These studies demonstrated improvement in biochemical profiles , with a decline in or normalization of liver enzymes .
However , some concerns have been raised regarding the use of vitamin E in patients with NASH due to its adverse effects profile and lack of significant improvement in hepatic fibrosis .
There has been a growing interest in the role of vitamin E supplementation in the treatment and /or prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver ( NAFLD ) .
Furthermore , histological assessment showed favorable outcomes in lobular inflammation and hepatic steatosis following treatment with vitamin E. Current guidelines regarding the use of vitamin E in the setting of NAFLD recommend that vitamin E-based treatment be restricted to biopsy-proven nondiabetic patients with NASH only .
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Metformin versus Vitamin E or Prescriptive Diet in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
OBJECTIVES : Metformin proved useful in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) , but its superiority over nutritional treatment and antioxidants has never been demonstrated . We aim ed to compare the usefulness of metformin versus prescriptive diet or vitamin E. METHODS : In an open label , r and omized trial , nondiabetic NAFLD patients were given metformin ( 2 g/day ; n = 55 ) for 12 months . The control cases were given either vitamin E ( 800 IU/day ; n = 28 ) or were treated by a prescriptive , weight-reducing diet ( n = 27 ) . Outcome measures were liver enzymes , insulin resistance ( homeostasis model assessment ) , parameters of the metabolic syndrome , and histology . RESULTS : Aminotransferase levels improved in all groups , in association with weight loss . The effects in the metformin arm were larger ( p < 0.0001 ) , and alanine aminotransferase normalized in 56 % of cases ( odds ratio ( OR ) versus . controls , 3.11 ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) , 1.56–6.20 ; p = 0.0013 ) . In multivariate analysis , metformin treatment was associated with higher rates of aminotransferase normalization , after correction for age , gender , basal aminotransferases , and change in body mass index ( OR , 5.98 ; 95 % CI , 2.05–17.45 ) . Differences were maintained when the two control groups were separately analyzed . The distribution of positive criteria for the metabolic syndrome was reduced only in the metformin arm ( p = 0.001 , signed rank test ) . A control biopsy in 17  metformin-treated cases ( 14 nonresponders ) showed a significant decrease in liver fat ( p = 0.0004 ) , necroinflammation , and fibrosis ( p = 0.012 for both ) . No side effects were observed during metformin treatment . CONCLUSIONS : Metformin treatment is better than a prescriptive diet or vitamin E in the therapy of NAFLD patients receiving nutritional counseling . Limited histological data support an association between improved aminotransferases and biopsy findings , which require confirmation in a double-blind trial with appropriate statistical power based on liver histology
These studies demonstrated improvement in biochemical profiles , with a decline in or normalization of liver enzymes .
However , some concerns have been raised regarding the use of vitamin E in patients with NASH due to its adverse effects profile and lack of significant improvement in hepatic fibrosis .
There has been a growing interest in the role of vitamin E supplementation in the treatment and /or prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver ( NAFLD ) .
Furthermore , histological assessment showed favorable outcomes in lobular inflammation and hepatic steatosis following treatment with vitamin E. Current guidelines regarding the use of vitamin E in the setting of NAFLD recommend that vitamin E-based treatment be restricted to biopsy-proven nondiabetic patients with NASH only .