Table 3.

Subgroup analysis in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

	ALC				Placebo
Subgroup (diabetes)	Baseline	Reduction	Reduction %	N	Baseline	Reduction	Reduction %	N	MD % (95% CI)
De Grandis, 2002	–	−1.93±2.09	−39.4±42.7	95	–	−0.35±1.10	−7.7±24.2	104	−31.7 (−41.5; −21.9)
Sima UC, 2005	5.99±2.41	−2.55±2.87	−42.6±48.0	70	5.04±2.19	−0.97±3.11	−19.3±61.7	48	−23.3 (−44.1; −2.5)
Sima UCE, 2005	5.69±2.69	−2.17±3.46	−38.2±60.8	58	5.32±2.60	−1.45±2.75	−27.3±51.7	61	−11.0 (−31.3; 9.4)
Pooled analysis				223				213	−24.6 (−36.8; −12.4)

Notes: Test for heterogeneity: τ²=50.28; χ²=3.40, df=2 (P=0.18); I²=41.2%. Test for overall effect: Z =3.95 (P<0.0001). Test for subgroup differences: χ²=2.31, df=1 (P=0.13); I²=56.7%. Results are expressed as mean ± SD. Heterogeneity indexes: χ², τ², I².

Abbreviation: ALC, acetyl-L-carnitine.