Alpha lipoic acid and diabetes mellitus: potential effects on peripheral neuropathy and different metabolic parameters

Figures & data

Table 1. Baseline clinical data of the studied type 2 diabetic patients

Variable		N = 90
Age (years)	Median (IQR)	52 (50–60.3)
Sex (No., %)	Male	38	42.2%
	Female	52	57.8%
Body mass index(kg/m^2)	Median (IQR)	28 (26–32)
Waist circumference (cm)	Median (IQR)	85 (76–105)
Hypertension	No	36	40.0%
	Yes	54	60.0%
Age of onset of DM (years)	Median (IQR)	47 (45–49)
Duration of DM (years)	Median (IQR)	6 (4–7)
Treatment	Insulin and oral	22	24.4%
	Oral	56	62.2%
	Insulin	12	13.3%
Serum creatinine (mg/dl)	Median (IQR)	0.8 (0.8–0.9)
Blood Urea (mg/dl)	Median (IQR)	29 (28–31)

Table 2. Comparison between neuropathy parameters before and after alpha lipoic acid treatment intervention in patients with T2 diabetes mellitus

Variable	Baseline (N = 90)	No improvement at end treatment	Improvement at end of treatment	P (significance)
	No (%)	No (%)	No (%)
Symptoms of neuropathy	90/90 (100)	22/90 (24.4)	68/90 (75.6)	<0.001 (HS)
Impaired Monofilament test	74/90 (82.8)	54/74 (72.9)	20/74 (27.1)	<0.012 (S)
Impaired Nerve conduction velocity	58/90 (64.4)	6/58 (10.3)	52/58 (89.7)	<0.001 (HS)
Impaired cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy tests	62/90 (68.9)	14/62 (22.6)	48/62(77.4)	<0.001 (HS)
Posterior tibial nerve cross sectional area (cm2)	Median (range) 0.16 (0.14–0.17)	Median(range) 0.17 (0.13–0.20)	Wilcoxon test 0.21	0.84 (NS)

Table 3. Comparison between different metabolic parameters before and after alpha lipoic acid treatment intervention in patients with T2 diabetes mellitus

Variable	Baseline (N = 90)	End treatment (N = 90)	Wilcoxon test	P (Significance)
	Median (IQR)	Median (IQR)
BMI (kg/m^2)	31 (27–33.3)	28 (26–32)	3.79	<0.001 (HS)
HbA1Ca%	7. 2 ± 0. 54	6. 8 ± 0. 45	4.13	<0.001 (HS)
HDL-C mg/dl	46 (38–55)	62 (38–65)	6.01	<0.001 (HS)
LDL-C mg/dl	120 (93–143.2)	110 (89.5–122.5)	8.24	<0.001 (HS)
TSH (mU/L)	2.1 (1.9–2.23)	2.4 (1.9–2.92)	1.01	0.91 (NS)
ALT (IU/L)	19 (18–20)	18.8 (18–20)	1.56	0.12 (NS)
AST (IU/L)	29 (28–30)	30 (28–30)	0.25	0.81 (NS)

BMI = Body mass index, HbA1C = glycated hemoglobin, HDL-C = high density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C = low density lipoprotein cholesterol, TSH = thyroid stimulating hormone, ALT = Alanine transaminase, AST = Aspartate aminotransferase.

aData were expressed as (mean ± SD) and analyzed by Paired “t” test.

IQR = Interquartile range.

Figure 1. Bar chart showing the mean values of HbA1C pre and post alpha acid lipoic treatment in patients with T2 diabetes mellitus

Figure 2. Boxplot presentation for the median(& IQR) of BMI, HDL-C and LDL-C pre and post treatment