Effect of combined treatment with alpha-Lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine on vascular function and blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease.
Mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species that may contribute to vascular dysfunction. alpha-Lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial function. In a double-blind crossover study, the authors examined the effects of combined alpha-lipoic acid/acetyl-L-carnitine treatment and placebo (8 weeks per treatment) on vasodilator function and blood pressure in 36 subjects with coronary artery disease. Active treatment increased brachial artery diameter by 2.3% (P=.008), consistent with reduced arterial tone. Active treatment tended to decrease systolic blood pressure for the whole group (P=.07) and had a significant effect in the subgroup with blood pressure above the median (151+/-20 to 142+/-18 mm Hg; P=.03) and in the subgroup with the metabolic syndrome (139+/-21 to 130+/-18 mm Hg; P=.03). Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to the regulation of blood pressure and vascular tone. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine the clinical utility of alpha-lipoic acid/acetyl-L-carnitine as antihypertensive therapy.
McMackin
Craig J
CJ
Evans Department of Medicine and Whitaker Cardovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Widlansky
Michael E
ME
Hamburg
Naomi M
NM
Huang
Alex L
AL
Weller
Susan
S
Holbrook
Monika
M
Gokce
Noyan
N
Hagen
Tory M
TM
Keaney
John F
JF
Vita
Joseph A
JA
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001900:Boston; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D008063:Thioctic Acid