Effect of vitamin E as an add-on therapy on oxidative stress in patients with epilepsy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3259.ijct20252200Keywords:
Vitamin E, Epilepsy, Oxidative stress, Add-on therapy, Randomized controlled trial, AntioxidantsAbstract
Background: Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder, is often complicated by oxidative stress due to long-term antiepileptic drug (AED) use. While preclinical studies suggest vitamin E may mitigate oxidative damage, its clinical efficacy as adjunctive therapy in epilepsy remains underexplored.
Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 60 adults with epilepsy on stable AED therapy at JIPMER, Puducherry (March 2022-March 2024). Participants were allocated to either vitamin E (400 mg/day) or placebo for two months. Primary outcomes included changes in oxidative stress biomarkers [total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA)]. Secondary outcomes assessed EEG changes, seizure-free intervals, and metabolic syndrome incidence. Statistical analysis used ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis for biomarkers and repeated-measures ANOVA for EEG.
Conclusions: This study aims to determine whether vitamin E supplementation reduces oxidative stress and improves clinical outcomes in epilepsy patients, potentially informing future antioxidant-based adjunctive therapies.
Trial registration: CTRI/2022/04/041902 (Clinical trials registry-India).
Metrics
References
Epilepsy. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy. Accessed on 05 April 2025.
Dhiman V, Menon G, Kaur S, Mishra A, John D, Rao Vishnu M, et al. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prevalence of Epilepsy, Dementia, Headache, and Parkinson Disease in India. Neurol India. 2021;69(2):294-301. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.314588
Jallon P, Picard F. Bodyweight Gain and Anticonvulsants. Drug Safety. 2001;24(13):969-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200124130-00004
Sudha K, Rao A, Rao A. Oxidative stress and antioxidants in epilepsy. Clin Chim Acta. 2001;303(1-2):19-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-8981(00)00337-5
Najafi M, Mehvari J, Motlagh F, Ghazvini M, Naeini A, Zare M. Effects of Vitamin E on seizure frequency, electroencephalogram findings, and oxidative stress status of refractory epileptic patients. Advanced Biomed Res. 2016;5(1):36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9175.178780
Ayyildiz M, Coskun S, Yildirim M, Agar E. The Effects of Ascorbic Acid on Penicillin-induced Epileptiform Activity in Rats. Epilepsia. 2007;48(7):1388-95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01080.x
Schneider Oliveira M, Flávia Furian A, Freire Royes L, Rechia Fighera M, de Carvalho Myskiw J, Gindri Fiorenza N, et al. Ascorbate modulates pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions bi-physically. Neuroscience. 2004;128(4):721-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.07.012
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
