Roles of Vitamins E and C on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cognitive Performance

Abstract

Demographic changes, together with improvements in nutrition, general health, and life expectancy, will greatly change the social and economic structures of most industrialized and developing countries in the next 50 years. Extended life expectancy has increased the number of chronic illnesses and disabilities, including cognitive impairments. Inflammatory processes and vascular dysfunctions appear to play important roles in the pathogenesis of age-associated pathologies including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. A large body of evidence shows that both vitamins E and C are important for the central nervous system and that a decrease in their concentrations causes structural and functional damage to the cells. Several studies reveal a link between diets rich in fruits and vegetables containing generous amounts of vitamins E and C and lower incidence of certain chronic diseases.

Chemical and biochemical changes in prickly pears with different ripening behaviour

“…Correspondence: Octavio Paredes-López, Laboratorio de Biotecnología Agrícola Aplicada, Instituto Tecnólogico Agropecuario de Aguascalientes, Ojo Caliente IV, Aguascalientes, Ags., MØxico E-mail: oparede@ira.cinvestav.mx Fax: +50-462-624-5996 1 Laboratorio de Biotecnología Agrícola Aplicada, Instituto Tecnólogi-co Agropecuario de Aguascalientes, Ojo Caliente IV, Aguascalientes, Ags., MØxico linked to a lower incidence of certain chronic diseases [11]. On the other hand, there are 2000 million vulnerable people (mostly children and women at reproductive age) due to iron deficiency, and there are 1500 million people at risk due to the lack of iodine.…”

Serum α-tocopherol, concurrent and past vitamin E intake, and mild cognitive impairment

“…Possible mechanisms by which antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E, might protect against dementia or agerelated cognitive loss include limiting oxidative damage to brain cells and vasculature through their role as free-radical scavengers, and by limiting production of inflammatory cytokines. 1 Recent studies have been inconclusive, with some 2-4 supporting associations between vitamin E and reduced risk of Alzheimer disease (AD)/dementia, and others not. 5,6 Inconsistent results have also been seen in studies of vitamin E intake and cognitive function.…”

Neuroprotective Effects of 2,5-Diaryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran Neolignans

“…Therefore offering protective agents to rescue damaged neurons from death is regarded as a practicable strategy for the control of neurodegenerative diseases. 8) Several compounds acting with different protective mechanisms are currently in development and a few are in clinical trials, including antioxidants, 9) vitamins, 10,11) endogenous neurotrophins, 12) and neurotrophin functional mimetics. 13) Our ongoing project to search for small-molecular functional mimetics of neurotrophins from natural products resulted in the discovery of a promising 2,5-diaryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran neolignan, talaumidin (1), which was isolated from Aristolochia arcuata MASTERS and was confirmed to promote neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival in cultured rat cortical neurons.…”