Improvement of Executive Function after Short-Term Administration of an Antioxidants Mix Containing Bacopa, Lycopene, Astaxanthin and Vitamin B12: The BLAtwelve Study

Abstract

During the last few years increasing interest has been focused on antioxidants as potentially useful agents in the prevention of the onset and progression of cognitive dysfunction. In this randomized, double-blind, controlled, parallel arm study, the effects of daily consumption of an antioxidant mix on cognitive function in healthy older adults were evaluated. After a 1 week run-in period, 80 subjects aged 60 years or more, and with no evidence of cognitive dysfunction, were randomly allocated to a mix of four bioactive compounds (bacopa, lycopene, astaxanthin, and vitamin B12) or matched placebo, taken orally once a day for 8 weeks. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the changes in trial making test (TMT) scores from baseline to 8 weeks of treatment, analyzed in the following hierarchical order: TMT-B, TMT-A, and TMT-B minus TMT-A. TMT-B increased in the control group (+3.46 s) and decreased in the active group (−17.63 s). The treatment difference was −21.01 s in favor of the active group (95% C.I. −26.80 to −15.2, p < 0.0001). The decrease in TMT-A was significantly higher in the active group (−6.86 s) than in the control group (−0.37 s). TMT-B minus TMT-A increased in the control group (+3.84 s) and decreased in the active group (−10.46 s). The increase in letter fluency in the verbal fluency test (VFT) was also significantly higher in the active group and statistically significant (+5.28 vs. +1.07 words; p < 0.001). Our findings provide encouraging evidence that regular dietary supplementation with bacopa, lycopene, astaxanthin, and vitamin B12 may be an effective dietary approach for counteracting cognitive changes associated with brain aging.

Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Aging and Age-Related Diseases: A Review

“…335 Astaxanthin, which is a xanthophyll carotenoid antioxidant nutrient, was shown to be potent to resist cognitive changes associated with brain aging. 336 Selenomethionine, an organic form of selenium upregulated Nrf2, increased the production of GSH in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. 337 A high dosage of Vitamins C, E, and βcarotene showed promising results to prevent age-related macular degeneration and vision loss.…”

“…Mediterranean diet supplements are rich in antioxidants, which reduced the incidence of cardiovascular diseases by 30% in high-risk older patients and reduced the chance of developing invasive breast cancer in women . Astaxanthin, which is a xanthophyll carotenoid antioxidant nutrient, was shown to be potent to resist cognitive changes associated with brain aging . Selenomethionine, an organic form of selenium upregulated Nrf2, increased the production of GSH in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells .…”

Antiaging Strategies and Remedies: A Landscape of Research Progress and Promise

“…225 Vitamin B12 in combinations with bacopa, lycopene, and astaxanthin successfully alleviated cognitive delay associated with brain aging. 231 Improving vitamin interventions by combining them with other healthsupporting supplements might result in successful clinical utilization.…”

“…Other vitamins such as B vitamins, K vitamins, and others have been examined as dietary supplements that assist healthy aging . Vitamin B12 in combinations with bacopa, lycopene, and astaxanthin successfully alleviated cognitive delay associated with brain aging . Improving vitamin interventions by combining them with other health-supporting supplements might result in successful clinical utilization.…”

Dietary Supplements and Natural Products: An Update on Their Clinical Effectiveness and Molecular Mechanisms of Action During Accelerated Biological Aging

“…Today, vitamins are now often strategically combined with herbs, minerals, and other natural products to maximize their benefits against accelerated biological aging. Vitamin B12, together with bacopa, lycopene, and astaxanthin, for example, effectively alleviated cognitive changes related to brain aging ( Crosta et al, 2020 ). This shows that refining vitamin interventions by combining them with other health supplements might be good enough for clinical utilization.…”