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Clinical Data

THE INCIDENCE OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY ACROSS DIFFERENT PATIENT GROUPS

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common disorder of the peripheral nervous system in adults.1 Estimated prevalence in general public is:2

  • • 8% in persons 55 years and older
  • • 2.4% in the general population
  • • 26.4% in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY FACTS

Nerve pain associated with peripheral neuropathy can be a result of nerve damage or damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord. These changes in the body can negatively affect the peripheral nervous system, which may lead to pain symptoms.

Besides nerve damage, peripheral neuropathy can also be a result of the following:3

  • • Some types of chemotherapy drugs
  • • Diabetes
  • • Nerve compression or injury
  • • Alcohol use
  • • Nutritional deficiencies
  • • Hypothyroidism

Nerve pain is often seen in patients’ hands, fingers, feet, and toes.


ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID (ALA) CLINICAL BENEFITS

ALA, or Alpha-Lipoic Acid, is a naturally occurring compound in the human body4,5 which can also be found in meats such as liver, and in vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and tomato.6

A multi-center, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 181 patients taking 600 mg of ALA suggested:7

  • • Pain symptoms were significantly reduced vs. placebo (P<0.05)
  • • Relief seen at 14 days when taken once daily (P<0.05 vs. placebo at 14 days)
  • • An oral dose of 600 mg once daily vs. 1200 mg and 1800 mg once daily, seems to offer the optimum risk-to-benefit ratio that can help relieve pain associated with peripheral neuropathy

References:

1. Hakim et al. A Review on Prevalence and Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy and Treatment of Different Etiologic Subgroups with Neurotropic B Vitamins. J Clin Exp Pharmacol 2019:9(4);262: 1-7. doi:10.35248/2161-1459.19.9.262

2. Azhary H et al. Peripheral neuropathy: differential diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician 2010:1;81(7):887-92. PMID: 20353146.

3. Castelli G et al. Peripheral Neuropathy: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician 2020: 15;102(12):732-739. PMID: 33320513.

4. Shay KP et al. Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Biochim Biophys Acta 2009;1790(10):1149-1160.

5. Packer L, Cadenas E. Lipoic acid: energy metabolism and redox regulation of transcription and cell signaling. J Clin Biochem Nutr 2011:48(1):26-32. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.11-005FR.

6. Gomes MB, Negrato CA. Alpha-lipoic acid as a pleiotropic compound with potential therapeutic use in diabetes and other chronic diseases. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2014;6(1):80.

7. Ziegler D et al. Oral Treatment With α-Lipoic Acid Improves Symptomatic Diabetic Polyneuropathy: The SYDNEY 2 trial. Diabetes Care 2006:29 (11): 2365–2370. Available at:https://doi.org/10.2337/dc06-1216