Effect of (R)-α-lipoic acid supplementation on serum lipids and antioxidative ability in patients with age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
Supplementation with antioxidants is of special interest in preventing or delaying the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This investigation aimed to assess the effect of α- lipoic acid (LA) on serum lipids, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in patients with AMD.


METHODS
A total of 62 patients (50-75 years old) with early and intermediate dry form of AMD were randomly assigned to two groups, i.e. LA administration (n = 32) and placebo (n = 30). The levels of serum lipids and MDA and SOD activity were measured before and after LA and placebo intervention.


RESULTS
Compared with the parameters at baseline, serum total cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride and high- and low-density lipoprotein CHO (HDL and LDL) levels were not significantly different after LA and placebo intervention. There was a slight but statistically nonsignificant decrease in serum MDA levels and a statistically significant increase in serum SOD activity after LA intervention. There were no statistically significant differences in serum MDA levels or SOD activity after placebo intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The apparent increase in SOD activity caused by LA supplementation indicates that LA may have a possible preventive effect in the development of AMD through an antioxidant mechanism.
School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Ying-Dong
YD
Sun
You-Dan
YD
Dong
Rui
R
Fan
Ling-Ling
LL
Zhai
Ying-Long
YL
Bai
Li-Hong
LH
Jia
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase