Potential of vitamin E as an antioxidant adjunct in Wilson's disease.

ABSTRACT

Wilson's disease is a rare genetic illness of copper metabolism, which leads to copper-overload in mitochondria and organ damage, especially to the liver. Oxidative stress is central to the pathogenesis and a case is briefly made for rigorous trials of vitamin E as an antioxidant adjunct based on earlier corollary studies of its levels in the blood and liver of Wilson's disease patients and its effects in animal models of the illness.