Antioxidant Vitamins: Vascular Function

 

Indication: Vascular function (type 2 diabetics)

 

Source: Eur J Clin Invest, 2010;40(2):148-54.

 

Research: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) treatment on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation, assessed by forearm blood flow (FBF), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 30 subjects with type 2 diabetes were included in this randomized, controlled, double-blinded, parallel group study. FBF responses to intra-arterial acetylcholine (ACh) and glycerol trinitrate (GTN) were measured before and after 21 days of intravenous treatment with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid or placebo.

 

Results: FBF responses were comparable at baseline. After treatment, FBF reactivity to ACh and GTN was unchanged in subjects receiving placebo. By contrast, ALA treatment improved vascular endothelial function. As such, researchers believe intravenous ALA treatment improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with type 2 diabetes.