Should we recommend the therapeutical use of vitamin E in diabetic patients?

The therapeutic application of vitamin E was initially restricted to thromb ocytopenic purpura and later extended to coronary artery diseases and perip heral vascular arteriosclerosis due to the potency of its effects. Several recent studies have pointed out that vitamin E supplementation is useful fo r reducing low-density lipoprotein oxidation and thus might be protective t owards coronary heart disease. Such data has been confirmed in many in vitr o data, while in vivo results of reports from epidemiological studies are m uch more controversial. More consistent is the evidence showing vitamin E t o improve endothelial function especially in diabetic patients. Finally, ch ronic vitamin E has been demonstrated to improve the metabolic control in d iabetic patients. Whether chronic vitamin E administration at pharmacologic al doses and for long time, is safe is still debated. A sure response to su ch a query will open the possibility for recommending vitamin E as a therap eutic agent in diabetic patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.