Supplementation With Antioxidant Combination May Help Cognitive Function

Previous research has suggested that oxidative stress in the brain may lead to cognitive impairments in mature adults. Antioxidants help protect the body from oxidative stress. A new study has found that dietary supplementation with the antioxidants bacopa, lycopene, astaxanthin, and vitamin B12 may help protect cognitive function in mature adults.

Participants in the study included 80 adults above the age of 60. They received a supplement containing bacopa, lycopene, astaxanthin, and vitamin B 12 or a placebo daily for 8 weeks. The researchers administered trail making tests (which evaluate visual attention and task switching) and a verbal fluency test at baseline and at the end of the study period.

Participants in the antioxidant group saw decreases in the time needed to complete the trail making tests, compared to increases in the placebo group. They also saw significantly higher letter fluency in the verbal fluency test compared to the placebo group.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of L’Aquila.It was published online ahead of print on December 27, 2020 in the journal Nutrients.