Study: Lipoic acid - diabetic retinopathy

Lipoic acid has been used to treat diabetics by improving glucose transport and metabolism.1 High intakes may increase the absorption of glucose into muscle tissue in Type II diabetes.2 Lipoic acid may also decrease the damaging effects on proteins of high glucose levels. Lipoic acid may be beneficial in improving nerve blood flow, reducing oxidative stress, and improving nerve conduction in diabetic neuropathy.3 The effects of lipoic acid on diabetic neuropathy have been studied in two German randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. In the first of these, 328 patients with Type II diabetes and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were treated with either intravenous infusion of lipoic acid or placebo for three weeks. The results showed improvements in symptoms. In another study, patients with Type II diabetes and cardiac autonomic neuropathy were treated with a daily oral dose of 800 mg lipoic acid or placebo for four months. Two out of four symptoms test measurements were significantly improved in those taking the lipoic acid compared with placebo. Ziegler D; Gries FA. Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic peripheral and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Diabetes, 1997 Sep, 46 Suppl 2:, S62-63-61