Vitamin E may offer treatment of fatty liver disease

A new study has revealed that Vitamin E can reverse the effects of fatty liver damage caused by the non-alcohol related liver disease, steatohepatitis. Researchers reported Wednesday that the disease, which is thought to be caused by the inability to metabolize fats, responded strongly to the supplement. The study was conducted by a National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Network on the disease, led by Dr. Arun J. Sanyal of Virginia Commonwealth University.

The drug Actos commonly used to treat diabetes was tested along with Vitamin E against an inactive placebo. Of 247 participants, all showing signs of the disease, 43% of the group receiving 800 international units of vitamin E daily showed remarkable improvement. Only 19% of those taking Actos and placebo showed improvement, and weight gain of 10 pounds was typical.

The results do show promise, though experts warn that vitamin E supplementation should be pursued with caution due to associated risks. “Vitamin E will be a weapon in the arsenal that doctors have to treat patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,” said Patricia R. Robuck, a senior advisor at the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, “but there are important cautions to be observed.”

It is estimated that 3% to 4% of Americans have the disease, though most are not aware of it. The fat buildup caused by the disease can cause scarring and inflammation of the liver, and in extreme cases can cause the liver to fail. “This is an important landmark in the search for effective treatments for [the disease],” said Patricia Robuck of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, project scientist for the new study.