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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Apr 22;12(4):1168.
doi: 10.3390/nu12041168.

Efficacy of Vitamins on Cognitive Function of Non-Demented People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Seung Wan Suh  1 , Hye Sung Kim  2 , Ji Hyun Han  2 , Jong Bin Bae  2 , Dae Jong Oh  2 , Ji Won Han  2 , Ki Woong Kim  2   3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Efficacy of Vitamins on Cognitive Function of Non-Demented People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Seung Wan Suh et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Previous evidence has suggested that vitamins might be beneficial for cognition. This systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy of B vitamins, antioxidant vitamins, and vitamin D on the cognitive function of non-demented middle-aged or older people. Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of individuals aged 40 years or older were included. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library databases, and other grey literature sources were searched up to November 2019. Their methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Twenty-three studies on B vitamins (n = 22-1053; comprising folate, B6, and B12), nine on antioxidant vitamins (n = 185-20,469), and six on vitamin D (n = 55-4122) were included. Taking B vitamins for over 3 months was beneficial for global cognition (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.18, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.06) and episodic memory (SMD -0.09, 95% CI -0.15 to -0.04). However, antioxidant vitamins (SMD -0.02, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.03) and vitamin D (SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.23) were not. Antioxidant vitamins were beneficial for global cognition in sensitivity analyses using final measurement data as mean difference estimates (SMD, -0.04, 95% CI -0.08 to -0.01). Taking B vitamins and possibly antioxidant vitamins may be beneficial for the cognitive function of non-demented people.

Keywords: B vitamins; antioxidants; cognitive; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow chart of the study selection process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of B vitamins on global cognition in terms of change from baseline by (A) the length of the intervention period, (B) the geographic location of the study, and (C) baseline cognitive function.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of B vitamins on (A) episodic memory, (B) executive function, (C) processing speed, (D) attention, and (E) visuospatial function in terms of change from baseline.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of antioxidant vitamins on global cognition in terms of (A) change from baseline and (B) final measurement, and the effect of vitamin D on global cognition in terms of (C) change from baseline and (D) final measurement.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of antioxidant vitamins on (A) episodic memory, (B) executive function, (C) processing speed, (D) attention, and (E) visuospatial function in terms of change from baseline.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effect of vitamin D on (A) episodic memory, (B) executive function, (C) processing speed, (D) attention, and (E) visuospatial function in terms of change from baseline.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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