title: Effects of α-lipoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in overweight and obese women during weight loss. Alpha-lipoic acid reduces body weight and regulates triglycerides in obese patients with diabetes mellitus. A Preliminary Investigation of &agr;-Lipoic Acid Treatment of Antipsychotic Drug-Induced Weight Gain in Patients With Schizophrenia Short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion combined with insulin sensitizers rosiglitazone, metformin, or antioxidant α-lipoic acid in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. α-lipoic acid can improve endothelial dysfunction in subjects with impaired fasting glucose. α-Lipoic acid reduced weight gain and improved the lipid profile in rats fed with high fat diet Impact of combined therapy with alpha-lipoic and ursodeoxycolic acid on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: double-blind, randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety Effects of alpha-lipoic Acid on body weight in obese subjects. Alpha-lipoic acid improves vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes: a placebo-controlled randomized trial. α-Lipoic acid treatment of aged type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with acute cerebral infarction. Effect of (R)-α-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Serum Lipids and Antioxidative Ability in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration Effects of α-Lipoic Acid on the Plasma Levels of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Diabetic End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis: A Pilot Study Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and serum lipid profile levels in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Lipoic acid prevents high-fat diet-induced dyslipidemia and oxidative stress: a microarray analysis. Study of comparative effects of antioxidants on insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glycemic and oxidative status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus following oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study. Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on blood glucose, insulin resistance and glutathione peroxidase of type 2 diabetic patients. Impact of therapy with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on the oxidative stress in the controlled NIDDM: a possible preventive way against the organ dysfunction?
abstract: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the potential body weight-lowering effects of dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) and α-lipoic acid separately or combined in healthy overweight/obese women following a hypocaloric diet . METHODS This is a short-term double-blind placebo-controlled study with parallel design that lasted 10 weeks . Of the r and omized participants , 97 women received the allocated treatment  [ Control , EPA ( 1.3 g/d ) , α-lipoic acid ( 0.3 g/d ) , and EPA+α-lipoic acid ( 1.3 g/d+0.3 g/d ) ] , and 77 volunteers completed the study . All groups followed an energy-restricted diet of 30 % less than total energy expenditure . Body weight , anthropometric measurements , body composition , resting energy expenditure , blood pressure , serum glucose , and insulin and lipid profile , as well as leptin and ghrelin levels , were assessed at baseline and after nutritional intervention . RESULTS Body weight loss was significantly higher ( P<0.05 ) in those groups supplemented with α-lipoic acid . EPA supplementation significantly attenuated ( P<0.001 ) the decrease in leptin levels that occurs during weight loss . Body weight loss improved lipid and glucose metabolism parameters but without significant differences between groups . CONCLUSIONS The intervention suggests that α-lipoic acid supplementation alone or in combination with EPA may help to promote body weight loss in healthy overweight/obese women following energy-restricted diets AIM To determine an influence of alpha-lipoic acid to reduction of body weight and regulation of total cholesterol concentration , triglycerides and glucose serum levels in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 . METHODS A prospect i ve study includes two groups of obese patients with diabetes mellitus and signs of peripheral polyneuropathia : examined group ( 30 patients ; 15 females and 15 males ) , and control group ( 30 patients ; 12 females and 18 males ) . All were treated with metformin ( 850 - 1700 mg/day ) . Examined patients were additionally treated with alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg/day during 20 weeks . Body mass index and concentrations of total cholesterol , triglycerides and glucose in serum were compared before and after the treatment . RESULTS The group treated with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid lost significantly more weight , and had lower triglyceride level than the control group . There were no significant differences in total cholesterol and glucose serum levels between the groups . CONCLUSION Alpha-lipoic acid of 600 mg/day treatment have influenced weight and triglycerides loss in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 . It should be considered as an important additive therapy in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 Weight gain and other metabolic disturbances have now become discouraging , major side effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs ( AAPDs ) . The novel strategies required to counteract these serious consequences , however , should avoid modulating the activities of the neurotransmitter receptors involved because those receptors are the therapeutic targets of AAPDs . Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase is an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in energy homeostasis . We hypothesized that & agr;-lipoic acid ( ALA ) , which is known to modulate adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activity in the hypothalamus and peripheral tissues , would ameliorate AAPD-induced  weight gain . We describe the case series of a 12-week ALA trial in schizophrenia patients treated with AAPDs . Two of 7 enrolled subjects were dropped from the study because of noncompliance and dem and for new medication to treat depressive symptoms , respectively . The mean ( SD ) weight loss was 3.16 ( 3.20 ) kg ( P = 0.043 , last observation carried forward ; median , 3.03 kg ; range , 0 - 8.85 kg ) . On average , body mass index showed a significant reduction ( P = 0.028 ) over the 12 weeks . During the same period , a statistically significant reduction was also observed in total cholesterol levels ( P = 0.042 ) , and there was a weak trend toward the reduction in insulin resistance ( homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ) ( P = 0.080 ) . Three subjects reported increased energy subjectively . The total scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale did not vary significantly during the study . These preliminary data suggest the possibility that ALA can ameliorate the adverse metabolic effects induced by AAPDs . To confirm the benefits of ALA , more extended study is warranted BACKGROUND Short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion ( CSII ) in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes has been proved effective in improving metabolic control and β-cell function , thus inducing long-term drug-free remission . A r and omized controlled trial was conducted to investigate whether CSII in combination with rosiglitazone , metformin , or α-lipoic acid separately brings about extra benefits . PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred sixty patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were r and omized to one of four treatment groups : CSII alone , CSII in combination with rosiglitazone or metformin for 3 months , or CSII with α-lipoic acid intravenous infusion for 2 weeks . Duration of CSII treatment was identical in the four groups . Glucose and lipid profiles , homeostasis model assessment ( HOMA ) indices , acute insulin response ( AIR ) , intramyocellular lipid ( IMCL ) level , and malondialdehyde level were compared before and after intervention . RESULTS The near-normoglycemia rate at the third month in CSII alone and that in combination with rosiglitazone , metformin , or α-lipoic acid was 72.5 % , 87.5 % , 90 % , and 75 % , respectively ( metformin group vs. CSII alone , P=0.045 ) . The metformin group achieved euglycemia in a shorter time ( 2.6 ± 1.3 vs. 3.7 ± 1.8 days , P=0.020 ) with less daily insulin dosage and was more powerful in lowering total cholesterol , increasing AIR and HOMA β-cell function , whereas reduction of IMCL in the soleus was more obvious in the rosiglitazone group but not in the metformin group . The efficacy of combination with α-lipoic acid was similar to that of CSII alone . CONCLUSIONS Short-term CSII in combination with rosiglitazone or metformin is superior to CSII alone , yet the efficacy of the two differs in some way , whereas that with α-lipoic acid might not have an additive effect Several studies showed that impairment of endothelium-dependent arterial dilation ( EDAD ) exists in subjects with impaired fasting glucose ( IFG ) . The crucial mechanism of this endothelial dysfunction remains unclear . We hypothesized that oxidative stress may be partially responsible for the impairment in EDAD in subjects with IFG . Thus , the present study was design ed to assess whether the antioxidant α-lipoic acid can improve endothelial dysfunction in subjects with IFG . Sixty subjects with newly diagnosed IFG and 32 healthy individuals with normal glucose tolerance were enrolled . Subjects were r and omized into 2 groups : untreated experimental group ( n = 30 ) and α-lipoic acid treatment group ( n = 30 , α-lipoic acid 600 mg via intravenous infusion once a day for 3 weeks ) . We measured EDAD at baseline and after 3 weeks of intervention . At baseline , EDADs in α-lipoic acid and untreated experimental groups were 4.03 % and 4.14 % , respectively , which were significantly lower than that in controls ( 5.72 % ) ( P < .001 ) . After 3 weeks of intervention , there was a remarkable increase in EDAD ( reaching 5.10 % ; ΔEDAD , 26.5 % ) ( P < .01 ) and a significant decrease in plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances ( TBARS ) ( 29.1 % ) ( P < .05 ) in IFG subjects treated with α-lipoic acid . Endothelium-dependent arterial dilation and TBARS remained unchanged before and after intervention in the untreated experimental group . The absolute changes in EDAD showed a significant negative correlation with the changes in TBARS ( r = -0.444 , P = .014 ) . Our data showed that IFG subjects have impaired endothelial function  and that antioxidant α-lipoic acid can improve endothelial function through a decrease of oxygen-derived free radicals The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of α-lipoic acid on body weight and lipid profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high fat diet ( HFD ) .  