Effect of Adding Taurine to Gabapentin on Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score in Patient with Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur in patients with diabetes mellitus. High blood glucose can injure nerves throughout the body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet causing symptoms like pain and numbness. Taurine has been widely investigated regarding to its properties as a neuroprotective agent, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory in several neurodegenerative diseases. A sample consist of 40 participants enrolled randomly into two groups; group A, 20 patients treated with gabapentin capsules 300 mg once daily at night for 3 consecutive months, and group B, 20 patients treated with gabapentin capsules 300 mg once daily at night plus taurine 1 g thrice daily for 3 consecutive months. Adding taurine in combination with gabapentin significantly improves numbness, tingling, and temperature when compared with gabapentin alone. As well as, has a highly significant improving on ataxia. Taurine is better in improving insulin sensitivity due to lowering HbA1c level significantly, beside a medium degree in increasing insulin secretion; as evidenced by decreased fasting serum glucose, decreased HbA1c significantly, increased insulin level significantly, and increased C-peptide level. The conclusion of this study, adding taurine to patients with diabetic neuropathy has a significant improving effect on Toronto clinical neuropathy score by alleviating signs and symptoms, and improving insulin sensitivity.