[Vitamin E deficiency: risk factor in human disease?].
Oxidative stress is suspected to intervene in certain chronic diseases. Much research has been devoted to the relationship between vitamin E, a major lipid-soluble antioxidant, and certain widespread diseases. Experimental and epidemiological proof supports a protective effect of vitamin E in a number of pathological processes such as coronary heart disease, cancer, cataract, diabetes mellitus, and Alzheimer disease. Randomized clinical trials have not confirmed a beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation on the progression of these diseases. Certain methodological biases could however have affected these studies, explaining conflicting results. These biases include inaccuracy of vitamin E intake estimates and changes in eating habits during the course of the survey. An insufficient supplementation period using an insufficient dose and inclusion of aged and high-risk patients are the main limitations of the reported clinical trials. Large scale randomized clinical trials including healthy and low-risk subjects, along with prolonged administration of high-dose natural vitamin E, associated with synergetic compounds, and testing on morphological or biological features, will allow a better understanding of the relationship between vitamin E and chronic diseases.
Feki
M
M
Laboratoire de Chimie Clinique, Hôpital La Rabta, Eljabbari, 1007 Tunis, Tunisie.
Souissi
M
M
Mebazaa
A
A
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000150:complications*