Systematic review and meta-analysis reveals increased HBeAg seroconversion with vitamin E in pediatric chronic hepatitis B, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit.
AIM: To assess vitamin E efficacy, defined as its ability to induce hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, in children with HBeAg-positive persistent hepatitis. METHODS: In July 2016, we extracted articles published in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library using the following search terms: "chronic hepatitis B", "children", "childhood", "therapy", "treatment", "vitamin E", "tocopherols", "tocotrienols". Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English language were collected. CONCLUSION: Although our meta-analysis has several limits, including the very small number of available studies and enrolled children with HBeAg positivity-related hepatitis, it suggests that vitamin E use may enhance the probability to induce HBeAg seroconversion in these patients. Further well designed and adequately sized trials are required to confirm or deny these very preliminary results.
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