Vitamin E for hayfever

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, April, 2005 by Alan R. Gaby

One hundred-twelve people (aged 18-70 years) with seasonal allergic rhinitis were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, 800 IU/day of vitamin E or placebo, in addition to their regular anti-allergy treatment, during the pollen season (March through May, 2002). The mean daily total symptom score was 23.4% lower (indicating less severe symptoms) in the vitamin E group than in the placebo group (p = 0.04). The percent reductions in nasal and ocular symptoms were similar, but only the reduction in nasal symptoms was statistically significant. The percentage of days with serious symptoms was nonsignificantly lower (by 17% to 37%, depending on the symptom) in the vitamin E group than in the placebo group. Vitamin E did not reduce the percentage of days that medications were used to control allergic symptoms.

Comment: These results indicate that vitamin E is a useful adjunct to conventional allergy therapy in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Some older studies suggest that vitamin E by itself is not effective against hayfever, although there is one case report of vitamin E relieving symptoms of nasal allergy. Future studies should investigate whether combining vitamin E with other nutrients (such as vitamin C, magnesium, pantothenic acid, and calcium) can be successfully used as an alternative to anti-allergy medications.

Shahar E, et al. Effect of vitamin E supplementation on the regular treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2004;92:654-658.