Vitamin E deficiency

Rare in adults on a Western diet. Develops with fat malabsorption (cystic fibrosis with pancreatic insufficiency, abetalipoproteinaemia, cholestasis, short bowel syndrome) or with inherited deficiency of the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein. Presents with neurological symptoms: ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, proximal myopathy, retinopathy.

ICD-10 E56.01 drug

Also known as: Hypovitaminosis E, AVED (ataxia with vitamin E deficiency)

Drugs used for this condition

AAlpha-tocopherolFirst line · Fat-soluble vitamin EFirst-line treatment for confirmed vitamin E deficiency. Indications: cystic fibrosis with pancreatic insufficiency, abetalipoproteinaemia, paediatric cholestatic liver disease, short bowel syndrome, ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED). AEMPS approves oral doses expressed in international units (IU): the baseline dose in deficiency is 50 IU/day (maximum 300 IU), while 200–400 IU/day is reserved for malabsorption syndromes, cystic fibrosis and cholestasis, under plasma alpha-tocopherol monitoring.

How to read tiers A–F

Evidence tiers belong to the drug-indication pair, not to the drug as a whole: the same substance can be A for one condition and F for another.

AStrong evidence – first or second line in international guidelines
BRecommended in selected cases
CStudy data contradict each other
DBenefit not proven, no documented harm
FDocumented harm, or risk without benefit