Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial examining the effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplement on the spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress in infertile men. Effect of alpha-lipoic acid and vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, and malnutrition in hemodialysis patients. Effects of alpha lipoic acid supplementation on serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in patient with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Multiple Cytokines and Biomarkers and Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation Within 1 Year of Catheter Ablation. The effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in men with chronic spinal cord injury: a clinical trial Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and serum lipid profile levels in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on asymmetric dimethylarginine and disability in multiple sclerosis patients: A randomized clinical trial Complementary therapy in diabetic patients with chronic complications: a pilot study. The comparison of antioxidant and hematological properties of N-acetylcysteine and alpha-lipoic acid in physically active males. Exercise and mononuclear cell DNA damage: the effects of antioxidant supplementation.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) on the spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress biomarkers . DESIGN R and omized , triple-blind , placebo-controlled clinical trial . SETTING Infertility clinic . PATIENT(S ) Infertile men . INTERVENTION(S ) ALA ( 600 mg ) or placebo for 12 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Semen analysis , anthropometric , dietary , and physical activity assessment s , total antioxidant capacity , and malondialdehyde . RESULT ( S ) At the end of study , the total sperm count , sperm concentration , and motility in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group . In the ALA group , the total sperm count , sperm concentration , and motility levels were also significantly increased at the end of study compared with baseline values . However , there were no significant differences in ejaculate volume , normal morphology percentage , and live sperm between groups . ALA supplementation also result ed in a significant improvement in seminal levels of total antioxidant capacity ( TAC ) and malondialdehyde compared with the placebo . CONCLUSION ( S ) According to the results , medical therapy of asthenoteratospermia with ALA supplement could improve quality of semen parameters . However , further investigation is suggested in this regard . CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER I RCT 2013111010181N3 INTRODUCTION Increased oxidative stress , inflammation , and malnutrition are present in hemodialysis patients and these factors exacerbate cardiovascular comorbidities . Vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) may have a protective role against cardiovascular disease risk factors via anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ALA and vitamin E administration ( alone or combined ) on hemodialysis-induced stress oxidation , inflammation , and malnutrition . MATERIAL S AND METHODS In a r and omized placebo-controlled trial , we examined the effects of 2-month supplementation by vitamin E and ALA ( alone or combined ) on biomarkers of lipid peroxidation ( malondialdehyde ) , inflammation ( high-sensitivity C-Reactive protein and interleukin-6 ) , and malnutrition ( Subjective Global Assessment and body mass index ) in 85 hemodialysis patients receiving ALA ( 600 mg ) , vitamin E ( 400 IU ) , ALA and vitamin E , and placebo .  RESULTS After supplementation , no significant changes were observed in malondialdehyde level ; however , there was a decrease in the ALA and vitamin E group during the period of the study . Also , a nonsignificant decrease was seen in the high-sensitivity C-Reactive protein concentration of the interventional groups . Supplementation of vitamin E with and without ALA significantly reduced interleukin-6 concentration . A significant improvement was observed in malnutrition status of all groups . CONCLUSIONS Vitamin E and ALA supplementation , especially their combination , might improve inflammation and malnutrition status , which suggest it as a potential preventive strategy against CVD among end-stage renal disease patients Background Chronic renal failure is a progressive and irreversible loss of kidney function , and the hemodialysis ( HD ) is one of the most common modalities in this regard . Oxidative stresses [ like interleukin-8 ( IL-8 ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-α ) ] and inflammation are the main risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases and other complications in many organs in hemodialysis patients ; meanwhile , antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid ( ALA ) may reduce the oxidative stress markers and the levels of inflammatory cytokines , so can improve of the patient ’s quality of life . Methods In this r and omized clinical trial study , 60 HD patients were r and omly categorized in two case and control groups . Case group received a daily capsule of 600 mg of ALA supplementation for 8 weeks , and the control group received placebo capsules daily . The serum level of IL-8 and TNF-α was measured in both groups before and after the intervention . Results There were no significant differences in age , gender , duration of dialysis , and causative factor for dialysis between both groups ( P > 0.05 ) . The mean of IL-8 and TNF-α after the intervention in case group was 26.20 ± 15.34 and 21.25 ± 9.61 , respectively ; the difference between both groups was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05 ) . Conclusion Based on the better feeling and other