Vitamin E deficiency

Background

• Most common causes:
  • Severe malabsorption (e.g. cystic fibrosis, celiac sprue, pancreatic insufficiency)
  • Abetalipoproteinemia (genetic disorder)
  • Chronic cholestatic liver disease (e.g. biliary atresia)

Clinical Features

• Areflexia
• Gait disturbance
• Decreased vibration and proprioception
• Ophthalmoplegia

Differential Diagnosis

Vitamin deficiencies

• Vitamin A deficiency
• Vitamin B deficiencies
  • Vitamin B1 deficiency (Thiamine)
    • Beriberi
    • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
  • Vitamin B3 deficiency (Pellagra)
  • Vitamin B9 deficiency (Folate)
  • Vitamin B7 deficiency (Biotin)
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Vitamin C deficiency (Scurvy)
• Vitamin D deficiency (Rickets)
• Vitamin E deficiency
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Zinc deficiency
  • Acrodermatitis enteropathica

Evaluation

• Plasma Vitamin E level <0.5 mg/dL

Management

• Vitamin E repletion

See Also

• Vitamin deficiencies