Vitamin_E

Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care

Recommendation Table

Preventive Health Care, 2003: The Role of Vitamin E Supplements in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

Prepared by A. Alkhenizan, MD, CCFP, ABHPM, V.A. Palda, MD, MSc, with the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care

These recommendations were finalized by the Task Force in May 2003.

MANEUVER EFFECTIVENESS LEVEL OF EVIDENCE <REF> RECOMMENDATION

Vitamin E for the primary prevention of CVD No studies showed significant results for the primary prevention of CVD
I, Good <HPS 2002>
I, Fair <PPP 2001, Virtamo 1998>
The CTF concludes that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of routine vitamin E supplementation for the primary prevention of CVD events in the general population and in male smokers (I).

Vitamin E for the secondary prevention of CVD in patients with established CVD or risk factors for CVD The majority of trials showed no benefit. Only 1 trial showed a positive result for non-fatal MI (RR=0.23)
I, Good <HPS 2002, Yusuf 2000>
I, Fair <Virtamo 1998, Rapola 1997, GISSI 1999, Stephens 1996>

The CTF concludes that there is good evidence to recommend against the use of vitamin E for the secondary prevention of CVD in patients with established CVD or risk factors for CVD (D).

Vitamin E for the prevention of lung cancer No studies showed significant results for the prevention of lung cancer I, Good <ATBC 1994a, HPS 2002> The CTF concludes that there is good evidence to recommend against the use of routine vitamin E supplementation for the prevention of lung cancer (D).

Vitamin E for the prevention of other cancers (esophageal, stomach, colorectal, urological, and prostate) No studies showed significant results for the prevention of other cancers
I, Good <HPS 2002>
I, Fair <ATBC 1994a, Blot 1993, Albanes 2000, Virtamo 2000, Heinonen 1998> The CTF concludes that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of routine vitamin E supplementation for the prevention of cancers in the general population (I).

Link to Recommendation Statement

Link to Full Technical Report

Link to Selected References list of this review

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MANEUVER	EFFECTIVENESS	LEVEL OF EVIDENCE <REF>	RECOMMENDATION
Vitamin E for the primary prevention of CVD	No studies showed significant results for the primary prevention of CVD	I, Good <HPS 2002> I, Fair <PPP 2001, Virtamo 1998>	The CTF concludes that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of routine vitamin E supplementation for the primary prevention of CVD events in the general population and in male smokers (I).
Vitamin E for the secondary prevention of CVD in patients with established CVD or risk factors for CVD	The majority of trials showed no benefit. Only 1 trial showed a positive result for non-fatal MI (RR=0.23)	I, Good <HPS 2002, Yusuf 2000> I, Fair <Virtamo 1998, Rapola 1997, GISSI 1999, Stephens 1996>	The CTF concludes that there is good evidence to recommend against the use of vitamin E for the secondary prevention of CVD in patients with established CVD or risk factors for CVD (D).
Vitamin E for the prevention of lung cancer	No studies showed significant results for the prevention of lung cancer	I, Good <ATBC 1994a, HPS 2002>	The CTF concludes that there is good evidence to recommend against the use of routine vitamin E supplementation for the prevention of lung cancer (D).
Vitamin E for the prevention of other cancers (esophageal, stomach, colorectal, urological, and prostate)	No studies showed significant results for the prevention of other cancers	I, Good <HPS 2002> I, Fair <ATBC 1994a, Blot 1993, Albanes 2000, Virtamo 2000, Heinonen 1998>	The CTF concludes that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of routine vitamin E supplementation for the prevention of cancers in the general population (I).