TY - JOUR T1 - A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of supplementary vitamins E, C and their combination for treatment of haemodialysis cramps. AU - Khajehdehi,P, AU - Mojerlou,M, AU - Behzadi,S, AU - Rais-Jalali,G A, PY - 2001/6/28/pubmed PY - 2001/9/28/medline PY - 2001/6/28/entrez SP - 1448 EP - 51 JF - Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association JO - Nephrol Dial Transplant VL - 16 IS - 7 N2 - BACKGROUND: Muscle cramps that improve after carnitine or vitamin E therapies are common in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Because vitamin C participates in carnitine biosynthesis, and its levels are reduced in uraemia, subclinical vitamin C depletion may contribute to HD cramps. Our aim was to determine the effects of vitamins C, E and their combination on the frequency and intensity of HD cramps. METHODS: In this placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 60 HD-patients were randomized into four therapeutic groups. Each group (n=15) received six identical capsules daily for 8 weeks, containing one of the following: vitamin E (400 mg), vitamin C (250 mg), their combination, or placebo. RESULTS: The frequency and intensity of HD cramps decreased significantly in all three vitamin groups compared with the placebo group at the end of the trial, and compared with the pre-treatment values. At the end of the trial, vitamins E, C, their combination, and placebo produced cramp reductions of 54, 61, 97 and 7%, respectively. The percentage cramp reduction had no significant correlation with age, sex, aetiology of end-stage renal disease, serum electrolytes or HD duration, but showed a positive correlation (r=0.33, P=0.01) with the type of therapy. No vitamin-related adverse effects were encountered during the trial. CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with the combination of vitamins E and C is safe and effective in reducing HD cramps; however, its safety for prolonged therapy has yet to be evaluated in HD patients. SN - 0931-0509 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/11427639/full_citation L2 - https://academic.oup.com/ndt/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/ndt/16.7.1448 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -