More Vitamin C in the Blood, Slightly More Gray Matter in Old Age
Graded Preliminary — a one-time snapshot of 2,044 older adults in Japan; because everything was measured at a single point, it cannot show cause and effect.
- Design
- Cross-sectional study
- Participants
- 2,044
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development; KAGOME CO., LTD
Older adults with more vitamin C in their blood had slightly more gray matter on average, though the difference was small.
Older adults with more vitamin C in their blood had, on average, a bit more gray matter. That is the brain tissue where nerve cells sit. A network of brain regions that is mostly active at rest was also built differently in them. Earlier work had linked vitamin C in the diet to a lower risk of mental decline. It was unclear whether the level in the blood relates to how the brain is built.
Researchers in the Japanese city of Hirosaki examined 2,044 people with a median age of 69. Each had one MRI brain scan and one blood test for vitamin C. The link held after accounting for age, sex, education, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, drinking and physical activity. It was strongest in a region in the middle of the brain.
The authors themselves call the effects modest. Vitamin C levels were not directly linked to scores on a test of mental performance. Whether vitamin C protects the brain cannot be read from this: everything was measured once, and overall diet was not recorded.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Two authors work for the food company Kagome and two hold its stock; the company is also listed as a funder.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.