Role of Micronutrient Supplementation in Promoting Cognitive Healthy Aging in Latin America: Evidence-Based Consensus Statement
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Expert Panel Formation and Study Design
2.2. Literature Review and Evidence Gathering
2.3. Delphi Process and Consensus Development
3. Results
3.1. Consensus Statement Development
3.1.1. (A) Healthy Aging and Its Relationship to Cognition
- Statement 1: Cognitive impairment has increased in Latin America in the elderly over the past few years.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 6, Agree: 3; Level of evidence: C
- Statement 2: As people age, cognitive impairment generally becomes more pronounced, and typically noticeable between the ages of 60 and 70 years. However, underlying neurobiological changes may begin as early as 40 years old.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 4, Agree: 5; Level of evidence: A
- Statement 3: The most significant barriers to addressing cognitive impairment in the elderly in the Latin America region are underdiagnosis, time constraints, and resource limitations.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 6, Agree: 3; Level of evidence: A
- Statement 4: Several risk factors such as poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, excess alcohol consumption, obesity, and lack of awareness contribute to cognitive decline in the elderly population.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 9; Level of evidence: A
3.1.2. (B) Cognitive Functions and Brain Structures Involved in Cognitive Healthy Aging
- Statement 5: Vitamins and minerals are neuronutrients. Vitamin C, D, E, B-complex, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc are micronutrients that have specific roles in brain structures and global cognitive functions.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 9, Level of evidence: A
- B vitamins (B6, B9, B12) regulate homocysteine metabolism: deficiencies are linked to increased brain atrophy and cognitive impairment [43].
- Vitamin D modulates neurotrophic factors such as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and demonstrates neuroprotective properties, with low levels associated with dementia risk [44].
- Vitamin C supports dopamine synthesis and acts as a potent antioxidant [45].
- Vitamin E stabilizes neuronal membranes by preventing lipid peroxidation, implicated in Alzheimer’s pathology [46].
- Zinc is crucial for synaptic transmission and hippocampal function [47].
- Magnesium modulates N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, essential for learning and memory [48].
- Iron supports myelination and dopamine production: its early-life deficiency causes long-term cognitive deficits [49].
- Selenium, through glutathione peroxidase, enhances antioxidant defenses and its deficiency correlates with cognitive decline [50].
- Copper is required for neurotransmitter synthesis, while its dysregulation is implicated in neurodegeneration [51].
- Chromium indirectly enhances neuronal glucose utilization by improving insulin sensitivity [52].
- Statement 6: Dietary pattern from the MIND diet is effective in preventing cognitive decline.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 3, Agree: 6; Level of evidence: A
- Statement 7: Adherence to the MIND diet is challenging in Latin America due to economic, cultural, and structural barriers.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 4, Agree: 5; Level of evidence: A
- Statement 8: Food insecurity in Latin America should be considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 4, Agree: 5; Level of evidence: A
3.1.3. Multivitamin and Mineral Supplementation (MVM) for Cognitive Health
- Statement 9: The elderly Latin American population has a high insufficiency of vitamins and minerals.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 4, Agree: 5; Level of Evidence: A
- Statement 10: Meeting micronutrient RDAs through diet alone is challenging for older adults.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 3, Agree: 6; Level of evidence: A
- Statement 11: Daily MVM use promotes cognitive healthy aging.
- Agreement: Strongly agree: 4, Agree: 5; Level of evidence: A
3.1.4. MVMs as a Complementary Public Health Strategy
- Statement 12: Considering that the MIND diet pattern is difficult to cover in Latin America’s elderly population, an appropriate strategy for cognitive healthy aging is using MVMs as a preventive method.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 9; Level of evidence: A
- Statement 13: MVM use could be a good public health strategy for the elderly.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 4, Agree: 5; Level of evidence: A
- Statement 14: COSMOS-Mind studies are the most relevant ones related to MVMs and healthy cognitive aging.