After 4 weeks of feeding , rats on the HFD were divided into three groups by r and omized block design ; the first group received the high-fat-diet ( n = 10 ) , and the second group received the HFD administered with 0.25 % α-lipoic acid ( 0.25LA ) , and the third group received the high-fat diet with 0.5 % α-lipoic acid ( 0.5LA ) . The high fat diet with α-lipoic acid supplemented groups had significantly inhibited body weight gain , compared to that in the HFD group ( P < 0.05 ) . Organ weights of rats were also significantly reduced in liver , kidney , spleen , and visible fat tissues in rats supplemented with α-lipoic acid ( P < 0.05 ) . Significant differences in plasma lipid profiles , such as total lipids , total cholesterol , triglycerides , low-density lipoprotein , and high-density lipoprotein , were observed between the HFD and 0.5LA groups . The atherogenic index and the plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio improved significantly with α-lipoic acid supplementation in a dose-dependent manner ( P < 0.05 ) . Total hepatic cholesterol and total lipid concentration decreased significantly in high fat fed rats supplemented with α-lipoic acid in a dose-dependent manner ( P < 0.05 ) , whereas liver triglyceride content was not affected . In conclusion , α-lipoic acid supplementation had a positive effect on weight gain and plasma and liver lipid profiles in rats Background and purpose Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) is one of the causes of a fatty liver , occurring when fat is deposited ( steatosis ) in the liver not due to excessive alcohol use . It is related to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome . The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of combination therapy with alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) and ursodeoxycholic acid ( UDCA ) on NAFLD . Methods Alpha-lipoic acid 400 mg/day plus UDCA 300 mg/day ( ALAUDCA ) was investigated in patients over a period of 12 months using a r and omized , placebo (PLA)-controlled study with four parallel groups . Serum concentration of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase ( GGT ) , alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) , aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ) , albumin and platelets ( PLT ) were measured at the beginning and at the end of the treatment . Moreover , the AST/ALT ratio and the NAFLD fibrosis score were examined . Results A total of 120 patients were r and omly assigned to the four groups . ALA and UDCA were safe and well tolerated in the oral daily administration only . AST , ALT , GGT ( p < 0.001 ) showed a significant difference between ALAUDCA and other three groups . Besides , NAFLD fibrosis score underlined a significant reduction ( p < 0.04 ) in the ALAUDCA group , while AST/ALT ratio presented a moderate decline ( p > 0.05 ) . Conclusion ALAUDCA therapy reduced AST , ALT , GGT values and improved NAFLD fibrosis score and AST/ALT ratio , especially in patients who were on a hypocaloric diet . These findings will be useful in patient selection in future clinical trials with ALAUDCA in long-term studies PURPOSE alpha-lipoic acid is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory enzymes that improves mitochondrial function . We previously reported that alpha-lipoic acid markedly reduced body weight gain in rodents . The purpose of this study was to determine whether alpha-lipoic acid reduces body weight in obese human subjects . METHODS in this r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , 20-week trial , 360 obese individuals ( body mass index [ BMI ] ≥ 30 kg/m(2 ) or BMI 27 - 30 kg/m(2 ) plus hypertension , diabetes mellitus , or hypercholesterolemia ) were r and omized  to alpha-lipoic acid 1200 or 1800 mg/d or placebo . The primary end point was body weight change from baseline to end point . RESULTS the 1800 mg alpha-lipoic acid group lost significantly more weight than the placebo group ( 2.1 % ; 95 % confidence interval , 1.4 - 2.8 ; P<.05 ) . Urticaria and itching sensation were the most common adverse events in the alpha-lipoic acid groups , but these were generally mild and transient . CONCLUSION alpha-lipoic acid 1800 mg/d led to a modest weight loss in obese subjects . Alpha-lipoic acid may be considered as adjunctive therapy for obesity OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) treatment on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation , assessed by forearm blood flow ( FBF ) , in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 