Effect of α-lipoic acid on platelet reactivity in type 1 diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Type 1 diabetes is associated with increased platelet reactivity. We investigated whether α-lipoic acid (ALA) has any effect on platelet reactivity in these patients.


METHODS
We randomly assigned 51 type 1 diabetic patients to ALA (600 mg once daily) or placebo for 5 weeks. Platelet reactivity was evaluated by the PFA-100 method and by measuring CD41 and CD62 platelet expression. C-reactive protein (CRP) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α serum levels also were measured.


RESULTS
Baseline variables were similar in the two groups. After treatment, closure time was longer (P = 0.006) and CD62P platelet expression was lower, both before (P = 0.002) and after (P = 0.009) ADP stimulation in the ALA group compared with the placebo group. CRP and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α levels showed no differences between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that ALA reduces measures of platelet reactivity ex vivo in type 1 diabetic patients, independently of antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects.
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Mollo
Francesco
F
Zaccardi
Giancarla
G
Scalone
Giuseppe
G
Scavone
Paola
P
Rizzo
Eliano Pio
EP
Navarese
Andrea
A
Manto
Dario
D
Pitocco
Gaetano Antonio
GA
Lanza
Giovanni
G
Ghirlanda
Filippo
F
Crea
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D019007:P-Selectin; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015237:Dinoprost