Question: what are the uses of vitamin e capsules

Reference:
 Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency AVED Ataxia with isolated vitamin E deficiency Familial isolated deficiency of vitamin E AVED Ataxia with isolated vitamin E deficiency Familial isolated deficiency of vitamin E Friedreich-like ataxia with selective vitamin E deficiency Familial isolated vitamin E deficiency Friedreich-like ataxia Isolated vitamin E deficiency See More Summary Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED) is a progressive disease affecting motor control and movement. Symptoms of AVED include slurred speech ( dysarthria ), difficulty coordinating movements ( ataxia), numbness in the hands and feet ( peripheral neuropathy ), and progressive leg weakness. Some affected individuals may experience vision loss due to damage to the back of the eye ( retinitis pigmentosa). Symptoms typically begin during childhood or adolescence and worsen with age, resulting in the need for a wheelchair by early adulthood. AVED is caused by a mutation to the TTPA gene . When this gene is damaged, vitamin E cannot be distributed throughout the body. Vitamin E is important because it protects the cells of the neurological system (neurons) from dangerous molecules called free radicals. AVED is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Treatment for AVED includes vitamin E supplements, which will prevent AVED from developing if given before symptoms begin and may reverse some neurological symptoms if begun after AVED develops. [1] [2] Symptoms This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom. Showing of Medical Terms Other Names Learn More: HPO ID 80%-99% of people have these symptoms Abnormal pyramidal sign 0007256 Areflexia Absent tendon reflexes 0001284 Muscle weakness Muscular weakness 0001324 30%-79% of people have these symptoms Dysarthria Difficulty articulating speech 0001260 Dysdiadochokinesis 0002075 Dysmetria Lack of coordination of movement 0001310 Gait disturbance Abnormal gait Abnormal walk Impaired gait 0001288 Nyctalopia Night blindness Night-blindness Poor night vision 0000662 Nystagmus Involuntary, rapid, rhythmic eye movements 0000639 Pes cavus High-arched foot 0001761 Scoliosis Abnormal curving of the spine 0002650 Sensory neuropathy Damage to nerves that sense feeling 0000763 5%-29% of people have these symptoms Abnormality of retinal pigmentation 0007703 Abnormality of visual evoked potentials 0000649 Arrhythmia Abnormal heart rate Heart rhythm disorders Irregular heart beat Irregular heartbeat 0011675 Developmental regression Loss of developmental milestones Mental deterioration in childhood 0002376 Diabetes mellitus 0000819 Dystonia 0001332 Hemiplegia/hemiparesis Paralysis or weakness of one side of body 0004374 Hypertonia 0001276 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Enlarged and thickened heart muscle 0001639 Mental deterioration Cognitive decline Cognitive decline, progressive Intellectual deterioration Progressive cognitive decline 0001268 Skeletal muscle atrophy Muscle degeneration Muscle wasting 0003202 Tremor Tremors 0001337 Visual impairment Impaired vision Loss of eyesight Poor vision 0000505 Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO Ataxia 0001251 Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007 Hypercholesterolemia Elevated serum cholesterol Elevated total cholesterol Increased total cholesterol 0003124 Hypertriglyceridemia Increased plasma triglycerides Increased serum triglycerides Increased triglycerides 0002155 Increased LDL cholesterol concentration Increased circulating LDL level Increased LDL cholesterol 0003141 Tendon xanthomatosis 0010874 Vitamin E deficiency 0100513 Xanthelasma Fatty deposits in skin around the eyes Fatty deposits on eyelids 0001114 Showing of Diagnosis AVED may be suspected in individuals who have the following findings at the beginning of puberty: [2] Progressive ataxia Clumsiness of the hands Loss of the ability to know where one's body is in space (proprioception) Absent reflexes (areflexia) The inability to perform rapid, alternating movements (dysdiadochokinesia) A tendency to sway or fall while standing upright with the feet together, arms stretched out and the eyes closed (positive Romberg sign) A nodding movement of the head (titubation) Decreased visual sharpness (acuity) Positive Babinski sign (upward movement of the big toe and fanning of the feet after the sole of the foot has been firmly stroked) Macular atrophy (wasting away of the cells that form the part of our eye responsible for central vision) Retinitis pigmentosa ( eye disease in which there is damage to the retina) Laboratory studies typically show a reduced plasma vitamin E concentration but normal levels of lipoproteins ( proteins that combine with and transport fat or other lipids in the blood). Other studies that may be useful include: nerve conduction studies, brain imaging , and studies of nerve tissues . [2] [3] Although no universal diagnostic guidelines are available, researchers suggest that diseases that cause fat malabsorption, such as abetalipoproteinemia should be ruled out. Genetic testing finding two TTPA gene mutations may be useful to confirm the diagnosis. [2] [3] Testing Resources The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional. Treatment Treatment for AVED requires lifelong high dose supplementation of vitamin E. When treated early, some symptoms, such as ataxia and intellectual decline, can be reversed. In older patients, treatment may slow disease progression, but some symptoms remain. [2] [3] Research indicates that if vitamin E treatment is initiated in presymptomatic individuals with two mutations in the TTPA gene (e.g., younger sibs of an affected individual), the symptoms of AVED will not develop. [2] Find a Specialist If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments. If you can't find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care. You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists. Healthcare Resources To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from Genetics Home Reference. Related Diseases Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease. Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet Differential diagnosis mainly includes Friedreich ataxia, sensory ataxic neuropathy with dysarthria and ophthalmoplegia (SANDO) and abetalipoproteinemia (see these terms). Other autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias may be considered as well (Refsum disease, ataxia telangiectasia, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 1A and ataxia with oculomotor apraxia types 1 and 2 (see these terms)). Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information. 

Answer: Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED) is a progressive disease affecting motor control and movement. Treatment for AVED includes vitamin E supplements, which will prevent AVED from developing if given before symptoms begin and may reverse some neurological symptoms if begun after AVED develops.