neuropathy

[Guest guest]

From another group...

Is anyone here taking alpha lipoic acid? My dh is suffering from leg

discomfort, we're willing to give this a try, anything over the counter.

Ezz

>Antioxidant Helps Diabetic Nerve Damage

Reported April 10, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows consuming the

antioxidant alpha lipoic acid (ALA) can significantly improve symptoms

of diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy is nerve damage that can result as a

complication of diabetes. It affects about 50 percent of patients.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic and a medical center in Russia tested

120 patients with diabetes who suffered from neuropathy. The patients

received either ALA or a placebo for three weeks, and all participants

were given a placebo during the fourth week.

Researchers measured the severity of patients pain by using a total

symptom score system. Those who took ALA saw a 5.7-point total

improvement, while those on placebo only improved by 1.8 points.

Researchers say these results show ALA significantly improves the

frequency and severity of diabetic neuropathy symptoms, which may

include burning and sharply cutting pain, prickling sensations and numbness.

Prior to this study, the alternatives for managing symptoms of diabetic

neuropathy were narcotics, analgesics and antiepileptic drugs, which all

have considerable side effects. ALA produced no unfavorable side effects

in patients in this study.

ALA is available over the counter, in oral form, and in small doses.

Dyck, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, warns against putting too much

faith in the drug. He says: " It may well be worthwhile for treatment,

but I'd rather patients not go out swallowing large amounts of this drug

yet. It isn't FDA-approved for this purpose. "

Dr. Dyck adds that a large, multi-center trial of oral ALA is underway.

He says, " We should see what the further data show before we give this

widely to patients with diabetic neuropathy. "

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by

e-mail every day of the week.

To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care 2003;26:770-776

Related Articles in Archives:

Nerve Protection for Diabetics - Dr.'s Q & A

Help for Diabetic Nerve Damage

Diabetes: The Emerging Research -- White Paper

Digestion Made Easier

Diabetes Executive Summary from 2002 ADA Annual Meeting

Spray Helps Diabetic Pain

Diabetic Feet: Part 1

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=5916

[Guest guest]

I am in Ontario, so cant come to your group, but maybe we can start

a yahoogroup for neuropathy, I have it in my feet and sometimes they

drive me insane. They dont hurt anymore, it's more like a tingle

that never stops.

Elva

> Hello everyone, I have been a member of the group for quite awhile

> and have really enjoyed it and I have learned a lot. Like many of

> you, I suffer from Neuropathy and find it helpful to have someone

> that I can talk about this problem. I am in the process of

> organizing a support group for Neuropathy in the greater

Pittsburgh,

> Pa. area. If you or someone you know suffers from the effects of

> Neuropathy and would be interested in joing a support group,

please

> drop me a line.

> Thanks

> Joe