Vitamin E as adjuvant treatment for urinary tract infection in girls with acute pyelonephritis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that functions as an antioxidant. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamins E supplementation in combination with antibiotics for the treatment of girls with acute pyelonephritis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted on 152 girls aged 5 to 12 years with a first acute pyelonephritis episode based on technetium Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA). They were randomized to receive a 14-day treatment with only antibiotics (control group; n = 76) and 14-day treatment with supplements of vitamin E (intervention group; n = 76) in addition to the antibiotics. Patients' clinical symptoms were monitored for 14 days and urine culture was performed 3 to 4 days and 7 to 10 days after the start of the treatment and its completion, respectively. All of the girls once underwent DMSA scan 4 to 6 months after the treatment.

RESULTS:

During the follow-up days, the mean frequency of fever (P = .01), urinary frequency (P = .001), urgency (P = .003), dribbling (P = .001), and urinary incontinence (P = .006) were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in the results of urine culture 3 to 4 days after the start of treatment (P = .16) and 7 to 10 days after its termination (P = .37). There was also no significant difference between the results of DMSA scan 4 to 6 months after the start of treatment (P = .31).

CONCLUSIONS:

Vitamin E supplementation has a significant effect in ameliorating sign and symptoms of UTI. However, further studies are recommended to confirm these findings.

• Authors: Parsa Yousefichaijan, Manigeh Kahbazi, Sara Rasti, Mohammad Rafeie, Mojtaba Sharafkhah
• Journal: Iranian journal of kidney diseases (Iran J Kidney Dis) Vol. 9 Issue 2 Pg. 97-104 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1735-8604 [Electronic] Iran
• PMID: 25851287 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic
• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Antioxidants
• Vitamin E
• Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antioxidants (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Dietary Supplements
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Pyelonephritis (diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (metabolism)
• Treatment Outcome
• Urinary Tract Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Vitamin E (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)