Failure of Vitamin E Therapy in the Treatment of Anemia of Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

Abstract

Abstract A study is reported of the hematologic changes occurring in 16 children with protein-calorie malnutrition treated with vitamin E. Eight children showed no response. Two showed a very delayed rise in reticulocyte count and six had a peak reticulocyte response 5 to 8 days after starting therapy. None of the patients showing reticulocyte responses had a sustained rise in hemoglobin or packed cell volume. In none of the cases did the marrow become normoblastic following therapy and in five the marrow abnormalities became more marked. The results of this study do not confirm the suggestion that vitamin E has a significant role in human hemopoeisis.