beneficial effects of ALA were found in our study ; we can conclude that it is a beneficial and recommended supplement , especially , for diabetic and dialysis patients Catheter ablation ( CA ) is a procedure commonly used to restore sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) . However , AF recurrence after CA remains a relevant clinical issue . We tested the effects of an oral antioxidant treatment ( alpha lipoic acid [ ALA ] ) on AF recurrence post-CA . Patients with paroxysmal AF have been enrolled in a r and omized , prospect i ve , double-blind , controlled placebo trial . After CA , patients have been r and omly assigned to receive ALA oral supplementation ( ALA group ) or placebo ( control group ) and evaluated at baseline and after a 12-month follow-up : 73 patients completed the 12-month follow-up  ( ALA : 33 and control : 40 ) . No significant difference has been detected between the 2 groups at baseline . Strikingly , 1 year after CA , ALA therapy significantly reduced serum markers of inflammation . However , there was no significant difference in AF recurrence events at follow-up comparing ALA with placebo group . Multivariate analysis revealed that the only independent prognostic risk factor for AF recurrence after CA is age . In conclusion , ALA therapy reduces serum levels of common markers of inflammation in ablated patients . Nevertheless , ALA does not prevent AF recurrence after an ablative treatment Study design : A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled clinical trial . Objective : To assess the effect of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) supplementation on IL-6 , hs-CRP , FBS , anthropometric indices , food intake and blood pressure in male patients with chronic spinal cord injury ( SCI ) . Setting : Imam Khomeini Hospital , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran . Methods : Fifty-eight men with chronic SCI participated in the study . Participants were divided in two groups : one group received 600 mg of supplemental ALA ( n=28 ) and the other group received placebo ( n=30 ) for 12 weeks . At the beginning and end of the study , biochemical parameters , anthropometric indices , blood pressure and dietary intakes were measured . Dietary intake was measured using N4 software , and statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS16 . Results : No significant reduction was found in IL-6 ( P=0.97 ) and hs-CRP levels ( P=0.23 ) . There was significant reduction in fasting blood sugar ( P=0.001 ) , body weight ( P=0.001 ) , BMI ( P=0.001 ) , waist circumference ( P=0.001 ) and blood pressure ( P=0.001 ) . Dietary intake was significantly reduced , including fat ( P=0.001 ) , carbohydrate ( P=0.001 ) , protein ( P=0.002 ) and energy intakes ( P=0.001 ) . Conclusion : Lipoic acid supplementation had no significant effect on the measured inflammatory markers but it reduces fasting blood sugar , anthropometric parameters , food intake and blood pressure in men with chronic SCI OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) supplementation on inflammation , oxidative stress , and serum lipid profile levels in hemodialysis ( HD ) patients . DESIGN This was a double-blinded , r and omized , placebo-controlled clinical trial . SETTING The present study involved HD centers in Tabriz , Iran . PATIENTS Participants included 63 patients with end-stage renal disease ( 43 men and 20 women ; age range : 22 - 79 years ) undergoing maintenance HD . INTERVENTION HD patients were r and omly assigned into the supplemented group ( n = 31 ) , receiving a daily dose of ALA ( 600 mg ) , or a control group ( n = 32 ) , receiving placebo for 8 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES High sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hsCRP ) , malondialdehyde , total antioxidant status , total cholesterol , triglyceride , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of supplementation . RESULTS At the end of intervention , 11 patients were excluded from the study .  HsCRP levels decreased by 18.7 % in the supplemented group after 8 weeks of supplementation , and the reduction was significant in comparison with the placebo group ( P < .05 ) ; this finding was also significant after adjusting for baseline values of hsCRP . The mean malondialdehyde and total antioxidant status levels did not change significantly in the 2 groups during the study . The mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations increased significantly in the supplemented group at the end of the study ( P < .05 ) ; however , this improvement was not statistically significant as compared with the placebo group . No significant alterations were observed in the other lipid profile parameters within each group during the study . CONCLUSION ALA supplementation significantly reduced hsCRP levels , which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in HD patients Background Multiple Sclerosis ( MS ) is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system . Oxidative stress plays a major role in the onset and progression of MS . Asymmetric dimethylarginine ( ADMA ) formation is dependent on oxidative stress status . Objective We examined whether alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) as a potent antioxidant could improve the Exp and ed Disability Status Scale ( EDSS ) and decrease plasma level of ADMA in multiple sclerosis patients . Methods In a r and omized , double-blinded clinical trial conducted at Sina Hospital in Tehran , Iran , from September 2009 to July 2011 , 24 patients with relapsing-remitting MS were divided into a treatment group receiving ALA ( 1200mg/day ) for 12 weeks and a control group receiving placebo . Then patients ’ EDSS and Plasma levels of ADMA were measured at baseline and 12 weeks later . Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software version 16 using the K-S test , Chi square , Mann – Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon test . Results The plasma levels of ADMA in the intervention group were decreased significantly ( p=0.04 ) . Also , no patient had increased EDSS score in the supplement group , where 2 out of 12 patients in the placebo group experienced so . Comparing the serum level of ADMA between the two groups failed to show any significant change in the supplement group compared with the control group . Conclusion Considering that ADMA is produced by oxidative stress in MS patients and leads to increase of inflammation , ALA may have the potential of beneficial effects in them , in part , by decreasing the plasma level of ADMA and stopping progression . Trial registration The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( http://www.i rct .ir ) with the I rct ID : No. I RCT 138812222602N2 . Funding The authors received no financial support for the research , authors hip , and /or publication of this article BACKGROUND Oxidative stress and dysregulation of antioxidant function play a pivotal role in the diabetic complications . METHODS Fifty-nine patients with diabetes were r and omly assigned into three groups . 1 ) PL group ( n = 19 ) : Polarized light ( PL ) was applied to neuropathic ulcers of diabetic foot twice daily for ten minutes in pulse regimen during three months . 2 ) QALA group ( n = 20 ) : Antioxidants ( 60 mg hydrosoluble CoQ10 , 100 mg alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) and 200 mg vitamin E ) were used in two daily doses for three months . 3 ) QALAPL group ( n = 20 ) : Patients used antioxidants along with PL applications . To test for differences in means , paired Student 's t-test ( before and after three months ) was used . RESULTS Three months application of PL significantly increased plasma concentrations of coenzyme Q10 , alpha-tocopherol , tau-tocopherol and beta-carotene , and decreased lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH ) activity . Supplementation with antioxidants decreased plasma lipid peroxides , increased concentration of CoQ10 and improved echocardiographic parameters . Simultaneous application of PL and antioxidants significantly stimulated plasma CoQ10 and alpha-tocopherol concentrations , decreased LDH activity and contributed to improvement in heart left ventricular function in diabetics . CONCLUSION Thus the data show that supportive therapy with PL along with the antioxidants hydrosoluble CoQ10 , alpha-lipoic acid and vitamin E is an effective way of controlling the complications of type 2 diabetes ( Tab . 7 , Fig. 2 , Ref . 44 ) The aim of this study was to follow up whether the modification of pro-antioxidant status by oral thiol administration such as N-acetylcysteine and alpha-lipoic acid affects the  hematological response . Twenty-eight healthy men participated in two independent experiments . Subjects were r and omly assigned to one of four groups : controls ( C(NAC ) and C(ALA ) ) , N-acetylcysteine ( NAC ) and alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) . 1200 mg of N-acetylcysteine , 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid or placebo were administered for 8 days in two doses . NAC or ALA administration significantly elevated plasma total antioxidant status ( TAS ) and reduced protein carbonylation ( PC ) and lipid peroxidation ( TBARS ) by more than 30 % . The reduced glutathione ( GSH ) and hematological parameters changed only in response to NAC administration . NAC significantly elevated the level of GSH ( + 33 % ) , EPO ( + 26 % ) , Hb ( + 9 % ) and Hct ( + 9 % ) compared with C(NAC ) . The mean corpuscular volume ( MCV ) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin ( MCH ) also increased by more than 12 % after NAC . The numerous negative or positive correlations between the measures of TAS , PC , TBARS and hematological parameters were found , which suggest the NAC-induced interaction between pro-antioxidant and hematological values . Our study has shown that both N-acetylcysteine and alpha-lipoic acid intake reveal an antioxidant action , but only N-acetylcysteine improves the haematological response The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of antioxidant supplementation on DNA damage following exercise . Fourteen subjects were r and omly assigned to one of two groups and required to ingest either antioxidants ( 400 mg alpha-lipoic acid , 200 mg co-enzyme Q10 , 12 mg manganese , 600 mg vitamin C , 800 mg N-acetyl cysteine , 400 microg selenium , and 400 IU alpha-tocopherol per day ) or placebos for 7 d. Exercise increased DNA damage , PS , FRAP , and LDH ( P < 0.05 ) , but not selectively between groups . LDH and PS concentration decreased 1 h post-exercise ( P < 0.05 ) , while LH concentration decreased 1 h post-exercise in the antioxidant group only ( P < 0.05 ) . The antioxidant group had a higher concentration of LH ( P < 0.05 ) , perhaps due to a selective difference between groups post-exercise ( P < 0.05 ) . The main findings of this investigation demonstrate that exhaustive aerobic exercise induces DNA damage , while antioxidant supplementation does not protect against damage
The present study revealed that supplementation with ALA slightly but significantly decreased body weight and BMI .
Safe dosage for ALA is up to 1200 mg/day .
However , it seems that ALA can not be cost-effective .
BACKGROUND & AIMS Previous studies have supported positive roles of antioxidant supplements on  weight-loss .
One antioxidant supplement is Alpha-lipoic acid .
However , recommending ALA as an anti-obesity supplement remains controversial .
Accordingly , the purpose of the present study was to perform a meta- analysis on the effects of ALA supplement on anthropometric indices  among adult subjects .