Vitamin E supplementation (alone or with other antioxidants) and stroke: a meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #vitamin-e #antioxidants #dietary-supplements #stroke

Vitamin E supplementation (alone or with other antioxidants) and stroke: a meta-analysis

Maggio et al., 2024 | Nutr Rev | Meta Analysis

Citation

Maggio Enrico, Bocchini Valeria Proietti, ... Loffredo Lorenzo. Vitamin E supplementation (alone or with other antioxidants) and stroke: a meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2024-Aug-01;82(8):1069-1078. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuad114

Abstract

CONTEXT: A previous study showed that vitamin E is effective in reducing the incidence of myocardial infarction only when it is taken in the absence of other antioxidants. It is unclear if it also reduces the incidence of stroke. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the effect of vitamin E supplementation alone or combined with other antioxidants on the incidence of stroke. DATA SOURCES: A search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, ISI Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library. DATA EXTRACTION: Sixteen randomized controlled trials were selected to evaluate the effect of vitamin E supplementation on stroke. DATA ANALYSIS: The range of vitamin E doses used was 33-800 IU. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 9.4 years. Compared with controls, when vitamin E was given alone it did not reduce the incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Conversely, compared with controls, supplementation of vitamin E with other antioxidants reduced ischemic stroke (random effects, RR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84-0.99; P = 0.02) but with a significant increase in hemorrhagic stroke (random effects, RR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.0-1.48; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with vitamin E alone is not associated with stroke reduction. Instead, supplementation of vitamin E with other antioxidants reduces the incidence of ischemic stroke but increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, cancelling any beneficial effect derived. Thus, vitamin E is not recommended in stroke prevention. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022258259.

Key Findings

Supplementation with vitamin E alone is not associated with stroke reduction. Instead, supplementation of vitamin E with other antioxidants reduces the incidence of ischemic stroke but increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, cancelling any beneficial effect derived. Thus, vitamin E is not recommended in stroke prevention. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022258259.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Vitamin E
  • Antioxidants
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Stroke
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Incidence

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-e

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09