Wednesday July 17, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study published in Neurology suggests that eating fruits and vegetables or taking vitamin C and vitamin E supplements may help reduce the risk of dementia in elderly men.

 Dr. Kamal H. Masaki, The Honolulu Heart Program in Honolulu, HI  and colleagues conducted the study and found supplementation of vitamin E and C protects against the development of dementia and poor cognitive function later in life.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 3,385 men aged 71 and 93 years participating in the Honolulu–Asia Aging Study.

The study shows that use of vitamin E and vitamin C at baseline was associated with 88% reduced risk for vascular dementia and 69% reduced risk for mixed/other dementia. But no association was found for Alzheimer's disease.

Among elderly men, those without dementia if they used either vitamin E or C supplements alone at baseline had a better cognitive test performance and if they used both vitamins, then there was borderline significance.

The researchers concluded "These results suggest that vitamin E and C supplements may protect against vascular dementia and may improve cognitive function in late life." (reporting by Jimmy Downs)