Effect of alpha-lipoic acid at the combination with mefenamic acid in girls with primary dysmenorrhea: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic disorder and is one of the main causes for referral to the gynecology clinic. This study aimed to determine the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and mefenamic acid and a combination compared with placebo on the girls with primary dysmenorrhea. This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial done on population consisted of female students living in dormitories of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences who had moderate to severe dysmenorrhea using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaire. Participants were randomly divided into four groups (n = 100): ALA, mefenamic acid, ALA + mefenamic acid and placebo groups. ALA and mefenamic acid were administrated in 600 mg and 250 mg, respectively. The severity of the pain was measured in the beginning and the end of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Our final results suggested that, although mefenamic acid significantly decreased the menstrual pain, ALA supplementation, 600 mg, would be more efficient than mefenamic acid in 250 mg. Also, the combination of ALA and mefenamic acid significantly has been far. Considering the ALA supplementation effect on pain relief in patients with primary dysmenorrhea, this antioxidant can be recommended for the healing of symptoms of these patients.

Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20141025019669N8.

Chinese abstract

原发性痛经是一种常见的妇科疾病, 是转诊至妇科门诊的主要原因之一。本研究旨在确定α-硫辛酸（ALA）和甲芬那酸以及与安慰剂相比对原发性痛经女孩的影响。这项双盲、安慰剂对照临床试验针对人群是居住在加兹温医科大学宿舍的女学生, 并且视觉模拟量表（VAS）调查问卷得出中度至重度痛经。参与者被随机分为四组（n = 100）：ALA, 甲芬那酸, ALA+甲芬那酸, 安慰剂组。ALA和甲芬那酸分别给药600mg和250mg。在研究的开始和结束时测量疼痛的严重程度, 采用SPSS软件（SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL）进行统计学分析。我们的最终结果表明, 虽然甲芬那酸显著降低了经期疼痛, 但补充ALA 600mg比250mg甲芬那酸更有效。此外, ALA和甲芬那酸的结合更显著。考虑到ALA补充缓解原发性痛经患者疼痛的作用, 可推荐这种抗氧化剂来治疗这些患者的症状。

Keywords:

• Primary dysmenorrhea
• alpha-lipoic acid
• mefenamic acid
• menstrual pain

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all of the participants who completed the study protocol.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by Research Affairs of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran with Grant number IR.QUMS.REC.1396.387.