A selected controlled trial of supplementary vitamin E for treatment of muscle cramps in hemodialysis patients

El-Hennawy AS, Zaib S

Published in American Journal of Therapeutics

Methodology

Selected controlled trial of supplementary vitamin E over 12 weeks in haemodialysis patients, with patient-recorded cramp frequency and severity as outcomes.

Key Findings

In 19 haemodialysis patients, supplementary vitamin E reduced the frequency and severity of muscle cramps compared with control, with a marked drop in reported cramp episodes over 12 weeks.

Conclusions

Vitamin E appeared to reduce dialysis-associated muscle cramps in a very small selected trial, providing weak preliminary support only.

Limitations

Only 19 patients in a selected, non-fully-randomised controlled design with unclear allocation concealment, self-reported cramp diaries, short duration, and no assessment of long-term vitamin E safety in renal patients.