Vitamin e
Place in Therapy
Vitamin E supplementation should be considered as last line therapy or not recommended to post menopausal women experiencing hot flashes. Doses of vitamin E between 400 – 800 IU/day were studied in women experiencing hot flashes and showed little to no effectiveness in this population. Health Canada considers doses of 400IU/day as “mega-doses” as a normal supplementation dose is considered to be 40IU/day[1]. There are also studies showing doses of 400IU daily causing heart failure, cancer and an increase in all-cause mortality[1,2]. Due to the limited evidence and risk of major adverse events when using doses studied, vitamin E should not be recommended for vasomotor symptoms in women going through menopause or who are postmenopausal.
There are some reports of vitamin E having a slight benefit in women who are experiencing breast-cancer related hot flashes[3,4]. Natural standards lists vitamin E as a level of evidence C (unclear or conflicting scientific evidence)[5]. However, the patient’s doctor should be consulted before recommended vitamin E for this population.
References:
1Health Canada: It’s Your Health. The safety of vitamin E supplements. Janurary 2006. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/vitam-eng.php. Accessed March 22, 2013.
2Dennehy C., and Tsourounis C. A review of select vitamins and minerals used by postmenopausal women. Maturitas. 2010; 66: 370-380.
3Biglia N., Sgandurra P., Peano E. et. al. Non-hormonal treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors: gabapentin vs. vitamin E. Climacteric. 2009; 12: 310 – 318.
4Barton DL., Loprinzi CL, Quella SK., et. al. Prospective evaluation of vitamin E hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. J Clin. Oncol. 1998: 16(2): 495-500.
5Rada G, Capurro D, Pantoja T. et. al. Non-Hormonal interventions for hot flashes in women with a history of breast cancer. The Cochrane Library. 2010 (9).
There are some reports of vitamin E having a slight benefit in women who are experiencing breast-cancer related hot flashes[3,4]. Natural standards lists vitamin E as a level of evidence C (unclear or conflicting scientific evidence)[5]. However, the patient’s doctor should be consulted before recommended vitamin E for this population.
References:
1Health Canada: It’s Your Health. The safety of vitamin E supplements. Janurary 2006. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/vitam-eng.php. Accessed March 22, 2013.
2Dennehy C., and Tsourounis C. A review of select vitamins and minerals used by postmenopausal women. Maturitas. 2010; 66: 370-380.
3Biglia N., Sgandurra P., Peano E. et. al. Non-hormonal treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors: gabapentin vs. vitamin E. Climacteric. 2009; 12: 310 – 318.
4Barton DL., Loprinzi CL, Quella SK., et. al. Prospective evaluation of vitamin E hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. J Clin. Oncol. 1998: 16(2): 495-500.
5Rada G, Capurro D, Pantoja T. et. al. Non-Hormonal interventions for hot flashes in women with a history of breast cancer. The Cochrane Library. 2010 (9).