Cognitive function in elderly people is influenced by vitamin E status

The aim of this study was to examine associations between vitamin E status and cognitive performance in elderly people. The study subjects were a group of 34 men and 86 women, aged 65-91 y, who were free of significant cognitive impairment. Dietary intake was monitored using a 'weighed food record' for 5 consecutive days including a Sunday. Serum levels of [alpha]-tocopherol and cholesterol were determined by HPLC and colorimetric methods, respectively. The cognitive capacity of subjects was tested using the Pfeiffer's Mental Status Questionnaire (PMSQ). Subjects with vitamin E intakes lower than 50% of those recommended had higher PMSQ scores, demonstrating a greater number of errors in comparison to participants with a greater intake of the vitamin (0.91 [+ or -] 1.22 vs. 0.47 [+ or -] 0.60, respectively, P < 0.05). Subjects who made no errors in the PMSQ test had significantly higher serum [alpha]-tocopherol concentrations (19.7 [+ or -] 8.6 [micro]mol/L in men and 20.0 [+ or -] 8.4 [micro]mol/L in women) and [alpha]-tocopherol/cholesterol ratios (3.5 [+ or -] 2.0 [micro]mol/mmol in men 2.9 [+ or -] 1.4 [micro]mol/mmol in women) compared with those who made errors ([alpha]-tocopherol 15.1 [+ or -] 5.6 [micro]mol/L in men and 14.9 [+ or -] 6.1 [micro]mol/L in women; [alpha]-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio 2.4 [+ or -] 0.8 and 2.3 [+ or -] 1.3 [micro]mol/mmol in men and women, respectively). This study shows there to be a relationship between vitamin E status and cognitive function, and that vitamin E status could be improved in this population of elderly individuals. KEY WORDS: * vitamin E * elderly people * [alpha]-tocopherol * intake * cognitive function