Abstract
It has been hypothesised that oxidative damage plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. Antioxidant substances, such as vitamins E (E, α-tocopherol) and C, have been shown to modify oxidative processes in laboratory experiments and animal trials. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that intake of antioxidant nutrients may be associated with a reduced risk of develop ing Alzheimer disease. A recent clinical trial indicated that E supplementation or/and selegiline sig nificantly slows the progression of Alzheimer disease. Since E was demonstrated to have far fewer adverse effects, it has become a noteworthy nutrient or drug for Alzheimer disease. In this review, we focus on the relation between Alzheimer disease and E, and summarise the presumed mechanisms of E pharmacological action (mainly, anti-oxidant function) and recent epide miologic and clinical studies of E against Alzheimer disease.
