A recent study found an association between vitamin C and carotenoid deficiency and dementia. Carotenoids are the most potent fat-soluble antioxidants in the human body. The brain is composed largely of fatty acids. It should not be surprising that carotenoids are protective of brain function.
Vitamin C is a water soluble antioxidant. Vitamin C is unique in that it has the ability to "recharge" most of the other antioxidants in the human body. It does this by accepting the free radicals from carotenoids and other antioxidants restoring them to full potency and effectiveness. Since vitamin C is water soluble, it then carries the free radicals out of the body in the urine. It is this kind of nutritional teamwork or synergism that is often ignored in nutritional studies.
References:
von Arnim CA, Herbolsheimer F, et al,Dietary Antioxidants and Dementia in a Population-Based Case-Control Study among Older People in South Germany, J Alzheimers Dis, 2012 Jun 18; [Epub ahead of print].
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