Vitamin E and Alzheimer's disease in subjects with Down's syndrome.

People with Down's syndrome (DS) are at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The gene coding for superoxide dismutase-/ on chromosome 21 resulting in excess activity of the enzyme with consequent risk of oxidative damage might account for the premature ageing. Vitamin E protects against such damage. Plasma vitamin E levels measured in 12 DS subjects with AD (8.19 +/- 0.77 micrograms/ml) were lower (P less than 0.05) than in 12 DS controls (9.43 +/- 1.57 micrograms/ml). It is suggested that there may be an interaction between risk of AD and the protective action of vitamin E.

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