The effect of vitamin E treatment on tardive dyskinesia and blood superoxide dismutase: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Free radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis of tardive dyskinesia (TD). Vitamin E, a free radical scavenger, has been reported to improve symptoms of TD. The present study was designed to replicate this finding in a group of Chinese patients with TD, and to examine the effect of vitamin E treatment on blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), a critical enzyme in the detoxification of free radicals. Forty-one inpatients with TD completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of vitamin E. Twenty-two of the patients were randomly assigned to receive a fixed dose of 1200 IU/d vitamin E, and 19 were assigned to a placebo for 12 weeks. Patients were assessed primarily using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) at baseline, weeks 6 and 12. Blood SOD levels were measured by radioimmunometric assay before and after treatment. The results showed that the reduction in AIMS score from baseline was significantly higher with vitamin E treatment compared with placebo (45.9% vs. 4.3%). Blood SOD levels were significantly increased after treatment with vitamin E (P = 0.001), but no change with placebo treatment (P < 0.05). These results support earlier findings of the efficacy of vitamin E in the treatment of TD. Moreover, the efficacy of vitamin E may be due to its ability to increase SOD level, which may reduce oxidative injure in tardive dyskinesia.
Zhang
Xiang Yang
XY
Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, 100083 Beijing, China; dagger Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital, 100096 Beijing, China.
Zhou
Dong Feng
DF
Cao
Lian Yuan
LY
Xu
Chang Qing
CQ
Chen
Da Chun
DC
Wu
Gui Ying
GY
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002214:Capsules; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002214:Capsules; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D014810:Vitamin E; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase