Prospective evaluation of vitamin E for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors.

Abstract

Although this trial was able to show a statistically significant hot flash reduction with vitamin E compared to a placebo, the clinical magnitude of this reduction was marginal.

Relief of Symptoms, Side Effects, and Psychological Distress Through Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Women With Breast Cancer

“…In examining symptom management for hot fl ashes used by 74 women, they reported using vitamins (51%), exercise (23%), nonhormonal medications (16%), diet (15%), and behavioral methods (14%) (Carpenter et al). Vitamin E was found to decrease hot fl ashes minimally in breast cancer survivors (Barton et al, 1998). The use of soy supplementation remains controversial, with limited evidence showing that dietary soy relieves hot fl ashes.…”

Hot Flashes: A Review of Pathophysiology and Treatment Modalities

“…However, many of these therapies have shown marginal, or no, benefit. For example, a placebo-controlled, randomized trial involving the use of vitamin E demonstrated that vitamin E administration resulted in a minimal decrease in hot flashes and was not preferred over placebo [43,55]. Additionally, placebo-controlled trials investigating soy phytoestrogen and black cohosh found no significant benefit from these agents [43,56].…”

Antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer and the role of estrogen receptor signaling

“…Estrogenic exposures come in many forms, including plant and environmental estrogens (Hilakivi- Clarke et al, 1999b;Clarke et al, 2001a), dietary exposures that affect the levels of endogenous estrogens (Hilakivi-Clarke et al, 1997), and estrogenic HRT (Clarke et al, 2001b). Dietary antioxidant exposure also may affect antiestrogen responsiveness (Clarke et al, 2001b) and some women already take the most potent natural antioxidant (vitamin E) as an alternative medicine for controlling menopausal symptoms (Stampfer et al, 1993;Barton et al, 1998;Koh et al, 1999).…”