Washington, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1998 -- Vitamin E may play a role as add-on therapy in improving seizure control of epileptic patients, according to a new survey of scientific literature."Based on the demonstrated neurological role of Vitamin E and reports of low blood Vitamin E levels in epileptic patients on long-term anti-convulsant drug therapy," the survey said, "researchers have evaluated a possible role for Vitamin E as add-on therapy to improve seizure control." Seizures are inadequately controlled in 10 percent to 20 percent of epileptic children despite adequate blood anti-convulsant drug levels, Veris Research and Information Service of LaGrange, Ill., author of the new health survey, said.
A study of 24 children with epilepsy evaluated the effectiveness of Vitamin E therapy -- 400 International Units (IU) daily - in addition to anti-convulsants and, the survey noted, found that: "There was a significant reduction in seizures in 10 of 12 children on add-on Vitamin E therapy ...
In comparison, none of the children on placebo had a significant improvement in seizure control." While other studies also found Vitamin E to be effective, the survey said, one study found no significant change in seizure frequency in 43 patients with uncontrolled epilepsy.
In another study of 13 patients with uncontrolled seizures who were on standard anti-convulsant drug therapy, however, Vitamin E as add-on therapy (600 IU per day for four weeks) increased blood Vitamin E levels and activity of an enzyme shown to prevent or control seizures in animals. "The frequency of seizures also decreased and the patients' general state improved," the survey reported.
"Although the clinical data on effectiveness of Vitamin E in addition to standard anti-convulsant drug therapy are limited," the survey said, "the majority of the study results suggest that Vitamin E supplements may have a role as add-on therapy in improving seizure control. "These findings justify additional controlled clinical trials on Vitamin E supplementation as add-on therapy in patients with uncontrolled epilepsy." The survey also found that Vitamin E has shown "generally positive" results in tardive dyskinesia patients who have been on neuroleptic drug therapy for five years or less.
Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder occurring in about 20 percent of patients on long-term anti-psychotic drug therapy. Excess free-radicals may be responsible for its development. Vitamin E as an antioxidant combats free-radicals, which restrict blood flow and can lead to a number of diseases. Vitamin E was not as effective in some studies of patients on long-term neuroleptic drug therapy, however.
"The researchers concluded that Vitamin E appears to be effective in decreasing the severity of tardive dyskinesia, especially in patients who have had tardive dyskinesia for five years or less," the survey said.