Acute kidney injury is quite a common adverse effect that associates with coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions. Vitamin E may decrease the risk of acute kidney injury by up to 62% according to a meta-analysis of three randomized trials published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Contrast medium–induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) is the third most frequent cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury. CIAKI compromises about 10% of all in-hospital nephropathies and contributes to increased hospital length of stay and cost of care. A decrease in antioxidant activity and direct cytotoxic effect of reactive oxygen species in experimental models have been implicated in causing CIAKI. Previously, evidence indicated that the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and vitamin C may prevent CIAKI. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant and it might similarly influence the risk of CIAKI.
Yousef Rezaei from the Iran University of Medical Sciences and
Since the three vitamin E trials were carried out in Thailand and Iran, it is not evident whether vitamin E has similar effects in Western countries. According to Drs. Rezaei and Hemilä "There are no concerns about vitamin E safety in short treatments such as the administration before coronary catheterization and the vitamin is inexpensive. Therefore, the effects of vitamin E should also be investigated in Western countries to find out whether similar benefits can be observed."
More information:
Harri Hemilä, MD, PhD, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Reference: Yousef Rezaei and Harri Hemilä: Vitamins E and C may differ in their effect on contrast-induced acute kidney injury. American Journal of Kidney Diseases.