Plasma concentrations of vitamins A and E and carotenoids in Alzheimer's disease

In a case/control study, serum concentrations of vitamins A and E and major carotenoids were determined in patients with Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia and control subjects. The results showed that both Alzheimer's and multi-infarct dementia patients had significantly lower levels of vitamin E and beta-carotene than controls (vitamin E: 18.65 +/- 3.62 mumol/l in Alzheimer's disease and 15.80 +/- 6.93 mumol/l in multi-infarct dementia versus 30.03 +/- 12.03 mumol/l in controls; beta-carotene less than 0.13 to 0.42 mumol/l in Alzheimer's disease and less than 0.13 to 0.30 mumol/l in multi-infarct dementia versus 0.13 to 1.53 mumol/l in controls). Vitamin A was significantly reduced only in the Alzheimer's patients (1.56 +/- 0.78 mumol/l in Alzheimer's disease versus 2.13 +/- 0.86 mumol/l in controls).