A randomized study involving 92 subjects with diabetic neuropathy was published in Pharmacological Reports (66 (1):44-48). It looked at the effect vitamin E had on pain, blood sugar levels and overall health. The subjects were randomly chosen to receive either viamin E along with their usual medication or pregablin (drug used for nerve pain like shingles or neuropathy) and oral hypoglycemic agents for 12 weeks. Blood samples were tested for sugar and for HbA 1c at the beginning and at the end of the study.
Overall blood sugar levels were lower in the group receiving the vitamin E. They also reported less pain than the control group. The authors concluded, “…vitamin-E is a natural antioxidant and it is found to be effective in reducing pain score in diabetic neuropathy patients. The future studies may be directed towards extended duration of action. “