30 subjects with type 2 diabetes were included in this r and omized , controlled , double-blinded , parallel group study . FBF responses to intra-arterial acetylcholine ( ACh ) and glycerol trinitrate ( GTN ) were measured before and after 21 days of intravenous treatment with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid or placebo . RESULTS FBF responses were comparable at baseline . After treatment , FBF reactivity to ACh and GTN was unchanged in subjects receiving placebo . By contrast , ALA treatment increased endothelium-dependent vasodilatation to ACh ( P < 0.05 ) but not to GTN compared with baseline . CONCLUSIONS Intravenous ALA treatment improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with type 2 diabetes , in the absence of effects on forearm vasomotor function . If this salutary action translates into vascular risk reduction remains to be established OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of α-lipoic acid in the treatment of aged type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM ) complicated with acute cerebral infa rct ion . PATIENTS AND METHODS 90 patients were r and omly divided into two groups , on the basis of conventional treatment . The experiment group was administrated with α-lipoic acid , while only Vitamin C for the control group , for 3 consecutive weeks . Before and after the experiment , superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) , glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px ) and malondialdehyde ( MDA ) levels were measured and scored with the NIHSS ( National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ) , and the changes of blood glucose , insulin function and other indicators were observed . RESULTS After the treatment , the plasma SOD and GSH-Px levels increased , while MDA decreased ( p < 0.05 ) , with statistical significance when compared with the control group ( p < 0.01 ) . NIHSS score , blood glucose , blood lipids and HOMA-IA of the experiment group decreased significantly ( p < 0.01 ) ; and no significant adverse reactions were found in both groups . CONCLUSIONS α-lipoic acid was safe and effective in the treatment of aged T2DM complicated with acute cerebral infa rct ion , significantly reducing the patient 's oxidative stress , blood glucose and lipid levels and being able to improve islet function Background / Aims : Supplementation with antioxidants is of special interest in preventing or delaying the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ) . This investigation aim ed to assess the effect of α- lipoic acid ( LA ) on serum lipids , serum malondialdehyde ( MDA ) and superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) in patients with AMD . Methods : A total of 62 patients ( 50–75 years old ) with early and intermediate dry form of AMD were r and omly assigned to two groups , i.e. LA administration ( n = 32 ) and placebo ( n = 30 ) . The levels of serum lipids and MDA and SOD activity were measured before and after LA and placebo intervention . Results : Compared with the parameters at baseline , serum total cholesterol ( CHO ) , triglyceride and high- and low-density lipoprotein CHO ( HDL and LDL ) levels were not significantly different after LA and placebo intervention . There was a slight but statistically nonsignificant decrease in serum MDA levels and a statistically significant increase in serum SOD activity after LA intervention . There were no statistically significant differences in serum MDA levels or SOD activity after placebo intervention . Conclusion : The apparent increase in SOD activity caused by LA supplementation indicates that LA may have a possible preventive effect in the development of AMD through an antioxidant mechanism Background / Aim : Endothelial dysfunction due to reduced nitric oxide ( NO ) availability precedes the development of atherosclerosis . Asymmetric dimethylarginine ( ADMA ) , an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase , is not only a cause of endothelial dysfunction , but also a predictor of the cardiovascular outcome in end-stage renal disease ( ESRD ) patients on hemodialysis ( HD ) .  α-Lipoic acid ( ALA ) , a strong antioxidant , increases NO-mediated vasodilation in diabetic patients . We investigated whether ALA could decrease the plasma level of ADMA in diabetic ESRD patients on HD . Methods : Fifty patients undergoing HD three times per week were r and omized to a treatment group receiving ALA 600 mg/day for 12 weeks or a control group . We measured the plasma levels of cholesterol , albumin , high-sensitivity C-reactive protein , oxidized low-density lipoprotein , hemoglobin A1c , and ADMA in both groups at baseline and at 12 weeks . Results : In the control group , the levels of total cholesterol , serum albumin , high-sensitivity C-reactive protein , oxidized low-density lipoprotein , hemoglobin A1c , and ADMA did not change . In the treatment group , the plasma levels of ADMA decreased significantly from a median of 1.68 ( range 0.45–3.78 ) µM to a median of 1.31 ( range 0.25–3.19 ) µM ( p = 0.001 ) . Conclusion : Considering that ADMA is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular outcome in ESRD