Table 1.
The characteristics of the included studies (n = 553 patients)
| Study ID | Country | Type of Diabetes |
Number of Patients
|
Mean age (Years)
|
Follow up (months) |
Gender
|
Dropout
|
ALA dose
and Route of administration |
Findings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALA/Control | ALA | Control | ALA M/F |
Control
M/F |
ALA/Control | ||||||
| Hegazy 2013 | Egypt | Diabetes type 1 | 15/15 | 11.1 ± 2.3 | 11.9 ± 1.4 | 4 | 7/8 | 7/8 | No dropouts | Oral administration of (300 mg) ALA twice daily |
ALA may have a role in preventing the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy in type 1 diabetes. |
| Huang 2013 | China | Diabetes type 2 | 40/40 | 49.6 ± 10.5 | 50.8 ± 9.7 | 3 | 15/25 | 14/26 | 10/11 | Intravenous infusion of (600 mg) ALA once daily | ALA might not have an additive effect |
| Udupa 2012 | India | Diabetes type 2 | 25/25 | 53.5 ± 1.4 | 53.8 ± 2.1 | 3 | 12/13 | 15/10 | 10 | Oral administration of (300 mg) ALA |
ALA showed an improvement in insulin sensitivity. Since it differs in improving different parameters and can be used as add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| Zhao 2014 | China | Diabetes type 2 | 46/44 | 71.6 (60-92) | 1 | 49/41 | No dropouts | Intravenous Injection of 600 mg ALA in 250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride |
ALA was safe and effective in the treatment of aged T2DM complicate with acute cerebral infarction, significantly reducing the patient's oxidative stress, blood glucose, and lipid levels and being able to improve islet function. |
||
| Al-Saber 2016 | Kingdom of Bahrain | Diabetes type 2 | 35/18 | 52.4 (6.51) | 51.9 (5.07) | 3 | 33/2 | 13/5 | No dropouts | Oral administration of 1OO, 150 and 200 mg of ALA at two divided doses |
ALA may Offer benefits in the diabetic population. |
| Ansar 2011 | Iran | Diabetes type 2 | 29/28 | 49 ± 9.07 | 51.82 ± 8.25 | 2 | 6/23 | 8/20 | No dropouts | Oral administration of 300 mg ALA daily |
This study supports the use of ALA as an antioxidant in the care of diabetic patients. |
| De Oliveira 2011 | Brazil | Diabetes type 2 | 26/26 | 3: 39-49 9: 50-59 11: 60-69 3: > or =70 |
2: 39-49 6: 50-59 13: 60-69 5: > or =70 |
4 | 16/10 | 15/11 | No dropouts | Oral administration of 600 mg ALA daily |
No beneficial effect of treatment with this antioxidant in terms of reduction of insulin resistance or improvement of lipid profile. |
| Heinisch 2009 | Austria | Diabetes type 2 | 15/15 | 55 ± 8 | 56 ± 6 | 1 | NA | No dropouts | Intravenous Injection of 600 mg ALA daily |
ALA treatment improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with type 2 diabetes. |
|
| Porasuphatana 2011 | Thailand | Diabetes type 2 | 30/8 | 45.7 ± 1.68 | 58.6 ± 6.7 | 6 | 9/21 | 1/7 | No dropouts | Oral administration of 300, 600, 900 and 1200 mg\day of ALA |
Oral ALA treatment could improve the glycemic status and is slightly effective against oxidative stress in patients with type 2 DM with tolerable minor adverse events. |
| Ziegler 1996 | Germany | Diabetes type 2 | 39/34 | 57.9 ± 6.6 | 4 | 24/15 | 24/10 | 17 | Oral administration of 800 mg ALA daily |
Treatment with ALA using an oral dose of 800 mg/day for four months may slightly improve NIDDM patients | |
LA = Alpha lipoic acid; M/F = Male/Female; continuous variables are presented as mean (SD).