Apparently so. According to a new study published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, older people who take a daily multivitamin supplement for several years are far less likely to develop dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of cognitive decline. The new study supports earlier research where it has been seen that the different vitamins and minerals increase cerebral blood flow and protect neurons. It pays off to choose high-quality supplements to make sure that the nutrients are properly absorbed in the body.

Everyone is affected by electromagnetic radiation from cell phones, device screens, the electricity supply and other electric systems. The brain’s neurons are particularly vulnerable, especially because electromagnetic radiation can increase the neuronal uptake of calcium ions, which makes the neurons overactive and may even cause them to perish. A study published in News Medical Life Sciences shows that too much calcium in the brain increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and digital dementia in young individuals. The increased electromagnetic radiation also generates loads of free radicals in the body that can cause oxidative stress and cellular damage because it outperforms the body’s different antioxidants. This was described in an article published in The Journal of Microscopy & Ultrastructure that also mentions how electromagnetic radiation can cause stress, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and other symptoms.

The majority of sexually active people contract HPV (human papilloma virus), of which there are several types. Normally, the infection goes away by itself but in some cases it becomes chronic. This increases the risk of serious cell changes in the cervix which, in worst case, can result in cervical cancer. An American study has found that having adequate levels of five different antioxidants – albumin plus vitamins A, B2, E, and folic acid – may lower papilloma virus infections that are linked to cervical cancer.

Stomach cancer is rather common and is a disease with a poor prognosis. There are many things that cause the condition. However, vitamin C is known to reduce the risk, according to a large analysis published in Gastric Cancer. The study also shows that we need a lot more vitamin C than the official recommendations in order to obtain optimal protection against stomach cancer.

It is commonly known that pregnant diabetics have an increased risk of developing an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy. The diet plays a major role and it appears that a vitamin C deficiency increases the risk, according to a Danish study of pregnant type 1 diabetics that is published in the journal Antioxidants. The authors also mention that vitamin C is a vital antioxidant that protects cells and tissues against oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

In the summertime, we synthesize vitamin D in our skin when we expose ourselves to sunlight. Vitamin D is a nutrient that is of vital importance to mood and health in general. When it is dark outside, we produce melatonin, which is important for our sleep. In addition to that, melatonin has a number of other important functions. Over the past decades, science has focused on its potential in the prevention of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, sclerosis, and several other diseases. Apparently, vitamin D and melatonin work as hormones day and night and are of vital importance to the immune system. Also, they regulate inflammation, protect cells, and have many other functions. In a new review article that is published in Nutrients, the scientists refer to melatonin as the “next vitamin D”. Also, they mention that many people get too little sunlight during the day and too little darkness at night, which results in a deficiency of both vitamin D and melatonin.

- and oxidative stress

The body uses inflammation as part of its normal immune response to infections and tissue damage. If inflammation becomes chronic, however, it can be extremely dangerous. What happens is that it bombards the body with free radicals. This leads to oxidative stress and increases the risk of cell damage, overweight, and chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, and different cancer forms. Diet and lifestyle play a major role, and according to a meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, Q10 supplementation can lower several markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

There is a growing interest among scientists in selenium’s role in the brain and nervous system, and a placebo-controlled study published in Frontiers in Nutrition shows that selenium supplementation is useful as an adjuvant in migraine therapy. The study authors describe that oxidative stress may involved in migraine attacks and mention that selenium has a protective effect due to its role as an antioxidant. Earlier studies have shown that other antioxidants like Q10 and magnesium also have a therapeutic value by way of other mechanisms that may work synergistically.

Everybody is exposed to heavy metals and other environmental toxins. They are present in the water, the air, our diet, in cosmetics, tobacco smoke, medicine, and countless other sources. These toxins increase our risk of cancer, neurological disorders, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, and numerous other health problems. Also, the combination of different toxins causes a “cocktail effect” that we know very little about. According to a Spanish study of mice, which is published in Science of The Total Environment, a selenium-enriched diet has a protective effect.

Both physical traumas and critical illnesses are associated with inflammation and oxidative stress where free radicals can cause potentially life-threatening damage to cells and tissues. Traumas are estimated to be the cause of one in ten deaths. New research suggests that early intervention with selenium may shorten the hospital stay including the days spent in intensive care and reduce total mortality. This was shown in a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition where the researchers looked closer at selenium’s unique antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effect.

A type of cancer called chronic myeloid leukemia is characterized by an overproduction of white blood cells that can lead to symptoms like fatigue, infections, and other complications. Another characteristic feature of chronic myeloid leukemia is chronic inflammation that contributes to the disease progression. Vitamin C, however, appears to counteract the inflammation, according to a Brazilian in-vitro study that is published in Nutrients.