Department of Neurology, Jichi Medical School, Omiya Medical Center, Saitama City, Japan
Address for correspondence: M. Otsuka, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neurology, Jichi Medical School, Omiya Medical Center, 1-847 Amanuma-cho, Saitama City 330-8503, Japan. Voice: +81-(0)48-647-2111; fax: +81-(0)48-648-5188.
motsuka{at}omiya.jichi.ac.jp
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 977: 155-161 (2002).
Dietary habits were compared in patients with Alzheimer's disease
(AD) and those with vascular dementia (VaD). Twenty-seven patients
with AD, 15 patients with VaD, and 49 age-matched controls were
enrolled. Nutritional status was assessed using a semiquantified
food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary habits were very similar
in male patients with AD and VaD. Both groups had significantly
higher energy intake than their energy demands: +25% for AD
and +35% for VaD, respectively. However, major sources of energy
were different: grains and animal fats for AD versus only grains
for VaD. Calculation of nutrients revealed excess intake of
n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and relative deficiencies
of multiple vitamins including antioxidants, vitamin C and carotene,
and the vitamin B group. In contrast, dietary habits in female
patients with AD differed significantly from those of male patients.
Female patients consumed significantly lower amounts of fish
and green vegetables. Calculation of nutrients showed absolute
deficiencies of n-3 PUFA, multiple vitamins, and minerals. Our
results show that AD and VaD are similar from the viewpoint
of nutrition, except for the higher consumption of animal fats
for AD patients, probably reflecting Westernization of dietary
habits in recent years. Nutrition may be relevant to the pathogenesis
of dementia through many processes. Higher intake of energy
and lower intake of antioxidants may exaggerate the process
of dementia through oxidative stress. Excessive amounts of n-6
PUFA or deficiency of n-3 PUFA may cause chronic inflammation,
platelet aggregation, or endothelial dysfunction of microvasculature.
Nutrition may be useful for preventing dementia, although gender-specific
differences must be taken into account.
