"Moreover, brain mitochondrial enzymatic activities were linearly related to mice success in the tests of neuromuscular function and of exploratory and cognitive activity and to the maximal mice life span," Boveris reported. He noted that the amount of vitamin E supplementation was metabolically and physiologically similar to the 1200-2000mg. daily dosage for two to three years used in two Alzheimer's Disease experiments involving over 400 patients without adverse effects.
The paper observes that the "study shows the beneficial effects of high doses of vitamin E on the median and maximal lifespan of male mice, an effect that is parallel to a beneficial effect on the decline of neurological performance and mitochondrial function associated with aging." It said the "marked increase" in median lifespan and the moderate rise of maximal lifespan "is properly described as a delay in the onset of the almost linear decay in mice survival."
The mice used in the experiment, the CD-1/UCadiz, are a senescence accelerated strain with a median lifespan of 60-70 weeks and maximal lifespan of 100-120 weeks. Vitamin E supplementation of the test group began at age 28 weeks.
Role of vitamin E as antioxidant; support for 'specificity' concept
The researchers noted that the "mitochondrial content of lipid protein oxidation products, an indication of free-radical mediated reactions and oxidative damage, was increased in the brain and liver of aging mice, and the effect was partially [and significantly] prevented by vitamin E. The protein carbonyl content of brain mitochondria, taking 28-week-old mice as reference, increased 33%-69% at 52 and 7
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2-Sep-2005