patients  , ALA may have the potential of a beneficial effect in them , in part by decreasing the plasma level of ADMA OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) supplementation on inflammation , oxidative stress , and serum lipid profile levels in hemodialysis ( HD ) patients . DESIGN This was a double-blinded , r and omized , placebo-controlled clinical trial . SETTING The present study involved HD centers in Tabriz , Iran . PATIENTS Participants included 63 patients with end-stage renal disease ( 43 men and 20 women ; age range : 22 - 79 years ) undergoing maintenance HD . INTERVENTION HD patients were r and omly assigned into the supplemented group ( n = 31 ) , receiving a daily dose of ALA ( 600 mg ) , or a control group ( n = 32 ) , receiving placebo for 8 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES High sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hsCRP ) , malondialdehyde , total antioxidant status , total cholesterol , triglyceride , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of supplementation . RESULTS At the end of intervention , 11 patients were excluded from the study .  HsCRP levels decreased by 18.7 % in the supplemented group after 8 weeks of supplementation , and the reduction was significant in comparison with the placebo group ( P < .05 ) ; this finding was also significant after adjusting for baseline values of hsCRP . The mean malondialdehyde and total antioxidant status levels did not change significantly in the 2 groups during the study . The mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations increased significantly in the supplemented group at the end of the study ( P < .05 ) ; however , this improvement was not statistically significant as compared with the placebo group . No significant alterations were observed in the other lipid profile parameters within each group during the study . CONCLUSION ALA supplementation significantly reduced hsCRP levels , which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in HD patients OBJECTIVE We previously found that lipoic acid ( LA ) improved high-fat diet (HFD)-induced dyslipidemia in rats . To eluci date the molecular mechanisms of that effect , we carried out experiments aim ed at analyzing biochemical parameters and gene expression profiles . METHODS C57BL/6 mice were r and omly assigned to one of three groups ( n = 8) . The control group consumed an ordinary diet ( 4.89 % fat , w/w ) . The other two experimental groups were fed with an HFD ( 21.45 % fat , w/w ) or an HFD plus 0.1 % LA . After 6 wk , plasma lipid level and antioxidant status were examined . To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of LA on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress , we examined gene expression profiles in liver using the GeneChip microarray system . The differential expression of genes of interest identified by microarray technique was vali date d by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction . RESULTS HFD result ed in significant alterations in lipid profiles and a depressed antioxidant defense system .  LA supplementation induced decreases in lipid peroxidation , plasma cholesterol , triacylglycerols , and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increase in high-density lipoprotein in HFD-fed mice . DNA microarray analysis of the liver showed that LA ingestion upregulated the expression of genes related to beta-oxidation and free radical scavenger enzymes , whereas those involved in cholesterol synthesis were downregulated . CONCLUSION LA can prevent HFD-induced dyslipidemia by modulating lipid metabolism , especially by increasing beta-oxidation and decreasing cholesterol synthesis , and oxidative stress by increasing those of free radical scavenger enzyme gene expression OBJECTIVES This study intended to assess the effects of the antioxidants ; Alpha Lipoic Acid ( ALA ) , omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E on the parameters of insulin sensitivity , oxidative stress , lipid metabolism and glycaemic control in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus . METHODS This was a prospect i ve , r and omized , double blind , placebo controlled , single centred study . One hundred four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with insulin resistance were recruited for the study . They were given ALA , omega 3 fatty acids , vitamin E or placebo . Their weight , Body Mass Index ( BMI ) and Waist circumference were measured . The investigations which were fasting glucose and fasting total cholesterol . The insulin resistance was calculated on the basis of the BMI and the waist circumference . RESULTS In the intra group analysis at the baseline ( V1 ) vs at the end of the treatment period ( V5 ) , we observed a significant decrease in the BMI , waist circumference and the total cholesterol in the three treatment groups . In the intergroup analysis at V5 , ALA , omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E showed a significant improvement in the total cholesterol as compared to the placebo and vitamin E showed the maximum improvement . CONCLUSION ALA , omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E showed the