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Diet
& Nutrition Vitamin
E
What
is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E (otherwise known as 'tocopherol'
meaning 'substance that brings forth childbirth' in Greek ) is a
fat-soluble vitamin which was identified when it was discovered that vegetable
oils could help prevent birth abnormalities. Vitamin E is
commonly used in many foodstuffs to help preserve them from oxidisation.
It comprises of two types of compounds: tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma
and delta) and tocotrienols. The most widely available form of vitamin E
is alpha-tocopherol.
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Function
- Antioxidant which protects fatty
acids and vitamin A from being oxidized.
- Anti-blood clotting agent
- Promotes healthy red blood cell
development
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Signs
of deficiency
- Ruptured blood cells
- Abnormal fat deposits in muscles
- Poor absorption and metabolism of
fats
- Peripheral neuropathy - pain in
legs while walking
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Research
Vitamin
E & Tardive Dyskinesia
BACKGROUND: This study
was designed to determine if vitamin E is effective in reducing the
severity of abnormal movements in patients with tardive dyskinesia (TD).
METHOD: Thirty-five patients completed a double-blind placebo-controlled
parallel-group study of vitamin E. Seventeen of the patients were randomly
assigned to receive 800 IU b.i.d. of vitamin E and 18 were assigned to
placebo for 2 months. Twenty-nine patients had a diagnosis of
schizophrenia and 6 of mood disorder. Patients were assessed using
modified versions of the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (mAIMS),
Simpson-Angus Scale for extrapyramidal side effects, and Brief Psychiatric
Rating Scale. Additionally, a subgroup of 23 patients were assessed using
instrumental measurements of dyskinesia.
RESULTS: There was a significant reduction of dyskinesia in the vitamin E
group, but not the placebo group, on both the mAIMS and the instrumental
assessments. The overall reduction in mAIMS in the active group was 24%,
with 5 (29%) of 17 patients demonstrating greater than 33% reduction in
score. There was a greater reduction in mean mAIMS score (35%) with
vitamin E in the subgroup of patients with TD for 5 years or less compared
with the reduction (11%) in patients with TD for greater than 5 years.
Lohr JB;
Caligiuri MP. A double-blind placebo-controlled study of vitamin E
treatment of tardive dyskinesia. J Clin Psychiatry (UNITED STATES) Apr
1996, 57 (4) p167-73, San
Diego VA Medical Center, USA.
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This page was last updated on 25 October 2006 15:44:43
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