Vitamin E and hot flashes

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

Article Summary:

Hot flashes can pose a serious problem for some breast cancer survivors. Hormone replacement therapy is usually not possible for cancer survivors, thus, nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes are necessary. This clinical trial was designed to investigate this.

To investigate the matter, a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover trial was conducted. After a one week baseline period, patients received four weeks of vitamin E 800 IU daily, then four weeks of a placebo, or vice versa. The patients were asked to write down any side effects as well as the number of hot flashes they experienced.

The result of the study was that patients, when taking the vitamin E pill, where found to have one less hot flash per day. Also, no side effects were recorded by the patients.

Authors:

Barton DL, Loprinzi CL, Quella SK, Sloan JA, Veeder MH, Egner JR, Fidler P, Stella PJ, Swan DK, Vaught NL, Novotny P.

Institution:

Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Country of Publicaiton:

United States

Source:

Clin Oncol. 1998 Feb;16(2):495-500.

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