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Article: Vitamin B complex and dementia. (Nutritional Influences on Illness).
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
- Article date:
- July 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Nutritional deficiencies are common in the elderly. Perhaps 10 to 20 percent of dementias in the elderly are reversible, and malnutrition is an important cause of reversible dementia. In addition to inadequate nutrient intake, other factors -- such as impaired nutrient absorption through the gut lining -- contribute to the deficient nutriture. (1) As an example of nutritionally-caused dementia, we will review the contribution of the vitamin B complex.
Vitamin B12
A deficiency of vitamin B12 is one of the most common nutritional causes of reversible dementia. Although a B12 deficiency is also associated with a megaloblastic (enlarged red blood cell) ...