Lack of folic acid dementia link

[Tina Greco - Melbourne]

Dementia is three times more common in people whose blood is low in folates, a form of vitamin B particularly found in green vegetables, a study suggests.

The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry study followed 518 South Korean pensioners for two years.

There is growing evidence linking levels of folates - or folic acid - and Alzheimer's disease, though deficiency could be a symptom of dementia.

The UK is currently considering adding the vitamin to bread and flour.

This is primarily for the benefit of pregnant women and their unborn children, as folic acid has been proven to prevent spinal problems in the growing foetus, but research increasingly suggests it could also ward off dementia.

However, the exact relationship between folate deficiency and dementia remains unclear, as it could well be a symptom as much as a cause.

Lifestyle changes

The team led by the Chonnam National University Medical School in Gwangju acknowledged this in their study, noting that "changes in micronutrients could be linked with the other typical signs that precede dementia, including weight loss and low blood pressure.

"While weight loss is unlikely to alter micronutrients in the blood, it may indicate dietary changes in the quality of food intake."

They found that 3.5% of their study group were folate deficient to start with. These people were 3.5 times more likely to have developed dementia by the end of the study.

The disease was more common in those who were older, relatively poorly educated and inactive, the researchers found.

Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said the study was "one further example of why it is so crucial for people to lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet rich in B vitamins and antioxidants".

But he warned: "The potential benefits in preventing or treating dementia can only be fully verified in a rigorous clinical trial, as overlap with other lifestyle factors and lifestyle changes in the very early stages of dementia can give misleading results."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7226872.stm

[Ari]

Good to know.

[q_q_]

I used to have huge amounts of ready brek. But then they changed the recipe.

I am not sure what the medical term for when food sort of comes back up - not huge amounts like sick/puke, but small amounts and very acidic..

Well, I had that after they changed the recipe of ready brek. I noticed the new recipe had added folic acid, or more folic acid.    So now if I have it I have a small bowel, which is a nuisance.. I don`t have it anymore!

Probably not something to worry about. If you get that reaction then you`d know, and then have less or don`t have it.

The new ready brek recipe is boosted up with vitamins and other things.. If you have a really large amount then you`d be getting a few times the RDA of many things..  That may be fine for Vitamin C, which -perhaps- is only toxic in really high levels.  But doing that with some of the other stuff in there may be really bad, and it is unavoidable.   I just know from the reaction I got after they changed the recipe to make it "healthy" !!

[Tina Greco - Melbourne]

Acid reflux - Gastro-Oesophageal Relflux Disease.  http://www.virtualgastrocentre.com/diseases.asp?did=174

[q_q_]

Acid reflux - Gastro-Oesophageal Relflux Disease.  http://www.virtualgastrocentre.com/diseases.asp?did=174

I think disease/"medical condition" implies permanence.

I only had it for a few hours because I ate too much of the wrong thing.

I am sure anybody can get that symptom if they eat too much of a type of food/drink that can cause that. Easily solved.