High-dose vitamin E is a strong partner in the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases such as gout, osteoarthritis or arthritis. This was the finding of a 2006 EMNID survey of 100 practicing rheumatologists in Germany, in which 80 percent of the physicians surveyed used the fat-soluble vitamin to treat patients with inflammatory joint complaints. Vitamin E neutralizes oxygen free radicals that play a destructive role in inflammatory joint disease, represses inflammation and relieves pain.
Treatment options
In this context, four out of five rheumatologists use the vitamin in high-dose form from 400 international units, and one in five even treats the disease exclusively with vitamin E. The majority of respondents (69 percent) used the fat-soluble vitamin primarily in combination with so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs that do not contain cortisol.
These drugs are effective, but they can cause severe side effects in the gastrointestinal tract. For this reason, doctors dose these anti-rheumatic drugs as low as possible. According to experienced rheumatologist Professor Johann D. Ringe of Leverkusen Hospital, “Supplementary therapy with high-dose vitamin E is a good way to lower the dose of NSAIDs and thus significantly improve patients’ quality of life.”
Positive therapy results
Three out of four rheumatologists rated the therapeutic success of vitamin E as “good” (28 percent) or “satisfactory” (49 percent). Physicians described their patients’ opinions similarly: nearly 80 percent of patients reported to their therapists that therapy with 400 to 1,000 I.U. of vitamin E daily had worked “well” or “satisfactorily.”
Increased vitamin E requirements in joint diseases
The potential of vitamin E to treat rheumatic diseases has been demonstrated in a number of clinical trials. In these, vitamin E was used in doses ranging from 600 to 1,600 I.U. over a period of three weeks to three years. From these studies, there is evidence of significant pain-relieving effects and improved mobility.
The study results are confirmed by practical experience. Dr. Wolfgang Brückle, chief physician at the Rheumaklinik Bad Nenndorf and expert advisor to the German Rheumatism League, explains why: “Studies have shown that patients with inflammatory joint diseases have a higher need for vitamin E and are thus often undersupplied.” This is because chronic osteoarthritis causes increased consumption of vitamin E in the joint – according to the findings of a clinical study conducted in 2010 at Bangkok’s Siriraj University Hospital.
“Vitamin E also plays a role in the degenerative diseases called osteoarthritis. Much of the pain is caused by so-called activated arthroses. In this case, the worn cartilage results in irritation in the joint, which then leads to local inflammation and eventually to further pain. Vitamin E can help break this cycle.”
Vitamin E from natural sources
For targeted prevention as well as therapy, many experts recommend vitamin E from natural sources because the body can absorb it twice as well as the synthetic variety. Rich in natural vitamin E are, for example, vegetable oils, hazelnuts, raspberries and savoy cabbage. The Latin name for vitamin E is tocopherol, preceded by the Greek letter α (pronounced alpha). The synthetic form is called dl-α-tocopherol.
The natural form of vitamin E is d-α-tocopherol (sometimes RRR-α-tocopherol). So a single small letter indicates a big difference in effect.
Source: EMNID survey “Experiences with high-dose vitamin E,” N= 100 practicing rheumatologists, June 2006.
