title: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of D-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) as add-on therapy in uncontrolled epilepsy.
abstract: In a double-blind, cross-over trial, vitamin E, and placebo were compared as add-on therapy in 43 patients with uncontrolled epilepsy. The study consisted of a 3-month baseline period followed by two treatment phases of vitamin E or placebo with cross-over to the second phase after 3 months. No significant side effects were noted during the study. Mean seizure frequency in the baseline period was 15.9 +/- 10.5 as compared with 11.8 +/- 10.9 during the placebo phase and 13.7 +/- 11.1 during the vitamin E phase. No significant change in seizure frequency was observed with vitamin E as compared with placebo (p > 0.1). Similar observation was noted in subgroups with generalized seizures (n = 25), partial with secondarily generalized seizures (n = 11), or complex partial seizures (CPS) (n = 7). This study did not corroborate the earlier claims of therapeutic efficacy of vitamin E as add-on therapy in refractory epilepsy in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behari
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Ahuja
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000188:drug therapy; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010919:Placebos; D014810:Vitamin E