Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin E, particularly in its mixed tocopherol form, has been used traditionally as an adjunctive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), largely based on its antioxidant properties. Historically, it was believed that antioxidants like vitamin E could mitigate the oxidative stress implicated in chronic inflammatory diseases such as RA. Several small studies in the 1980s and 1990s suggested that vitamin E supplementation might have a mild analgesic effect and could reduce some symptoms in individuals with RA, likely due to its role in scavenging free radicals and limiting tissue damage. However, these studies were generally small, short-term, and not always rigorously controlled.

Modern scientific validation for vitamin E’s efficacy in RA is limited. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have found insufficient evidence to recommend vitamin E as a primary or adjunctive treatment for RA. The American College of Rheumatology does not include vitamin E in its treatment guidelines, and larger randomized controlled trials have failed to show a consistent or clinically significant benefit in terms of joint inflammation or structural disease progression.

In summary, while vitamin E has a historical and traditional basis for use in RA, and a plausible mechanism related to its antioxidant capacity, robust scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness in treating or meaningfully supporting RA is lacking.

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