Vitamin E use may enhance the probability to induce HBeAg seroconversion in patients with hepatitis B. - GreenMedInfo Summary
n/a
Vitamin E for the treatment of children with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
World J Hepatol. 2017 Feb 28 ;9(6):333-342. PMID: 28293383
Sirio Fiorino
AIM: To assess vitamin E efficacy, defined as its ability to induce hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, in children with HBeAg-positive persistent hepatitis.
METHODS: In July 2016, we extracted articles published in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library using the following search terms:"chronic hepatitis B","children","childhood","therapy","treatment","vitamin E","tocopherols","tocotrienols". Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English language were collected.
RESULTS: Three RCTs met inclusion criteria and were considered in the present meta-analysis. Overall, 23/122 children in the treatment group underwent HBeAg seroconversion vs 3/74 in the control group (OR = 3.96, 95%CI: 1.18-13.25, P = 0.025).
CONCLUSION: Although our meta-analysis has several limits, including the very small number of available studies and enrolled children with HBeAg positivity-related hepatitis, it suggests that vitamin E use may enhance the probability to induce HBeAg seroconversion in these patients. Further well designed and adequately sized trials are required to confirm or deny these very preliminary results.