of the feet and hands, and if I ask him if he has ever heard of Lipoic Acid and he says "Huh?" what am I supposed to think? He may not be able to afford it, he may not want to pay for it, but the ins. cos. will not pay for it. Not only has he not been told about it by his doc, he couldn't get it prescribed if he wanted. Same goes for Retinopathy. My uncle who had several operations for retinopathies finally went blind, fell, broke some ribs and DIED. Some supplements are counterproductive?? Lipoic acid and Pycnogenol are counterproductive?? I hardly think so, and in these two instances, millions of people could be helped. Sadly enough, they are not.
1: Diabetes Care. 1999 Aug;22(8):1296-301.Click here to read Links
Treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid: a 7-month multicenter randomized controlled trial (ALADIN III Study). ALADIN III Study Group. Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Diabetic Neuropathy.
Ziegler D, Hanefeld M, Ruhnau KJ, Hasche H, Lobisch M, Schütte K, Kerum G, Malessa R.
Diabetes-Forschungsinstitut an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
[email protected] OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of alpha-lipoic acid given intravenously, followed by oral treatment in type 2 diabetic patients with symptomatic polyneuropathy.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In a multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Diabetic Neuropathy
III Study), 509 outpatients were randomly assigned to sequential treatment with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid once daily intravenously for 3 weeks, followed by 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid three times a day orally for 6 months (A-A; n = 167); 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid once daily intravenously for 3 weeks, followed by placebo three times a day orally for 6 months (A-P; n = 174); and placebo once daily intravenously for 3 weeks, followed by placebo three times a day orally for 6 months (P-P; n = 168). Outcome measures included the
Total Symptom Score (TSS) for neuropathic symptoms (pain, burning, paresthesias, and numbness) in the feet, and the Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS). Data analysis was based on the intention to treat. RESULTS: No significant differences between the groups were noted for the demographic variables and the nerve function parameters at baseline.
1: Phytother Res. 2001 May;15(3):219-23.Click here to read Links
Treatment of vascular retinopathies with Pycnogenol.
Spadea L, Balestrazzi E.
Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Cattedra di Clinica Oculistica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, L'Aquila, Italy.
The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of Pycnogenol on the progression of diabetic retinopathy and other vascular retinal disorders. The study consisted of a double-blind phase in which 20 patients were recruited and randomly treated with placebo or Pycnogenol (50 mg x 3/day for 2 months) and an open phase in which another 20 patients were treated with Pycnogenol at the same dose schedule. In total, 40 patients with diabetes, atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases involving the retina were enrolled; 30 of them were treated with Pycnogenol and 10 with placebo. The results demonstrated a beneficial effect of Pycnogenol on the progression of retinopathy. Without any treatment (placebo) the retinopathy progressively worsened during the trial and the visual acuity significantly decreased; on the contrary, the Pycnogenol-treated patients showed no deterioration of retinal function and a significant recovery of visual acuity was also obtained. The fluorangiography showed an improvement of retinal vascularization and a reduced endothelial permeability and leakage in the Pycnogenol, but not in the placebo-treated, patients. The ophthalmoscopy and the electroretinogram (ERG) also confirmed the beneficial effects of Pycnogenol. The mechanism of action of Pycnogenol may be related to its free radical (FR) scavenging, anti-inflammatory and capillary protective activities. It has been suggested that Pycnogenol may bind to the blood vessel wall proteins and mucopolysaccharides and produce a capillary 'sealing' effect, leading to a reduced capillary permeability and oedema formation. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 11351356 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE