Combination of Alpha Lipoic Acid and Superoxide Dismutase Leads to Physiological and Symptomatic Improvements in Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

Background and Objective: The management of diabetic neuropathy is still a challenge for physicians. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new combination of alpha lipoic acid and superoxide dismutase for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Methods: The setting of this study was ambulatory (outpatient) care. A prospective, non-randomized, open-label study was conducted in 50 patients with diabetes mellitus and with a deficit in both motor and sensory nerve conduction. Treatment was with a new combination of alpha lipoic acid and superoxide dismutase (ALA600SOD Ò ) for 4 months. Electroneurographic parameters and perceived pain were assessed at baseline and after treatment. Results: After 4 months of treatment, patients significantly (p < 0.001) improved their electroneurographic parameters and their perception of pain. Best improvements were observed in sensory nerve conduction. Conclusion: The combination of two powerful antioxidant agents leads to improvement in both subjective and objective parameters in patients with diabetic neuropathy. New profitable directions for investigations are opened for a non-invasive treatment of diabetic neuropathy in the future.

Current Experience in Testing Mitochondrial Nutrients in Disorders Featuring Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Rational Design of Chemoprevention Trials

“…As shown in Table 1 , ALA testing was reported in 81 evaluated clinical trials on a total of 2980 patients, since the pioneering report by Marshall et al on alcohol-related liver disease [ 10 ], and since early studies in 1990’s in counteracting diabetes-associated neuropathies [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have been the major focus for ALA administration, encompassing 42 trials (of which 30 controlled trials) on a total of 2980 patients and with a SR = 0.93 [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. A major outcome of ALA treatment in diabetic patients consisted of the amelioration of neurologic damage [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 27 ,…”

Effects of Nutritional Supplement with α-Lipoic Acid in Patients with Recurrent Pterygium

“…Several treatment options are available; including surgical excision techniques [21], but postoperative recurrence is common and sometimes results in even more aggressive clinical behavior. The surgical technique used in the current study was simple closure, which has been associated with a high risk for postoperative recurrence compared with other surgical modalities [21,22]. In the current study, the decision fell to the surgeon managing the patient because the aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a complementary treatment using α-lipoic acid, not the surgical technique; although, published literature suggests that the surgical technique could probably be the single most important factor influencing recurrence, recurrent pterygium is more common in younger patients and is sometimes associated with a family history of pterygium.…”

“…Several studies [22][23][24], have indicated that the oral administration of alpha lipoic acid can be useful and safe in treating human diseases, it exhibits high tissue capacity of penetration and it has been safe even being administrated for several weeks. Topical formulation of alphalipoic acid in eye drops (1%) has been used and has exhibited good penetration [11].…”

Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Loss of Myelin Sheath of Sciatic Nerve in Experimentally Induced Diabetic Rats

“…It may attack to sensory, motor or autonomous fibers ( 5 ). Varied mechanisms account for the development of diabetic neuropathy such as metabolic disorders, microvascular damages, neurotrophic support deficit, alternation in neuro-immune interactions, neural and glial cell apoptosis, and inflammation ( 6 , 7 ). Free radical induced oxidative stress has been played an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy ( 6 ).…”