Vitamin E is a common term for a nutrient called alpha-tocopherol, which your body uses to combat the effects of cell-damaging molecules called free radicals. When you consume vitamin E, it gets processed in your liver. Studies published in 2010 and 2011 indicate that vitamin E can potentially help your body fight a form of liver disease called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Basics
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, appears in people who don't drink or only drink small amounts of alcohol. It is characterized by an abnormal buildup of fat in the liver, accompanied by inflammation and liver damage. In most cases, people with NASH have no symptoms that indicate liver problems, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NDDIC. However, the disease can "silently" trigger the onset of cirrhosis, a permanent scarring of the liver and loss of liver function normally associated with chronic consumption of high amounts of alcohol.
Results in Children
Liver problems are commonly diagnosed with blood tests that measure the body's levels of a substance called alanine aminotransferase, or ALT. Increased levels of ALT indicate the potential presence of liver damage. According to a study published in 2011 in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," doses of supplemental vitamin E don't lower blood levels of ALT in children with NASH any more efficiently than a placebo treatment known to lack medical value. However, vitamin E does appear to significantly reduce the large-scale swelling that commonly occurs in liver cells affected by NASH. By the end of the study, 58 percent of participants had no signs of NASH after taking vitamin E, while only 28 percent of participants taking a placebo had no NASH signs.
Results in Adults
According to a study on adult subjects published in 2010 in the "New England Journal of Medicine," daily vitamin E doses of 800 IU given over a period of 96 weeks resulted in lower blood levels of ALT and another indicator of liver damage called aspartate aminotransferase, or AST. When compared to study participants who took a placebo, participants who took vitamin E also experienced a medically significant decrease in the symptoms associated with NASH. Additional study participants took another medication called pioglitazone, but did not experience medically significant symptom decreases.
Considerations
Apart from the potential benefits from vitamin E, there are no specific treatments for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the NDDIC reports. However, people with the disorder can potentially improve their condition by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, avoiding the unnecessary use of any medications and avoiding the consumption of alcohol. Fat buildup in your liver does not necessarily trigger the onset of NASH, the NDDIC notes. Consult your doctor for more information on this form of liver disease and the potential benefits of vitamin E.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements - National Institutes of Health: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet; Vitamin E
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Effect of Vitamin E...for Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children...; Lavine, Schwimmer, et al.; 2011
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons: Vitamin E Reduces Liver Disease in Children: May 20, 2011
- "New England Journal of Medicine"; Pioglitazone, Vitamin E, or Placebo for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis; Sanyal, Chalasani, et al.; May 6, 2010
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis; November 2006
- American Association for Clinical Chemistry - Lab Tests Online: ALT; The Test
Member Comments