improvement in insulin sensitivity . Since they differ in improving different parameters all of these three can be used as an add on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve their insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism Despite well-controlled blood glucose levels , diabetic complications still inevitably take place via several mechanisms including excessive generation of free radicals in patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus ( DM ) . A r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of oral supplementation of DL-alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) on glycemic and oxidative status in DM patients was conducted . Thirty eight out patients with type 2 DM were recruited and r and omly assigned to either placebo or treatment in various doses of ALA ( 300 , 600 , 900 , and 1200 mg/day ) for 6 months . Following the treatment , all subjects were evaluated for glucose status and oxidative biomarkers . Results showed that fasting blood glucose , HbA1c trended to decrease in a dose-dependent manner . Increase of urinary PGF2α-Isoprostanes ( F2α-IsoP ) was noted in placebo but not ALA-treated groups , indicating possible suppressing action of ALA on lipid peroxidation in DM subjects . 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine ( 8-OHdG ) levels , however , were similar in both placebo and ALA groups as well as urinary microalbumin and serum creatinine . Safety evaluation was monitored and treatment was found to be well tolerated despite some minor side effects . Results from this study reflected the benefits of ALA in glucose status with slight efficiency on oxidative stress-related deterioration in DM patients OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) treatment over a period of 2 months on fasting blood glucose ( FBG ) , insulin resistance ( IR ) , and glutathione peroxidase ( GH-Px ) activity in type 2 diabetes ( T2DM ) patients . METHODS This study took place in Motahari Clinic , Shiraz , Iran , which is affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from May to October 2006 . Type 2 DM patients ( n=57 ) were divided into 2 groups to receive either ALA ( 300 mg daily ) or placebo by systematic r and omization , and were followed-up for 8 weeks . After an overnight fasting and 2 hours after breakfast , patients ' blood sample s were drawn and tested for FBG , 2 hours  PPG , serum insulin level , and GH-Px activity .  RESULTS The result of the study showed a significant decrease in FBG and PPG levels , IR-Homeostasis Model Assessment ( IR-HOMA index ) and GH-Px level in the ALA group . The comparison of differences between FBG and IR at the beginning and at the end of study in the ALA treated group and the placebo group were also significant . CONCLUSION This study supports the use of ALA as an antioxidant in the care of diabetic patients There is a growing evidence that excess generation of highly reactive free radicals , largely due to hyperglycemia , causes oxidative stress , which further exacerbates the development and progression of diabetes and its complications . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of ALA on lipid profile , oxidative pattern and inflammation in patients with controlled non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus ( NIDDM ) .  ALA , 400mg/day was investigated in NIDDM patients over a period of 4 weeks using a r and omized , placebo-(PLA)-controlled study with two parallel groups . The marker of oxidative stress was the concentration of reactive oxygen metabolites , evaluated using a commercially available test , called d-ROMs  test  , and the  biological antioxidant potential ( BAP ) ; besides , the lipid profile ( total cholesterol = TC , high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol = HDL-C ; low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol = LDL-C , and triglycerides = TG ) and the C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , marker of inflammation were measured at the beginning and at the end of the treatment . A total of 14 patients were r and omly assigned to the two groups . ALA was safe and well tolerated in the only oral daily administration . The d-ROMs test ( p=0.03 ) and HDL-C ( p=0.04 ) showed a significant difference between the two groups . BAP ( p=0.06 ) tended to be higher in the treated patients , while LDL-C ( p=0.07 ) presented a moderate decline . There were no significant differences in TC ( p=0.65 ) , TG ( p=0.78 ) and CRP ( p=0.96 ) between the ALA and PLA groups . ALA therapy appears to reduce significantly d-ROMs and to improve HDL-C value , especially in men with metabolic syndrome treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs . These findings will be useful in patient selection in future clinical trials with ALA in long term studies
target: Overall , the current meta- analysis demonstrated that ALA administration may lead to an improvement in glucose homeostasis parameters and lipid profiles except HDL-cholesterol levels
background: OBJECTIVE This systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) was performed to summarize the effect of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases .