HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN-E IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

To investigate whether high dose vitamin E is effective in rheumatoid arthritis, a randomized double blind study with 41 patients was performed, receiving daily doses of 3 times 544 I.U. vitamin E or 3 times 50 mg Diclofenac sodium respectively for 3 weeks. With respect to clinical (morning stiffness, Ritchie's Index, overall assessment) and laboratory data, statistical examination showed no difference between both treatment regimens, responder rates being at 81% with vitamin E and at 75% with diclofenac-Na. Simultaneously measured vitamin E levels showed a clear increase of vitamin E in 55% of the D-Alpha-Tocopherol-acetate treatment group; furthermore pain (VAS) was significantly correlated with Alpha-Tocopherol increase in the vitamin E-group. Side effects occured in 8 patients in each group, they where minor in the Alpha-Tocopherol-group, in 1 patient with Diclofenac a duodenal ulcer was seen.