4.2. Antiatherosclerotic effect

Vitamin E acts at the cellular level interfering with reactions implied in the progression of atherosclerosis such as:


All these listed above have been found in small in in vitro or in vivo studies [8–17].

There are two large controlled trials on patients with renal failure, SPACE and HOPE studies, that found either a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk and myocardial infarction in end-stage renal disease patients treated with oral alpha-tocopherol as compared to placebo, or similar effect of vitamin E treatment and ramipril on cardiovascular outcome in patients with mild and moderate renal failure [18, 19].

erythrocyte superoxide dismutase in erythrocyte membranes, leading to increased reactive oxygen species production, increased anemia, and resistance to erythropoietin treatment. Some authors found that vitamin E supplementation was followed by increased activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, improving anemia and erythropoietin responsiveness in

Vitamin E in Hemodialysis Patients

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http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78792

The European Best Practice Guidelines on Renal Nutrition recommend a daily supplement of 400–800 IU for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events and recurrent muscle cramps

Vitamin E-coated membranes were used in hemodialysis to increase membrane biocompati-

Usually, no side effects have been seen using doses of 400–800 UI/d, even though, in prolonged

5. Vitamin E supplementation in hemodialysis patients

bility and to reduce reactive oxygen species production [23–28].

• improve the functional capacity of white blood cells population

• reduce the levels of advanced glycation end products

• reduce intima-media thickness into carotid artery

Disadvantages of vitamin E-coated membranes:

• reduce the percentage of dysmorphic red blood cells

6. Side effects of vitamin E supplementation

administration, some of the effects listed below could be possible [20, 22]:

these patients [4, 10, 21].

5.1. Oral supplementation

5.2. Vitamin E-coated membranes

• reduce reactive oxygen species • prevent monocyte activation

• reduce lipid peroxidation

• reduce erythropoietin doses

• accumulation of metabolites;

• expansive

• not widely available

Effects of vitamin E-coated dialysers [23–28]:

[4, 20, 22].
