Alpha Lipoic Acid

Participants in a study by Ametov AS et al were randomized to IV administration of either ALA (600 mg) (n = 60) or placebo (n = 60) for 5 days/week for a total of 14 treatments. At the end of the study, the total symptom score in patients taking ALA had improved by an average of 4.8 points, compared to an improvement of only 1.8 points in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo group, the treatment group had evidence of significant improvement in pain, asleep numbness and prickling neuropathy signs, which is an overall measure of effectiveness. (3)

A meta-analysis by Han T et al of 15 randomized controlled trials found that IV administration of 300-600 mg/day α-lipoic acid (ALA) for 2-4 weeks for treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a problem with the nerves that can produce pain, loss of sensation, and an inability to control muscles, was associated with a significant improvement in nerve conduction velocity and neuropathic symptoms. ALA was associated with an average benefit for median motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of 4.63, median sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of 3.17, for peroneal MNCV, 4.25, and 3.65 for peroneal SNCV. (4)