London, Jan 8 (IANS): Elderly people with high vitamin E levels are less likely to suffer from memory disorders than those having lower levels.

“Our results show that the entire vitamin E family plays a role in memory processes. Measuring the levels of vitamin E from serum is the most reliable way to determine whether they are sufficiently high,” said researchers at University of Eastern Finland.

Till date, studies probing the link between vitamin E and memory disorders focused on a single form of vitamin E called ?-tocopherol.

However, vitamin E exists in eight different natural forms - tocopherols and tocotrienols - all of which have antioxidant properties, said the study published in the journal Experimental Gerontology.

The researchers took a sample of 140 elderly Finnish people with no memory impairment.
During the eight-year follow-up, it was discovered that higher total serum levels of vitamin E seemed to protect against memory disorders, added the study.

The research took crucial inputs from the more extensive Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study - that focused on the association between the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and memory disorders.