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Use of vitamin E supplements discouraged for patients with cataract
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Evidence from large, well-designed studies is contradictory regarding the benefits of vitamin E in cataract, a review of clinical trial data found. The authors of the review said they discourage the use of individual vitamin E supplements, although daily multivitamins containing vitamin E may be beneficial.
David Q. Pham, PharmD, and Roda Plakogiannis, PharmD, of Long Island University in New York, reviewed published clinical trial data from 1966 through mid-2005 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vitamin E in diseases including cataract.
The studies demonstrated “contradicting results” about the benefits of vitamin E in cataract, the study authors said.
“There is enough evidence from large, well-designed studies to discourage the use of vitamin E in Parkinson’s disease, cataract and Alzheimer’s diseases,” they said. “We encourage patients to supplement with vitamin E-rich foods.”
The study is published in the December issue of The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.