- Agreement: Strongly Agree: 6, Agree: 3; Level of evidence: A
4. Discussion
Strengths and Limitations
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
MVMs | Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements |
MCI | Mild Cognitive Impairment |
GRADE | Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation |
HCPs | Healthcare Professionals |
LatAm-FINGERS | Latin America has launched several initiatives including Lifestyle Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline |
MIND | Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay |
DASH | Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension |
MoCA | Montreal Cognitive Assessment |
MMSE | Mini-Mental State Examination |
COSMOS-Mind | Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study for the Mind |
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S. No. | Consensus | Agreement | Published Evidence | Level of Evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|
Healthy Aging and its Relationship to Cognition in elderly in Latin America | ||||
1. | Cognitive impairment has increased in Latin America in the elderly over the past few years. | Strongly agree: 6, Agree: 3 | 1 SR of CSS, 4 CSSs | C |
2. | As people age, cognitive impairment generally becomes more pronounced, and typically noticeable between the ages of 60 and 70 years. However, underlying neurobiological changes may begin as early as 40 years old. | Strongly agree: 4, Agree: 5 | 1 SR, 1 review on RCTs, 1 clinical study | A |
3. | The most significant barriers to addressing cognitive impairment in the elderly in the Latin America region are underdiagnosis, time constraints, and resource limitations. | Strongly agree: 6, Agree: 3 | 1 SR, 6 CSSs, 1 RCT | A |
4. | Several risk factors such as poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, excess alcohol consumption, obesity, and lack of awareness contribute to cognitive decline in the elderly population. | Strongly agree: 9 | 4 CSSs, 1 RCT | A |
Cognitive Functions and Brain Structures involved in Cognitive Healthy Aging | ||||
5. | Vitamins and minerals are neuronutrients. Vitamin C, D, E, B-complex, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc are micronutrients that have specific roles in brain structures and global cognitive functions. | Strongly agree: 9 | 3 RCTs, 7 CSSs | A |
6. | Dietary pattern from the MIND diet is effective in preventing cognitive decline. | Strongly agree: 3, Agree: 6 | 6 CSSs, 1 SR on RCTs and CSSs | A |
7. | Adherence to the MIND diet is challenging in Latin America due to economic, cultural, and structural barriers. | Strongly agree: 4, Agree: 5 | 2 CSSs | A |
8. | Food insecurity in Latin America should be considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment. | Strongly agree: 4, Agree: 5 | 1 SR, 3 CSSs | A |
Multivitamin and Mineral Supplementation (MVM) for Cognitive Health | ||||
9. | The elderly Latin American population has a high insufficiency of vitamins and minerals. | Strongly agree: 4, Agree: 5 | 21 CSSs, 1 review of RCTs | A |
10. | Meeting micronutrient RDAs through diet alone is challenging for older adults. | Strongly agree: 3, Agree: 6 | 2 reviews of RCTs and CSSs and 2 CSSs | A |
11. | Daily MVM use promotes cognitive healthy aging. | Strongly agree: 4, Agree: 5 | 1 review of RCTs and CSSs, 3 CSSs | A |
MVMs as a Complementary Public Health Strategy | ||||
12. | Considering that the MIND diet pattern is difficult to cover in Latin America’s elderly population, an appropriate strategy for cognitive healthy aging is using MVMs as a preventive method. | Strongly Agree: 9 | 2 CSSs, 2 RCTs, and 1 systematic review and meta-analysis | A |
13. | MVM use could be a good public health strategy for the elderly. | Strongly agree: 4, Agree: 5 | 3 RCTs | A |
14. | COSMOS-Mind studies are the most relevant ones related to MVMs and healthy cognitive aging. | Strongly agree: 6, Agree: 3 | 2 RCTs and 1 meta-analysis | A |
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Nogueira-de-Almeida, C.A.; Gutiérrez, C.A.C.; Ramos, L.R.; Katz, M.; Gonzalez, M.M.; Angel Badillo, B.; Gómez Santa María, O.A.; Reyes Torres, C.A.; O’Neill, S.; Reyes, M.G.; et al. Role of Micronutrient Supplementation in Promoting Cognitive Healthy Aging in Latin America: Evidence-Based Consensus Statement. Nutrients 2025, 17, 2545. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152545
Nogueira-de-Almeida CA, Gutiérrez CAC, Ramos LR, Katz M, Gonzalez MM, Angel Badillo B, Gómez Santa María OA, Reyes Torres CA, O’Neill S, Reyes MG, et al. Role of Micronutrient Supplementation in Promoting Cognitive Healthy Aging in Latin America: Evidence-Based Consensus Statement. Nutrients. 2025; 17(15):2545. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152545
Chicago/Turabian StyleNogueira-de-Almeida, Carlos Alberto, Carlos A. Cano Gutiérrez, Luiz R. Ramos, Mónica Katz, Manuel Moreno Gonzalez, Bárbara Angel Badillo, Olga A. Gómez Santa María, Carlos A. Reyes Torres, Santiago O’Neill, Marine Garcia Reyes, and et al. 2025. "Role of Micronutrient Supplementation in Promoting Cognitive Healthy Aging in Latin America: Evidence-Based Consensus Statement" Nutrients 17, no. 15: 2545. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152545
APA StyleNogueira-de-Almeida, C. A., Gutiérrez, C. A. C., Ramos, L. R., Katz, M., Gonzalez, M. M., Angel Badillo, B., Gómez Santa María, O. A., Reyes Torres, C. A., O’Neill, S., Reyes, M. G., & Mustapic, L. (2025). Role of Micronutrient Supplementation in Promoting Cognitive Healthy Aging in Latin America: Evidence-Based Consensus Statement. Nutrients, 17(15), 2545. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152545