The synergic effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation and electrical isotonic contraction on anthropometric measurements and the serum levels of VEGF, NO, sirtuin-1, and PGC1-α in obese people undergoing a weight loss diet

Abstract

Background: The anti-obesity effects of Alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) and isotonic contraction has been reported. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 1200 mg/day α-LA supplementation and 3 sessions per week of Faradic (an electrical stimulating system) on anthropometric parameters, body composition, VEGF, Sirtuin-1, nitric oxide (NO), and PGC1-α in obese people undergoing a weight loss regime.

Methods: This randomised clinical trial was carried out on 100 obese adults. The subjects were randomly assigned to four groups of 25 subjects including Faradic, α-LA, α-LA + Faradic, and control. A Bio Impedance Analyser (BIA) was used to estimate anthropometric measurements including weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and fat free mass. The serum levels of Sirtuin-1, PGC1-α, VEGF, and NO levels were measured. All measurements were done at baseline and after 8 weeks of the intervention.

Results: A significant weight reduction was observed in all four groups compared to baseline (p<.01). The placebo group had significantly higher weight, BMI, weight circumstance (WC), and body fat (BF) compared with the other groups. The α-LA + Faradic group had significantly lower weight, BMI, BF, WC than control, faradic, and α-LA groups and higher, Sirtuin and PGC than the control group (all p < .05).

Conclusions: The findings indicated that the α-LA and Faradic interventions may have a synergistic effect on weight, BMI, BF, WC, and SLM, possibly through changes in serum level of VEGF, NO, and PGC. Further studies are warranted to clarify the mutual effects of –α-LA and Faradic on obesity and its molecular mechanisms.

Name of the registry: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials

Trial registration number: IRCT20131117015424N2

Date of registration: 04/04/2018

URL of trial registry record: https://www.irct.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20131117015424N2

Keywords:

• Alpha-lipoic acid
• isotonic contraction
• VEGF
• Sirtuin 1
• BMI
• body fat
• weight

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted at the Department of Public Health Nutrition Department of Nutrition, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Centre of the Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The authors acknowledge staff at the participating schools for their excellent cooperation.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This protocol, approved by Medical Ethics Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (approval number: IR.AJUMS.REC.1396.860). Each subject also signed an informed consent form. Moreover, this investigation was registered on Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT registration number: IRCT20131117015424N2)

Author contributions

All the authors were involved in designing the study and drafting the protocol. All the authors also read and approved the final protocol.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Availability of data and materials

The data could be available on request to the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by Nutrition and Metabolic Disease Research Centre, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences [Grant number: NRC-9624].