Lou Gehrig and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Is vitamin E to be revisited?

C. R. Reider and G. W. Paulson
Department of Neurology, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.

Investigators are beginning to reexamine the use of vitamin E for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Vitamin E was isolated in the 1920s, and the results of animal studies led rapidly to clinical use. Regrettably, vitamin E did not ameliorate the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for Lou Gehrig, but more recent advances may identify subpopulations that do respond to vitamin E.