Vitamin E May Help Fatty Liver Disease
People with the common obesity-related liver disease known as NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) may benefit from supplemental vitamin E pills. This is according to a study published in the most recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers comment that it appears to be the first time that a vitamin supplement has been shown to help treat a major disease that is not caused by the vitamin deficiency. However, doctors warned that this does not mean people should automatically take vitamin E since some research suggests it might raise the risk of other problems.
The latest study tested vitamin E supplementation for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This is a fat buildup that can cause the liver to become inflamed and scarred over time and in severe cases, to fail.
The disease usually develops in people who are middle-aged and overweight or obese. Up to 5 percent of Americans have the most serious form of it, and as many as 20 percent have fat in their livers but no organ damage.
Researchers studied 247 adults with advanced fatty liver disease who were randomly assigned to take a high dose of vitamin E (800 international units), the diabetes drug Actos or placebo for nearly two years.
The vitamin E and drug were tested because earlier research suggested liver cell deterioration and insulin resistance might be involved in the development of the disease.
Biopsies before and after treatment showed that liver function improved in 43 percent of those in the vitamin E group compared with 19 percent in the placebo group.
Study participants on the diabetes drug Actos also improved, but to a lesser degree and with a drawback: gaining 10 pounds on average, which remained even after they stopped taking the drug. Four people who took vitamin E developed diabetes, but the study was too small to determine if the vitamin played any role.
Researchers commented that vitamin E could potentially become the initial treatment for advanced cases of the this liver problem.
Reference:
N Engl J Med
Posted on March 23, 2010
