Alpha-lipoic Acid in Diabetic Nephropathy

Oxidative Stress in Children and Adolescents With Diabetic Nephropathy and the Role of Adjuvant Alpha-lipoic Acid as an Antioxidant

Endothelial dysfunction in diabetes is a central event in the pathogenesis of different microangioapthic changes. Nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes is a severe microvascular complication.

Better understanding of the pathogenesis of microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes have paved the way for novel therapeutic targets and possible adjuvant therapeutic modalities. Oxidative stress is considered a common and important factor that links hyperglycemia with the vascular complications in diabetes, including of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), or thioctacid, is an antioxidant compound which serve as a cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory enzymes. ALA can scavenge free radicals, activate antioxidant systems, and also affect inflammatory markers. It also has unique characteristic. ALA can play as a reduction for oxidized forms of components with antioxidant properties and neutralize reactive oxygen species. Thus, it called as antioxidant of antioxidants

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
• The presence of diabetic nephropathy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Renal impairment due to causes other than diabetes
• Other diabetic complications than nephropathy
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Hypersensitivity to lipoic acid
• Participation in a previous investigational drug study within the 30 days preceding screening