Efficacy of a Vitamin/Nutriceutical Formulation for Moderate-stage to Later-stage Alzheimer's disease: A Placebo-controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

Recent studies demonstrated efficacy of a vitamin/ nutriceutical formulation (folate, vitamin B12, alpha-tocopherol, S-adenosyl methionine, N-acetyl cysteine, and acetyl-L-carnitine) for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we tested the efficacy of this formulation in a small cohort of 12 institutionalized patients diagnosed with moderate-stage to later-stage Alzheimer's disease. Participants were randomly separated into treatment of placebo groups. Participants receiving the formulation demonstrated a clinically significant delay in decline in the Dementia Rating Scale and clock-drawing test as compared to those receiving placebo. Institutional caregivers reported approximately 30% improvement in the Neuropyschiatric Inventory and maintenance of performance in the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living for more than 9 months. This formulation holds promise for delaying the decline in cognition, mood, and daily function that accompanies the progression of Alzheimer's disease, and may be particularly useful as a supplement for pharmacological approaches during later stages of this disorder. A larger trial is warranted.

B-Vitamins and Fatty Acids in the Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: A Systematic Review

“…Trials are underway among participants with early [85] and late-stage AD [86]. In addition, multidomain interventions encompassing nutritional, physical and cognitive training may offer a potential synergistic effect in preventing cognitive decline in susceptible populations [87].…”

Complex Antioxidant Blend Improves Memory in Community-Dwelling Seniors

“…In one study, communitydwelling subjects with early stage Alzheimer's disease improved in a one-year study [38]. In another study, vitamins with nutriceuticals were used to treat moderate and late stage Alzheimer's disease over nine months [39]. A third study used the herbal, panax ginseng, in a double blind study of 97 subjects to successfully treat Alzheimer's patients [40].…”

Oxidative Damage Compromises Energy Metabolism in the Axonal Degeneration Mouse Model of X-Adrenoleukodystrophy

“…Some studies have shown that combinations of antioxidants can be beneficial for pathologies associated with increased oxidative stress (55) and that such a strategy might be advantageous over higher doses of single antioxidants for treating mitochondriopathies (62,63), reproducing what it is already present in nature; that is, a combination of antioxidant systems rather than a single one. In particular, it has been recently demonstrated that several combinations of antioxidants {[LA, NAC and vitamin E (4)], [LA and NAC (41)], or [LA and acetyl-L-carnitine (1, 57)]} are able to prevent oxidative damage and improve mitochondrial ultrastructural decay or dysfunction in Alzheimer disease mouse models (57), and even in some clinical studies (13,51). Further, since LA is an essential cofactor of PDHC and KGDHC, its supplementation could protect and increase the enzymatic activity of KGDHC (2), and, therefore, help bring about an increase in NADH and ATP production.…”