TY - JOUR
T1 - Prospective evaluation of vitamin E for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors
AU - Barton, Debra L.
AU - Loprinzi, Charles L.
AU - Quella, Susan K.
AU - Sloan, Jeff A.
AU - Veeder, Michael H.
AU - Egner, James R.
AU - Fidler, Pat
AU - Stella, Philip J.
AU - Swan, Debra K.
AU - Vaught, Nancy L.
AU - Novotny, Paul
PY - 1998/2
Y1 - 1998/2
N2 - Purpose: Hot flashes represent a substantial clinical problem for some breast cancer survivors. Although estrogen or progesterone preparations can alleviate these symptoms in many patients, concern remains regarding the use of hormonal preparations in such women. Thus, there is a perceived need for nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes for breast cancer survivors. Based on anecdotal evidence that vitamin E was helpful, we designed o trial to investigate this matter. Methods: We developed and conducted a placebo- controlled, randomized, crossover trial where, after a 1 week baseline period, patients received 4 weeks of vitamin E 800 IU daily, then 4 weeks of an identical-appearing placebo, or vice versa. Diaries were used to measure potential toxicities and hot flashes during the baseline week and the two subsequent 4-week treatment periods. Results: The 120 patients evaluated for toxicity failed to show any. The 105 patients who finished the first treatment period showed o similar reduction in hot flash frequencies (25% v 22%; P = .90) for the two study arms. A crossover analysis, however, showed that vitamin E was associated with a minimal decrease in hot flashes (one less hot flash per day than was seen with a placebo) (P ≤ .05). At the study end, patients did not prefer vitamin E over the placebo (32% v 29%, respectively). Conclusion: Although this trial was able to show a statistically significant hot flash reduction with vitamin E compared to a placebo, the clinical magnitude of this reduction was marginal.
AB - Purpose: Hot flashes represent a substantial clinical problem for some breast cancer survivors. Although estrogen or progesterone preparations can alleviate these symptoms in many patients, concern remains regarding the use of hormonal preparations in such women. Thus, there is a perceived need for nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes for breast cancer survivors. Based on anecdotal evidence that vitamin E was helpful, we designed o trial to investigate this matter. Methods: We developed and conducted a placebo- controlled, randomized, crossover trial where, after a 1 week baseline period, patients received 4 weeks of vitamin E 800 IU daily, then 4 weeks of an identical-appearing placebo, or vice versa. Diaries were used to measure potential toxicities and hot flashes during the baseline week and the two subsequent 4-week treatment periods. Results: The 120 patients evaluated for toxicity failed to show any. The 105 patients who finished the first treatment period showed o similar reduction in hot flash frequencies (25% v 22%; P = .90) for the two study arms. A crossover analysis, however, showed that vitamin E was associated with a minimal decrease in hot flashes (one less hot flash per day than was seen with a placebo) (P ≤ .05). At the study end, patients did not prefer vitamin E over the placebo (32% v 29%, respectively). Conclusion: Although this trial was able to show a statistically significant hot flash reduction with vitamin E compared to a placebo, the clinical magnitude of this reduction was marginal.
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U2 - 10.1200/JCO.1998.16.2.495
DO - 10.1200/JCO.1998.16.2.495
M3 - Article
C2 - 9469333
AN - SCOPUS:0031917063
SN - 0732-183X
VL - 16
SP - 495
EP - 500
JO - Journal of Clinical Oncology
JF - Journal of Clinical Oncology
IS - 2
ER -