title: Treatment of diabetes mellitus-associated neuropathy with vitamin E and Eve primrose.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this report was to assess the efficacy and safety of a combination of vitamin E, an antioxidant, and Eve Primrose in the management of painful diabetes mellitus (DM) neuropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an interventional study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of a combination of vitamin E and Eve Primrose in the management of DM neuropathy. The study was conducted at the Diabetic Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. Eighty individuals with type 2 DM who had painful neuropathy were recruited for this study, which took place for a duration of 1 year. The study subjects underwent clinical and biochemical assessment at baseline and were given vitamin E in a dose of 400 mg in combination with Eve Primrose in doses ranging 500-1000 mg/day. They were afterward assessed for relief of symptoms and possible untoward effects after 2 weeks and, thereafter, monthly for 3 months. The main outcome measure was amelioration of symptoms of neuropathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age and age range of the study subjects were 58.2 years and 37-70 years, respectively. A total of 70 patients (88%) of the study population reported relief from neuropathic pains. Clinical parameters were comparable between the responders and non-responders. One characteristic feature of the non-responders was that they all had vibration perception threshold of ≥25 mV, which was indicative of severe neuropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of vitamin E and Eve Primrose is beneficial in the management of mild to moderate diabetic neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anthonia Okeoghene
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ogbera
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ezeobi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chioma
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unachukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olajumoke
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oshinaike
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Eve Primrose; neuropathy; vitamin E