Higher Blood Vitamin C Levels are Associated with Reduction of Apolipoprotein E E4-related Risks of Cognitive Decline in Women: The Nakajima Study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Noguchi-Shinohara, Moeko^a | Abe, Chiemi^a | Yuki-Nozaki, Sohshi^a | Dohmoto, Chiaki^a | Mori, Ayaka^a | Hayashi, Koji^a | Shibata, Syutaro^a | Ikeda, Yoshihisa^a | Sakai, Kenji^a | Iwasa, Kazuo^a | Yokogawa, Masami^b | Ishimiya, Mai^c | Nakamura, Hiroyuki^c | Yokoji, Hidehiro^d | Komai, Kiyonobu^e | Nakamura, Hiroyuki^f | Yamada, Masahito^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, Division of Health Sciences, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan | [c] Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan | [d] Department of Neurology, Nanao Hospital National Hospital Organization, Kanazawa, Japan | [e] Department of Neurology, Iou Hospital National Hospital Organization, Kanazawa, Japan | [f] Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Masahito Yamada, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan. Tel.: +81 76 265 2290; Fax: +81 76 265 4253; E-mail: m-yamada@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.

Abstract: Background:Antioxidants like vitamins C and E may minimize the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Objective:We examined whether vitamins C and E modify the apolipoprotein E (APOE) E4-related risks for developing cognitive decline. Methods:We conducted a population-based prospective study including Japanese residents aged 65 years from Nakajima, Japan. The participants received an evaluation of cognitive function and underwent blood tests including tests for vitamins C and E levels and APOE phenotypes. The APOE E4-by-gender-by-vitamin C or E interactions on developing cognitive decline were analyzed. Results:Of 606 participants with normal cognitive function determined using a baseline survey (2007–2008), 349 completed the follow up survey between 2014 and 2016. In women with APOE E4, significantly reduced risk for cognitive decline was observed for the highest blood vitamin C concentration tertile [multivariate OR 0.10 (95% CI 0.01–0.93)] compared with the lowest tertile. In men without APOE E4, significantly reduced risk for cognitive decline was observed for the highest blood vitamin E concentration tertile [multivariate OR 0.19 (0.05–0.74)] as compared with the lowest tertile. Conclusion:Our results demonstrate significant beneficial effects of vitamins C and E in reducing the risk of cognitive decline in women with APOE E4 and men without APOE E4, respectively.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, apolipoprotein E, vitamin C, vitamin E

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170971

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 1289-1297, 2018