LOS ANGELES — People with a common, obesity-related liver disease
that has no known treatment got a surprising benefit from vitamin E pills,
researchers reported Wednesday.
It appears to be the first time that a vitamin supplement has been shown to
help treat a major ailment not caused by a nutrient 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 it for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Fat buildup
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.
In the study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine, 247
adults with advanced fatty liver disease were randomly assigned to take a
high dose of vitamin E (800 international units), the diabetes drug Actos or
dummy pills for nearly two years.
The vitamin 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.
"In all honesty, I was surprised," said the lead researcher, Dr. Arun Sanyal
of Virginia Commonwealth University. "A vitamin has not been previously used
to cure a serious disease" that is not caused by a deficiency.
Vitamin deficiency has been blamed for a range of health problems from
rickets and osteoporosis from a lack of vitamin D to scurvy from not enough
vitamin C.
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.
The National Institutes of Health was the study's main sponsor. A U.S.
subsidiary of Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical provided the drug and
California-based supplement maker Pharmavite supplied the vitamin E
capsules. Sanyal, the lead researcher, has received consulting fees from
Takeda and other drug companies.
Liver expert Dr. Sammy Saab at the University of California, Los Angeles,
believes vitamin E could potentially become the initial treatment for
advanced cases of the liver problem.
"For patients who are really at risk of progressive liver disease, I think
it's worthwhile. For the vast majority who just have fatty liver, I'm not
sure it will help them at all," said Saab, who had no role in the study.
Dr. Zobair Younossi, executive director of research at the nonprofit Inova
Health System in Virginia, said people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
at the very least should make lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy
diet and exercising to shed the pounds.
While vitamin E may help certain people with obesity-related liver disease,
"I wouldn't get started on high-dose vitamin E without discussing it first
with a doctor," said Younossi, who has no connection to the research.
In recent years, hype over vitamin supplements in treating major diseases
has not panned out. A 2008 study found that vitamins C and E pills do not
ward off heart disease in men and vitamin E even appeared to raise the risk
of bleeding strokes. Another study found the same supplements do not help
prevent cancer in men.
Source : The Associated Press
