Burning mouth syndrome (BMS): double blind controlled study of alpha-lipoic acid (thioctic acid) therapy.
BACKGROUND
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) has features of a neuropathy and could be related to the production of the toxic free radicals that are released in stress situations. Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant able to increase the levels of intracellular glutathione and eliminate free radicals. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid in the therapy of BMS.


METHODS
This was a double blind, controlled study conducted for two months on 60 patients with constant BMS. Comparing alpha-lipoic acid (test) with cellulose starch (placebo), there was no laboratory evidence of deficiencies in iron, vitamins or thyroid function and no hyperglycaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Following treatment with alpha-lipoic acid, there was a significant symptomatic improvement, compared with placebo, with the majority showing at least some improvement after 2 months, thus supporting the hypothesis that burning mouth syndrome is a neuropathy. This improvement was maintained in over 70% of patients at the 1 year follow-up.
Stomatology Clinic II, University of Medicine and Surgery, Napoli, Italy. femiano@libero.it
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Femiano
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002482:Cellulose; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005978:Glutathione / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos; D013213:Starch; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010919:Placebos; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D002482:Cellulose; D013213:Starch; D005978:Glutathione