High doses of vitamin E in the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system in the aged.
Oxidative stress is a putative factor in the pathogenesis of many human disorders of the central nervous system. Therefore, antioxidants such as vitamin E have become attractive as therapeutic agents in the treatment of several diseases. In addition, vitamin E seems to play a specific role in the nervous system. As a result, vitamin E has been used in pharmacologic doses in the treatment of disorders such as Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and tardive dyskinesia. One investigation showed that the use of 2000 IU all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate is beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer disease. Similar doses of vitamin E, however, were not beneficial for delaying the progression of Parkinson disease. In other studies, dosages >/=400 IU vitamin E/d were found to be beneficial in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia, although this finding was not confirmed in a larger cooperative study conducted by the Veterans Administration. Even though the efficacy of vitamin E in the management of cardiovascular disease has been shown, the potential role of vitamin E in the treatment of cerebrovascular disease remains essentially unknown. The experience from 2 large clinical trials involving the oral intake of 2000 IU vitamin E/d suggests that vitamin E is relatively safe at this dosage for periods <2 y. However, the safety and efficacy of supplemental vitamin E over periods of many years in the prevention of neurologic diseases has not been adequately explored.
Vatassery
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Research Service and GRECC, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Vatas001@tc.umn.edu
Bauer
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Dysken
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D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E