginning in 2003 and continuing through this year, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, The Journal of Nutrition, and The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging.take vitamins today

Story Source:
Materials provided by USDA/Agricultural Research Service. Original written by Marcia Wood. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Essential Minerals

Minerals: Functions and Sources The body needs many minerals; these are called essential minerals . Essential minerals are sometimes divided up into major minerals (macrominerals) and trace minerals (microminerals).  A balanced diet usually provides all of the essential minerals. The two tables below list minerals, what they do in the body (their functions), and their sources. Major minerals Mineral Function Sources Sodium Needed for proper fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction Table salt, soy sauce; large amounts in processed foods; small amounts in milk, breads, vegetables, and unprocessed meats Chloride Needed for proper fluid balance, stomach acid Table salt, soy sauce; large amounts in processed foods; small amounts in milk, meats, breads, and vegetables Potassium Needed for proper fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction Meats, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes Calciu...

Adrenal Support Supplement

  Adrenal Support Supplement Cortisol Health LES Labs Cortisol Health , Adrenal Support Supplement for Stress Relief, Balanced Cortisol Response & Adrenal Fatigue with Phosphatidylserine & Ashwagandha, 60 Capsules. About this item SUPPORTS HEALTHY ADRENAL FUNCTION. Drug-free formula supports adrenal function and helps to control cortisol levels. PROMOTES HEALTHY CORTISOL LEVELS. Formulated to promote balanced cortisol response, a powerful hormone released during times of stress. SUPPORTS RELAXATION AND HELPS REDUCE STRESS. Ashwagandha and rhodiola extracts help promote relaxation. Included magnesium provides an added calming effect. NATURAL INGREDIENTS. Natural formula including phosphatidylserine, magnesium, ashwagandha, magnolia, and rhodiola root extract. 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. Try Cortisol Health and see how it works for you. All LES Labs supplements include a 60-day money-back guarantee - just contact LES Labs if you're not completely happy & healthy for a refu...

THE SMOOTHIE DIET

WHAT MAKES THE SMOOTHIE DIET  DIFFERENT? This Is  NOT  just a big book of smoothie recipes. You're getting the same proven 3-Week weight loss and health improvement program I share with my private clients. The secret that makes the Smoothie Diet so effective is the Custom  3-Week Weight Loss Schedule . All the smoothies are given in a very specific sequence and frequency to maximize your results. For example the nutrient and ingredient ratios vary week to week to make sure the weight keeps coming off and stays off. I’ve used my knowledge as a Health Coach and what I’ve learned from all my clients to make sure this  program delivers rapid results . I have meticulously researched specific ingredients and nutrient properties to maximize the effectiveness of this program. All you have to do is replace certain meals with the smoothie recipes I provide and then watch as the pounds melt effortlessly off your body and your energy levels skyrocket   GET AN INSTAN...