Alpha Lipoic Acid (2006) & Diabetes Mellitus

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2011

In this study the researchers evaluated the effectiveness and safety of alpha lipoic acid function in protecting against nerve damage in diabetic patients.

The 4-year, double-blind, randomized study assessed 460 diabetic patients with mid to moderate nerve damage as a result of their diabetic condition.

The researchers found that, while ALA did not produce results in one goal of the study (NIS, NIS-LL, and 7 neurophysiologic tests), it did result in a significant improvement of nerve damage impairments and prevented further degradation. In addition it was well tolerated.

Researchers: Ziegler D, Low PA, Litchy WJ, Boulton AJ, Vinik AI, Freeman R, Samigullin R, Tritschler H, Munzel U, Maus J, Schutte K, Dyck PJ., Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at the Heinrich Heine University, Germany
Published: Efficacy and safety of antioxidant treatment with α-lipoic acid over 4 years in diabetic polyneuropathy: the NATHAN 1 trial, Diabetes Care, September, 2011

2006

Researchers evaluated whether oral alpha lipoic acid would improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients.

The researchers treated 12 patients over four weeks, and 12 subjects with normal glucose tolerance served as a control group. After four weeks, the insulin sensitivity of the diabetics was significantly improved (M from 3.202+/-1.898 to 5.951+/-2.705 mg/kg/min (mean+/-sD), p<0.01; and IsI from 4.706+/-2.666 to 7.673+/-3.559 mg/kg/min per mIU/l x 100 (mean+/-sD), p<0.05.) The difference was not significantly different between the treated patients and the control group after the end of the period.

Researchers: Kamenova P., et al,
Published: Improvement of insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid, Hormones (Athens). October, 2006