Vitamin E "best alternative" for treating insomnia in postmenopausal women

It is already known that chronic insomnia disorder is a complex disease with multifactorial aetiology. There are various pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic options available to treat the condition.

Vitamin E usage is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women. It has the role of both a dietary supplement and an anti-ageing agent.

Previous research has focused on Vitamin E's role in dealing with hot flashes (estrogen deficiency). Researchers hypothesized that "Vitamin E may treat insomnia" due to the pathway it follows reducing oxidative stress via restoration of glutathione peroxidase levels and suppression of malondialdehyde.

Approaching towards more recommendations for treating insomnia, researchers investigated the hypothesis mentioned above.

The study points include the following:

• The study had 160 postmenopausal women with a history of chronic insomnia disorder; these were randomly divided into two groups: the Vitamin E and placebo groups.
• The women in the vitamin E group received 400 units of mixed tocopherol daily.
• The placebo group took similar identical oral capsules.
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality and was the primary outcome.
• Sedative drug usage was the secondary outcome.
• The median PSQI score at baseline was slightly higher in the vitamin E group than in the placebo.
• One month post-intervention, the PSQI score was significantly lower in the vitamin E group compared with the placebo; this indicates better quality of sleep in the Vitamin E group.
• The vitamin E group had a higher improvement score than the placebo.
• The percentage of patients using the sedative drug was reduced in the Vitamin E group.

The present study has addressed the potential of vitamin E's potential for managing chronic insomnia. It is also associated with the reduction of sedative drugs.

The researchers said, "Our study is the first one evaluating the role of vitamin E on chronic insomnia disorder. We used a simple, standardized, Thai version validated PSQI questionnaire, which formed the strength of our study."

Our study had limitations like non-evaluation of serum vitamin E before and after the intervention and unknown long-term results.

Oxidative stress plays a vital role in chronic insomnia. This could be improved via Vitamin E supplementation. Further studies are required with elaborated findings and correlations, including oxidative stress and anti-oxidative levels, sleep disturbances and changes in pre- and post-antioxidant.

Further reading:

Thongchumnum W, Vallibhakara SA-O, Sophonsritsuk A, Vallibhakara O. Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation on Chronic Insomnia Disorder in Postmenopausal Women: A Prospective, Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2023; 15(5):1187. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051187