Comparisons of plasma/serum micronutrients between Okinawan and oregonian elders: A pilot study

Hiroko H. Dodge, Yuriko Katsumata, Hidemi Todoriki, Shoutoku Yasura, D. Craig Willcox, Gene L. Bowman, Bradley Willcox, Scott Leonard, Aaron Clemons, Barry S. Oken, Jeffrey A. Kaye, Maret G. Traber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Certain micronutrients are protective against cognitive decline. We examined whether there is any uniform pattern of circulating micronutrients cross-culturally that are associated with successful cognitive aging. For the U.S. sample, we used the stored serum/plasma of 115 participants, collected in Oregon, USA. The Okinawa sample consisted of 49 participants selected using similar inclusion criteria as the Oregon sample, from the Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging Project. All participants were aged 85 years and older without cognitive impairment. We found that the Okinawan elders used fewer vitamin supplements but had similar levels of vitamin B12 and α-tocopherol, lower folate and γ-tocopherol, compared with Oregonian elders. That is, we did not find a uniform pattern of circulating micronutrients, suggesting that micronutrients other than those examined here or other lifestyle factors than nutrition could play an important role in achieving successful cognitive aging.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1060-1067
Number of pages8
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume65 A
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by the National Institute on Aging ( K01AG023014 to H.H.D.), ( P30 AG08017 to J.A.K.), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine ( P50 AT00066 to J.A.K.), Linus Pauling Institute Research Grant (H.H.D.), Oregon Tax Check-off Grant (H.H.D.), the Center for Healthy Aging Research Pilot Grant at Oregon State University (H.H.D.), and Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institution ( UL1 RR024140 ).

Keywords

  • Circulating micronutrients
  • Healthy cognitive aging
  • Okinawa
  • Oldest old
  • Oregon

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comparisons of plasma/serum micronutrients between Okinawan and oregonian elders: A pilot study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this