the effects of eight-week treatment with high dose vitamin e on serum cholesterol and triglyceride level of patients with schizophrenia on olanzapine: a placebo controlled study

objective: to study the effects of a high dose alpha-tocopherol on serum total cholesterol (tc), triglyceride (tg), and the high density lipoprotein (hdl) levels of patients with schizophrenia receiving olanzapine.
method: thirty six adults diagnosed with schizophrenia based on dsm-iv who were taking olanzapine for a minimum of thirty days entered this eight-week, double blind, placebo-controlled study. patients were randomized to receive alpha-tocopherol 400iu or placebo capsules twice a day for 2 weeks, then three times a day for 6 more weeks. fasting total cholesterol (tc), triglyceride(tg),and hdl levels were measured at the baseline and weeks 4 and 8.
results: tc, tg and hdl levels did not change significantly during this study. there were no significant differences in tc, tg and hdl levels between the two groups at the baseline and weeks 4 and 8.
conclusion: high-dose vitamin may not improve triglyceride and cholesterol levels in patients who are already on olanzapine. further studies with greater number of patients and for a longer duration are needed.