Alpha-lipoic acid improves vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes: a placebo-controlled randomized trial

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 148 - 154
• Main Authors: Heinisch, B. B., Francesconi, M., Mittermayer, F., Schaller, G., Gouya, G., Wolzt, M., Pleiner, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2010; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Acetylcholine; Acetylcholine - pharmacology; alpha-lipoic acid; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Double-Blind Method; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Forearm - blood supply; Forearm - physiopathology; forearm blood flow; General aspects; glycerol trinitrate; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nitroglycerin - pharmacology; Regional Blood Flow - drug effects; Thioctic Acid - pharmacology; Thioctic Acid - therapeutic use; type 2 diabetes; Vasodilation - drug effects; Vasodilator Agents - pharmacology; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Human; Lipoic acid; Endothelial cell; alpha-lipoic acid; forearm blood flow; Glycerol; Metabolic diseases; Patient; Blood flow; Endothelium; Medicine; Improvement; Randomization; Forearm; glycerol trinitrate; Blood vessel; Placebo; Neurotransmitter; Clinical trial; Acetylcholine; Circulatory system; Hemodynamics
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2009.02236.x

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (2): 148–154 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 randomized, 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.