Neurological

ALA supplementation improves inflammation and mood in women with episodic migraines

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation for 3 months has positive effects in women with episodic migraines, according to study results published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

In the current, single-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial, researchers enrolled women with neurologist-diagnosed episodic migraines. Inclusion criteria were episodic migraines without aura with 2 or more attacks per month, each lasting between 4 and 72 hours, in non-menopausal, non-pregnant, non-lactating, non-smoking and alcohol-free women between the ages of 20 and 50 years.

Primary study results were indicators of oxidative stress using C-reactive protein (CRP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide, malondialdehyde (MDA), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, thiol, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) as markers of inflammation. At the start of the study and after 3 months, a 10 ml venous blood sample was taken after a 10 to 12 hour fasting period.

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The secondary outcome measures included mood status using a questionnaire on a depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21 items) at the start of the study and at the end of the intervention.

Participants were randomly divided into 2 parallel groups: the intervention group (n = 47) who received 300 mg ALA supplement capsules twice daily for 3 months; the control group (n = 45) received the placebo in the same packaging, shape, color and dosage for the same duration.

After dropouts and withdrawal due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 79 of the 92 patients completed the study. After the 3-month intervention with ALA vs. placebo, there was a significant reduction in serum MDA (mean difference [MD], -0.83; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.62 nmol / ml vs. MD, -0.32; 95% CI, -0.48 to -0.15 nmol / ml; P <0.001) and CRP (MD, -0.78; 95% CI, -1.17 to -0.39 mg / l vs. MD, -0.63; 95% CI, -1.80 to 0, 52 mg / l; p <0.001).

Changes in serum markers, including glutathione (GSH; P = .086), total antioxidant capacity (TAC; P = .068), total oxidant status (TOS; P = .225), and oxidative stress index (OSI; P = .404), were statistical not significant.

The depression, anxiety and stress scores in the ALA group were significantly reduced compared to baseline by the end of the study (P <0.001 for all); however, no statistically significant changes were found in the placebo group.

One limitation of the study was the inability to measure serum ALA levels at the start and end of the study due to financial constraints. Clinical trials of higher quality and duration of intervention are needed to confirm the effectiveness of ALA supplementation in patients with episodic migraines.

“Although the [etiology] When migraines are still unclear, vascular and neurological disorders have been suggested as contributing factors in migraine pathogenesis, ”the researchers concluded. “There is also evidence that impaired mitochondrial metabolism, followed by increased levels of RNA and ROS, plays an important role in migraine pain due to changes in cerebral blood flow. The results of our study showed that ALA, due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects, and by improving mitochondrial metabolism, reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with migraines. It also had beneficial effects on mood status in these patients. “

reference

Rezaei Kelishadi M, Alavi Naeini A, Askari G, Khorvash F, Heidari Z Trial. Int J Clin Pract. 2021; 75 (9): e14455. doi: 10.1111 / ijcp.14455

This article originally appeared on Clinical Pain Advisor

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