Changes in Vitamin E Prescribing for Alzheimer Patients

Objective: At the end of 2006, a survey was sent to members of the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) to assess possible changes in prescribing Vitamin E to patients with Alzheimer disease that followed two published reports in early 2005 suggesting increased mortality and an increased incidence of heart failure with Vitamin E supplements. Method: A three-item questionnaire was mailed to all AAGP members who had prescription privileges to assess changes in prescribing Vitamin E after January, 2005. Results: A total of 572 completed surveys were returned for a response rate of 35%. Nearly 60% of respondents reported a change over the 2 years that followed the 2005 reports. The greatest change was in the group not prescribing Vitamin E, which increased from 6.6% before 2005 to 60.6% afterward. Conclusions: AAGP members significantly reduced prescribing Vitamin E to patients with Alzheimer disease after 2005. The two reports are discussed with an emphasis on their methodological limitations and the potential for additional information on Vitamin E side effects from ongoing research.