Can vitamin E supplementation affect obesity indices? A systematic review and meta-analysis of twenty-four randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND

Several mechanisms have been proposed for the effect of vitamin E on weight loss. Yet various interventional studies with wide ranges of doses and durations have reported contradictory results.

METHODS

Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched up to December 2020. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect method. Effect size was presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I index. In order to identification of potential sources of heterogeneity, predefined subgroup and meta regression analyses was conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies with 33 data sets were included. There was no significant effect of vitamin E on weight (WMD: 0.15, 95% CI: -1.35 to 1.65, P = 0.847), body mass index (BMI) (WMD = 0.04, 95% CI: -0.29 to 0.37, P = 0.815), and waist circumference (WC) (WMD = -0.19 kg, 95% CI: -2.06 to 1.68, P = 0.842), respectively. However, subgroup analysis revealed that vitamin E supplementation in studies conducted on participants with normal BMI (18.5-24.9) had increasing impact on BMI (P = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

There was no significant effect of vitamin E supplementation on weight, BMI and WC. However, vitamin E supplementation might be associated with increasing BMI in people with normal BMI (18.5-24.9).