Alpha-tocopherol supplements and blood fats in people with diabetes
What it found
Taking alpha-tocopherol made no difference to blood fat levels in people with diabetes.
A change was only seen when it was taken for 12 weeks or longer.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood fats overall
Across the combined trials, taking alpha-tocopherol did not change blood fat levels in people with diabetes.
Longer supplement use
A change in blood fats was only seen when people took alpha-tocopherol for 12 weeks or more.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that alpha-tocopherol supplements do not meaningfully change blood fat levels in people with diabetes.
How it was done
Earlier studies suggested alpha-tocopherol might improve blood fats in people with diabetes, but the results were mixed. The authors wanted to combine the evidence to see if it really works.
The authors searched several research databases for randomised trials published up to October 2020. They combined trials that tested alpha-tocopherol supplements on blood fat levels in people with diabetes.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work combines trials that followed people over time, so it can show a link but cannot prove cause and effect.
- The findings apply only to people with diabetes and may not reflect what happens in others.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest declared by the authors.
- Authors work at
- University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia; Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
The paper
- Title
- Systematic review and meta-analyses of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation and blood lipid parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus
- Type
- Systematic review and meta-analysisThe authors follow a set, published method to find every relevant study, then combine the numbers from them into one result.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Mohammad A, Falahi E, Barakatun-Nisak MY, et al (2021). Systematic review and meta-analyses of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation and blood lipid parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes & metabolic syndrome. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2021.05.031PubMed 34186370DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error