Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
 		Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Manders, M.
Right arrow Articles by Hoefnagels, W. H. L.
Right arrow Articles citing this Article
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Manders, M.
Right arrow Articles by Hoefnagels, W. H. L.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 59:M1041-M1049 (2004)
© 2004 The Gerontological Society of America

REVIEW ARTICLE

Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements on Cognitive Functioning in Elderly Persons: A Systematic Review

Marleen Manders1,, Lisette C. P. G. M. de Groot1, Wija A. van Staveren1, Wendeline Wouters-Wesseling2, Ans J. M. J. Mulders3, Jos M. G. A. Schols4 and Willibrord H. L. Hoefnagels5

1 Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
2 Numico Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
3 Nursing Home De Landrijt, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
4 Nursing Home De Riethorst, Geertruidenberg, and Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
5 Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Address correspondence to Marleen Manders, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands. E-mail: Marleen.Manders{at}wur.nl

Background. The effectiveness of nutritional supplementation in improving cognitive functioning is evaluated in elderly people.

Methods. The authors systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials that compared nutritional supplementation with a placebo treatment. Trials were identified from a MEDLINE search and from reference lists of identified studies and review articles. From each trial, information was gathered on the number and age of persons studied; the type, dosage, and duration of the intervention; and the assessed outcome measures.

Results. From 1086 titles, 571 articles were excluded based on their titles. Of the remaining 467 articles, the abstracts were read and 422 articles were excluded based on information found there. The remaining articles were screened for quality aspects of the study design, leaving 21 proper randomized, controlled trials. These trials are discussed in three groups according to the type of supplementation: multinutrient intervention or single components with or without a putative mechanism. Twelve studies, which were evenly distributed among the three supplement groups, found significantly positive effects of nutritional intervention on cognitive functioning, whereas nine studies did not. None of the studies found a significantly negative effect of nutritional intervention.

Conclusions. Shortcomings in methodology varying from the duration of intervention to outcome measures partly explain discrepancies in findings. Despite the heterogeneity in trial design, the results of this review suggest that nutritional supplements may improve the cognitive functioning of elderly persons and do no harm. Further well-designed studies are needed to support these findings.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2004 by The Gerontological Society of America.