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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Jun 2;119(21):2772-80.
doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.816900. Epub 2009 May 18.

Vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, and cognitive function among women with or at risk of cardiovascular disease: The Women's Antioxidant and Cardiovascular Study

Jae Hee Kang  1 , Nancy R Cook, JoAnn E Manson, Julie E Buring, Christine M Albert, Francine Grodstein
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, and cognitive function among women with or at risk of cardiovascular disease: The Women's Antioxidant and Cardiovascular Study

Jae Hee Kang et al. Circulation. .

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular factors are associated with cognitive decline. Antioxidants may be beneficial.

Methods and results: The Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study was a trial of vitamin E (402 mg every other day), beta carotene (50 mg every other day), and vitamin C (500 mg daily) for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. From 1995 to 1996, women > or =40 years of age with cardiovascular disease or > or =3 coronary risk factors were randomized. From 1998 to 1999, a cognitive function substudy was initiated among 2824 participants > or =65 years of age. With 5 cognitive tests, cognition was assessed by telephone 4 times over 5.4 years. The primary outcome was a global composite score averaging all scores; repeated-measures analyses were used to examine cognitive change over time. Vitamin E supplementation and beta carotene supplementation were not associated with slower rates of cognitive change (mean difference in change for vitamin E versus placebo, -0.01; 95% confidence interval, -0.05 to 0.04; P=0.78; for beta carotene, 0.03; 95% confidence interval, -0.02 to 0.07; P=0.28). Although vitamin C supplementation was associated with better performance at the last assessment (mean difference, 0.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.06 to 0.20; P=0.0005), it was not associated with cognitive change over time (mean difference in change, 0.02; 95% confidence interval, -0.03 to 0.07; P=0.39). Vitamin C was more protective against cognitive change among those with new cardiovascular events during the trial (P for interaction=0.009).

Conclusions: Antioxidant supplementation did not slow cognitive change among women with preexisting cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular disease risk factors. A possible late effect of vitamin C or beta carotene among those with low dietary intake on cognition warrants further study.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of participation in the Cognitive Cohort of Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study (WACS)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Mean global scores during follow-up (1998–2000 through 2004–2005) by active or placebo assignment for vitamin E, vitamin C and β-carotene
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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