Alpha-lipoic acid treatment of 31 patients with sore, burning mouth.
OBJECTIVE
To review a series of patients with sore, burning mouth treated with alpha-lipoic acid between 2000 and May 2006 and subjectively evaluate improvement in symptoms.


METHODS
Retrospective review of medical records of 195 consecutive patients who sought treatment for sore, burning mouth. Treatment of 47 patients was a prescription/recommendation for alpha-lipoic acid. Of these patients, 35 were available for follow-up.


METHODS
Tertiary care academic medical center.


METHODS
Ambulatory patients given prescription /recommendation for alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg per day, in divided doses.


METHODS
Reported improvement in symptoms documented in medical records and at follow-up (visits or telephone interviews).


RESULTS
Thirty-one of the 35 patients (66% of all 47) actually took alpha-lipoic acid as recommended. No patient reported a complete alleviation of symptoms. Six (19%) of these 31 patients felt mostly better, five (16%) felt somewhat better, and 14 (45%) reported no difference. Two patients (7%) reported a worsening of symptoms and four (13%) did not know whether there had been improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Eleven of 31 patients (35%) reported benefit from taking alpha-lipoic acid. Because we examined only a small number of patients and relied on a subjective outcome assessment, further larger studies using a prospective, randomized, controlled, and double-blind structure are warranted.
Steele
J C
JC
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Bruce
A J
AJ
Drage
L A
LA
Rogers
R S
RS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000187:drug effects; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy
D000975:Antioxidants; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D008063:Thioctic Acid