Review and meta-analysis show lower Total Symptom Score with ALA, GLA versus placebo

MONDAY, March 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN), alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and gamma linolenic acid (GLA) are beneficial for improving outcomes versus placebo, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in the Canadian Journal of Diabetes.

Mario B. Prado, Jr., M.D., from the University of the Philippines Manila, and Karen Joy B. Adiao, M.D., from the Medical Center Manila in the Philippines, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the available evidence about the efficacy and safety of ALA and GLA in the management of DN. The review and combined meta-analysis included 11 studies.

The researchers found that significant benefit for ALA versus placebo was reported in eight of the studies. At the end of the study, the Total Symptom Score (TSS) was 1.05 points lower for ALA 600 mg/day (ALA600) compared with control (standardized mean difference [SMD], 1.05) in the meta-analysis. In the network meta-analysis, significantly lower TSSs were seen with ALA600 and GLA compared with placebo (SMD, –1.68 and –2.39, respectively). GLA had the highest probability of being the best for improving DN symptoms (52.7 percent). Gastrointestinal disturbances were included as most adverse events in all studies. There were no differences between ALA and control groups in terms of tolerability.

"Most studies showed significant benefit of ALA or GLA at improving primary and secondary outcomes when compared with placebo," the authors wrote.

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