Table 1.

Effects of ALA in diabetic patients with neuropathy.

Patients (n)	Design	Treatment	Key Effects	References
Diabetic patients with mild-to-moderate polyneuropathy Age range: n.s. n = 429	Clinical trial Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Multicenter Two-arm	600 mg/day ALA or placebo, orally Duration: 4 years	- Prevention of neuropathic improvements progression with regular and long-term administration	[107]
Type 2 diabetic patients with symptomatic polyneuropathy Age range: n.s. n = 45	Clinical trial Randomized Withdrawal Open-label study	600 mg ALA 3 times per day in phase 1, orally 600 mg ALA daily or ALA withdrawal in phase 2, orally Duration: 4 weeks (phase 1) 16 weeks (phase 2)	- Phase 1: Total Symptom Score (TSS) decreased - Phase 2: TSS decreased in ALA-treated group and improved neuropathic symptoms	[108]
Diabetic patients with early nephropathy Age range: n.s. n = 62	Clinical trial Randomized Controlled	600 mg/day ALA, intravenously with routine treatment or routine treatment (control group) Duration: 8 weeks	- Decline in urinary albumin excretion rates, serum creatinine and malonaldehyde - Increased plasma SOD activity and improved endothelium-dependent flow mediated vasodilation flexibility	[102]
Diabetic patients with neuropathy Age range: 18–75 n = 72	Clinical trial Clinical report Interventional study	600 mg/day ALA, orally Duration: 40 days	- Reduction in neuropathic symptoms and triglycerides levels	[109]