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The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on fasting glucose and lipid profiles among patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders volume 18, pages 585–595 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background and objective

Stroke is a devastating condition with long-term comorbidities including metabolic abnormalities. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), with its antioxidant properties, might improve metabolic status of patients, though current evidence is still inclusive. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to summarize the existing evidence regarding the effects of ALA supplementation on fasting glucose and lipid profiles among patients with stroke.

Methods

We searched Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science from 1990 until April 5th, 2018. The relevant randomized-controlled articles, based on defined key words, were included in the analyses. Two independent researchers investigated study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias for included studies. Heterogeneity among included studies was tested using Q-test and I2 statistics. Random-effects models were applied to pool the data and standardized mean differences (WMD) were considered as summary effect size.

Results

A total of five studies (140 patients in each intervention group) were included in our meta-analysis. The findings showed that ALA supplementation significantly decreased fasting glucose levels (WMD −36.93 mg/dL; 95% CI, −65.58, −8.28; P = 0.01; I2 = 85.0%) in patients with stroke. We found no significant effect of ALA supplementation on triglycerides (WMD −7.45 mg/dL; 95% CI, −51.35, 36.45; P = 0.739; I2 = 83.9%), total cholesterol (WMD −23.23 mg/dL; 95% CI, −48.07, 1.62; P = 0.067; I2 = 80.5%), LDL-cholesterol (WMD −10.46 mg/dL; 95% CI, −21.01, 0.09; P = 0.052; I2 = 47.4%) and HDL-cholesterol levels (WMD −3.02 mg/dL; 95% CI, −20.18, 14.14; P = 0.730; I2 = 85.8%).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggested the beneficial impacts of ALA supplementation in improving fasting glucose of patients diagnosed with stroke.

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Data availability

The primary data for this study is available from the authors on direct request.

Abbreviations

ALA:

Alpha-lipoic acid

LDL-C:

Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol

HDL-C:

High density lipoprotein-cholesterol

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triglycerides

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Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by a grant (no. 97-01-106-17829) from the Vice-chancellor for Research, SUMS, Shiraz, and Iran.

Funding

The research grant provided by Research Deputy of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Reza Tabrizi & Maryam Akbari

  2. Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Afshin Borhani-Haghighi

  3. School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Naghmeh Mirhosseini

  4. Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Kamran B. Lankarani & Seyed Taghi Heydari

  5. Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Ahmad Naghibzadeh-Tahami

  6. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Mojgan Sangari

  7. Indigenous and Global Health Research, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

    Fariba Kolahdooz

  8. Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R., Iran

    Fariba Raygan

  9. Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R., Iran

    Zatollah Asemi

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  1. Reza Tabrizi
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Contributions

ZA, MA and RT contributed in conception, design, statistical analysis and drafting of the manuscript. A-BH, NM, KB-L, RT, S-TH, FK and FR contributed in conception, data collection and manuscript drafting. The final version was confirmed by all authors for submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zatollah Asemi.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Tabrizi, R., Borhani-Haghighi, A., Mirhosseini, N. et al. The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on fasting glucose and lipid profiles among patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Diabetes Metab Disord 18, 585–595 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-019-00423-0

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