NCT00004637

Brief Summary

This is a study to see if vitamin E helps children with epilepsy have fewer seizures. About 20-30% of children with epilepsy do not have adequate seizure control with established antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Other options for patients with uncontrolled epilepsy are newer antiepileptic medications, ketogenic diet and surgery. However, a small percentage of patients are candidates for these options. Therefore, additional treatments are needed to improve seizure control in patients with uncontrolled epilepsy. Animal studies have shown an association between vitamin E supplementation and seizure reduction. A study in children also showed that vitamin E helped reduce seizures. However, a similar study in adults did not show a reduction in seizures with vitamin E supplementation. Therefore, this research study is being done to help define vitamin E's usefulness and safety as a treatment for epilepsy. Fifty patients will be recruited from the Children's Epilepsy Program at The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Qualifying patients will have a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy that is currently uncontrolled with standard AEDs. The study period is 6 months and includes the following: Baseline period (1 month), Arm I (2 months), Wash-out period (1 month), and Arm II (2 months). Patients must have been on the same AEDs for 2 months before enrollment. All medications and complementary therapies must remain constant throughout the study. If at any point the physician feels it is not best for the patient to continue the study they will be discontinued. Before the study starts, study participants will be asked about seizure activity, what they eat and about any complementary and/or alternative medicine they may use. The study is two phases. Study participants will be given either vitamin E or placebo (fake pill/liquid) in each phase of the study. They will receive both vitamin E and placebo during the study. Which phase they receive vitamin E and placebo will be decided by chance (similar to rolling dice). Study participants will take liquid vitamin E or placebo two times per day. The study participants and study doctors will not know who is taking vitamin E and who is taking placebo. Study participants will come to the hospital for 3 outpatient and 2 inpatient visits. Health-related quality of life questionnaires will be filled out and blood will be drawn at three of the visits. Seizure diaries will be maintained throughout the study.

Trial Health

80
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 23, 2000

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 24, 2000

Completed
Last Updated

June 24, 2005

Status Verified

December 1, 2003

First QC Date

February 23, 2000

Last Update Submit

June 23, 2005

Conditions

Epilepsy

Interventions

Vitamin EDRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Age1 Year - 18 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Diagnosis of intractable epilepsy, defined as 1) at least 4 seizures per month; 2) failure of at least 3 standard AEDs EEG within the last 6 months
  • Measurable seizure occurrence (parent/caregiver is able to count the number of seizures in any given time period)
  • Stable AED regimen, with at least one standard AED for at least 2 months prior to enrollment
  • No vitamin E supplementation (except as in standard multivitamin for age) for 6 months prior to study entry

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

The Children's Hospital, Neurology B155

Denver, Colorado, 80218, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Epilepsy

Interventions

Vitamin E

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

BenzopyransPyransHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-RingHeterocyclic CompoundsHeterocyclic Compounds, 2-RingHeterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring

Study Officials

  • Paul Levisohn, M.D.

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 4
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Sponsor Type
NIH

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 23, 2000

First Posted

February 24, 2000

Last Updated

June 24, 2005

Record last verified: 2003-12

Locations

US(1)