Possible role of vitamin E in protection against chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Vitamin E supplementation in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. This study was carried out on 24 patients with breast, ovarian and lung cancer. They were divided into two groups: Group [I] including 12 cancer patients on chemotherapy with 600 mg Vitamin E supplementation and Group [II] including 12 cancer patients on chemotherapy without vitamin E supplementation. All patients were subjected to full medical and neurological examination, nerve conduction velocity study [NCV] of sural, ulnar and peroneal nerves. Measurement of neurotoxicity score was done and was classified as no toxicity, mild, moderate and severe toxicity. Only 21 patients completed this study and we found a significant [p<0.05] reduction of ulnar and sural sensory nerve action potentials [SNAP] in group [II] after treatment with chemotherapy in comparison to that before treatment. On the other hand, no significant slowing of NCV or reduction of M response was detected. We also found a significant reduction [p<0.05] of SNAP of ulnar and sural nerves in group [II] in comparison to patients in group [I] after taking chemotherapy. Vitamin E supplementation may have a role in amelioration of peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy