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

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2020 Apr 26

PMID 32331312

Citations 17

Authors

Seung Wan Suh

Hye Sung Kim

Ji Hyun Han

Jong Bin Bae

Dae Jong Oh

Ji Won Han

Ki Woong Kim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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 ( 22-1053; comprising folate, B6, and B12), nine on antioxidant vitamins ( 185-20,469), and six on vitamin D ( 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.

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