Vitamin E for prophylaxis against chemotherapy-induced neuropathy

Abstract

Vitamin E supplementation in cancer patients may have an important neuroprotective effect.

Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by Paclitaxel: Recent Insights and Future Perspectives

“…A randomized pilot trial assessing the effects of vitamin E supplementation on chemotherapy-induced peripheral nerve damage was recently conducted in 31 patients with cancer treated with six courses of cumulative cisplatin, paclitaxel, or their combination regimens [69]. Patients were randomly assigned in two groups and followed by neurologic examination and electrophysiologic study.…”

Dietary Supplement Use in Cancer Care: Help or Harm

“…No differences were seen in tumor weight, growth delay, or survival between the two groups. An additional three reports on the use of vitamin E to reduce chemotherapy toxicity were found [152][153][154]. They were all performed by the same research group and may represent multiple reports on the same patient population, so they will be discussed in aggregate.…”

“…Decreased rate of neuropathy [151][152][153][154] Ginger postoperatively in surgical cancer patients; with MOPP chemotherapy; with cisplatin chemotherapy Decreased nausea [155][156][157] Calendula homeopathic lotion in radiation therapy…”

A pilot clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of supplementation with a B complex vitamin to reduce the incidence of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy in patients diagnosed with a malignancy

“…Although normal pain relief does not reduce the pain associated with CIPN, no specific anti-inflammatory drug has been trialled as a protective agent. This is one of the main mechanisms of action that has been identified in the nutrients and the herbs trialled for CIPN that have shown a possible beneficial protective effect [233][234][235][236][237][238][239][240][241][242][243][244][245][246]. The anti-inflammatory component may or may not protect patients against CIPN but it would be an interesting aspect to investigate.…”

“…Vitamin E was demonstrated to have positive results in three RCT's showing a significant reduction in the relative risk of cisplatin induced PN, especially ototoxicity [233][234][235][236]254]. However, a phase III multi-centre trial combining vitamin E with taxanes, cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin or combination concluded that vitamin E did not appear to reduce the incidence of sensory neuropathy [254].…”